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2025-07-31-accounts

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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06661477 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1142614

Report of the Trustees and Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025 For BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS’ UNION

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS’ UNION Contents of the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 July 2025

Page
Report of the Trustees 3 - 18
Report of the Independent Auditors 19 - 22
Statement of Financial Activities 23
Balance Sheet 24
Notes to the Financial Statements 25 - 33

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

The Trustees, who are also Directors of the incorporated charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities'.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

06661477 (England and Wales) Registered Charity number 1142614 (England and Wales)

Registered Address

Birkbeck, University of London Malet Street London WC1E 7HX

Trustees

Chief Executive

Y Joondan (to 31st October 2025)

Trustee Date appointed Date resigned Class of appointment
A Prestage 1st August 2018 31st December
2024		 Non-executive
A Thompson 1st August 2021 Non-executive
M Dhesi 1st August 2021 30th June 2025 Non-executive
W Sarenden 1st July2023 30th June 2025 Executive
G Hope 1st August 2021 31st January2025 Non-executive
V Pirani 1st July2024 30th June 2025 Executive
F Ferdous 1st July2024 30th June 2025 Executive
Z Han 1st July2024 30th June 2025 Executive
E Orr 1st September 2024 Non-Executive
J Swo 1st January2025 Non- Executive
S Okere 1st July2025 Executive
O Eche 1st July2025 Executive
H Brock 1st July2025 Executive

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Bankers

National Westminster Bank PLC

Solicitors

DAC Beachcroft LLP

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

The company was incorporated on 31 July 2008 and commenced its activities on 1 August 2008 when assets and liabilities of Birkbeck College Students' Union, an unincorporated entity, were transferred in.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE TO DATE

Overview

activities, as agreed between the Trustees and University management, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding for the financial year 2024-25.

Reserves and Restricted Funds

the trustees have committed the Union to future expenditure, such as on projects that have received matchfunding. Restricted reserves comprise balances on subventions, restricted donations plus clubs & societies where funds have been received for a specific purpose and the Union is restricted in its use of these funds.

remits and, where possible, to develop plans to apply these restricted funds for student benefit in accordance with the constitutional objects and mission of their club or society, engaging their membership widely in how the funds are used.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The Union is controlled by its governing documents; a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 31 July 2008 (amended 1 August 2009), and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Appointment of Trustees

The Board of Trustees consist of no more than fourteen persons and is made up as follows:

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Risk Management

The Trustees have assessed the Union’s activities and believe that the Union is adequately insured and with new financial management, monitoring and control processes now agreed with University and considers it has an appropriate risk management policy in place.

During the year, the Union’s insurance policies and schedules were fully reviewed by management, the insurance broker and the underwriters, and this review was considered and approved by the Trustees. The Trustees also considered and noted the implications of the Union’s safeguarding responsibilities, the appropriateness of checks on individuals holding elected or paid office or posts within the charity in relation to information held by the Disclosure and Barring Service, and the Union’s wider corporate duties under the Bribery Act 2011 and the Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Constitutional Aims and Objects

The objects of the Union are the advancement of education of students at Birkbeck, University of London for the public benefit by:

1 - promoting the interests and welfare of students at Birkbeck, University of London during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising students;

2 - being the recognised representative channel between students and Birkbeck, University of London and any other external bodies; and

3 - providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students.

operations and constitution of the Union.

staffing structure. Each year, the Union runs Spring and Autumn elections to elect the Sabbatical Officers, who lead and direct the Union’s work and serve as members of the Board of Trustees. Student Parliament, comprising a wider group of student representatives, holds the Sabbatical Officers to account and helps to shape the Union’s policies.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Strategy

Birkbeck Students’ Union Strategy outlines the plans for three years from 2022-25, with a focus on four main areas of work:

In each of these four areas the Union has set itself a number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure its success in achieving these objectives. The performance against the KPIs in 2024-25 was as follows:

Supporting Student Wellbeing

  1. Developing relationships with different partners to support and enhance students’ academic experience and their welfare. During the 2024-25 academic year, four new partnerships both internal and external were developed to enhance support for students.

  2. Increasing and signposting wellbeing opportunities throughout all Students’ Union activities. The Students’ Union continues to prioritise the integration and visibility of wellbeing opportunities across all areas of its activity. By embedding wellbeing support within Union initiatives, services, and communications, the Union seeks to ensure that students are both aware of and able to access appropriate support as required.

services, while 43.7% agreed that the Union has had a positive impact on their wellbeing. These results demonstrate an encouraging upward trend in awareness and perceived impact, while also identifying a continued need to strengthen engagement and communication to maximise the reach and effectiveness of wellbeing-related activities across the student community.

  1. Increasing participation in the Union’s activities by ensuring that the opportunities consider barriers to students. Recent survey data indicates that 28.7% of students feel that the Students’ Union provides useful advice and support, while 32.8% have accessed one or more of the Union’s advice services and reported satisfaction with the support received. The Students’ Union Support team provides advice and guidance to students on a range of academic matters, including academic misconduct, appeals and complaints, extenuating circumstances, disciplinary procedures, and academic appeals.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Enhancing Students’ Social Experience

  1. Increasing engagement and satisfaction with the SU Events programme. The attendance, quality and satisfaction rate for each event has increased. In 2024-25, 2154 tickets sold (2023-24, 2830 tickets sold).

  2. Increasing student group membership numbers and satisfaction. In 2024-2025, we have less student groups – 29 Societies, 4 Sports clubs, but more memberships sold – 475 (2023-24, 59 student groups, with a total of 416 memberships sold.). This indicates that there is higher engagement with less student groups.

  3. Increasing awareness of the Activities section. 76% of students were aware of clubs and societies in 2023, with 116 students holding memberships to societies.

Representing the View of Students

  1. communication and raise awareness of the ways students can share feedback and get involved.

  2. In 2024, 61% of Student Parliament roles were contested, showing growing interest in leadership positions. Most officer roles for 2024-25 were also contested, except the Postgraduate Officer role. However, voter turnout in the 2025 Spring Elections fell to 3.5%. The SU also faced some voting issues, but additional measures were put in place to ensure a free and fair election.

  3. Introducing a new representative system. In 2024, the SU replaced the course rep system with a new structure that better aligns with university frameworks and student demographics, while removing barriers such as elections. This change resulted in a 41% growth in the number of student reps.

  4. award for their contributions at the SU awards, fostering a culture of appreciation and encouragement for student leadership.

Representing Academic Interests

academic interests (2023, 32%).

  1. Lobbying the University for greater consistency across departments. After the University restructured in 2023 from five schools to three faculties, the SU has worked with the University to build consistency within the new framework. This included designing the new Academic Rep system, which ensures the same structure is used across all faculties so that every student voice is heard and represented fairly.

  2. has been successful which has seen a growth of 41% more academic reps, and additional Student Head of Faculty roles to align with the university’s structures.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

OFFICERS & BOARD

The Board have opted not to have the post of Company Secretary

DEMOCRACY and REPRESENTATION

SABBATICAL OFFICERS

University and holding positions on both the Trustee Board and Executive Committee. This was the first academic year with the new system in place, following a reduction from eight officers. They guide the Union’s direction and spearhead its initiatives each year. Elections for these officers take place every Spring, giving students the opportunity to vote and ensure their voices are heard.

voter turnout was at 3.5%.

STUDENT PARLIAMENT

Student Parliament is an elected group of representatives who pass policy, debate student issues, and hold the Student Leaders to account. There are 31 positions in Student Parliament.

(once every two months), where they discussed topics including the SU Code of Conduct, racism on campus, elected officer accountability, and student job opportunities. They also created a new role focused on Student Mental Health.

ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES

Academic Representatives are an essential part of elevating the student voice and keeping the University and Union informed with student feedback.

Academic Representatives are selected at the start of term, with students also able to nominate themselves.

In 2024-25, 394 Academic Representatives were recruited, with 86% trained across the three faculties following the Universities restructure. The SU also introduced six new Student Head of Faculty roles—one undergraduate and one postgraduate per faculty—to further strengthen representation.

The table below shows how many course representatives sit in each faculty. The school for LAW and Science have less representation but this is due to a small population of students.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Undergraduate (trained) 253

Faculty Academic Representatives
Facultyof Humanities and Social Sciences 121
Facultyof Law and Business 84
Facultyof Science 48

Postgraduate (trained) 83

Faculty Academic Representatives
Facultyof Humanities and Social Sciences 54
Facultyof Law and Business 4
Facultyof Science 25

Elections (Autumn)

Nominations: 54
Method of Election: Online/Website
Unique Voters: 38
Individual Votes Cast: 71
Turnout(studentpopulation): 0.45%

Elections (Spring)

Candidate Withdrawals: 12
Number of Candidates: 21
Number of Positions: 4
Number of Positions with Candidates: 4
Method of Election: Online/Website
Unique Voters: 323
Individual Votes Cast: 958
Turnout(studentpopulation): 3.8%(8500)

STUDENT LED TEACHING AWARDS (2025)

There were 42 nominations, and the followings categories were awarded;

  1. Nabil Yahya – Outstanding Contribution to Birkbeck

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  1. Palestine Society Fundraisers – Student Group Event of the Year

  2. Talisa DU-Pont and Mailen Farias (Short Filmmaking Society) – Committee Member of the Year (joint win)

  3. Kshitijh Sharma – Course Rep of the Year

  4. Football Club – Team of the Year

  5. Anime and Gaming Society – Student Group of the Year

  7. Luke Williams – Lecturer of the Year

  8. Keith Mannock – Dissertation Supervisor of the Year

  9. Santosh Lall – Colleague of the Year

  10. Dean Ismay – Parliament Member of the Year

OFFICER PROJECTS & CAMPAIGNS

and overall experience at Birkbeck. For the 2024-25 academic year, four of the officer’s hold porfolios focused on Education, Postgraduate, EDI and Welfare:

Wobble Week

safe spaces and activities during key points in the year.

Student Spaces

New Student Spaces were opened across campus, giving students areas to connect with each other and with SU Officers. These spaces built on the legacy of previous officer campaigns and saw strong levels of student foofall.

Exam Stress Campaign

resources to encourage healthy study-life balance.

ACTIVITIES

Events Programme

Birkbeck Students’ Union’s activities have continued to thrive in the 2024-25 academic year, building on last year’s success and fostering increased engagement. Due to cuts in the event budget in February, March, April, we had a redirection in event activities, but we continued to operate with lower-budget events. This year kicked off with three weeks of Welcome Week. The events programme is expanding even further, with a focus on quality of events over quantity. Our clubs, societies and networks are also continuing their excellent work. Some key statistics are below

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Events Programme

Total events: 209 Society and Sports club events: 151 SU organised events: 58

  1. Welcome Week 2024: 27

  2. Wobble Week: 5

  3. Movember: 4

  4. Christmas and New year events: 3

  5. Welcome Back: 5

  6. Central Events: 2

  7. Welcome week 2025: 12

Free Events: 80% Tickets sold: 2155+

Student Groups (Clubs, Societies & Networks)

Groups (Total): 40 Groups (Sport): 4 Groups (Societies): 29 Groups (Networks): 7 Matches (Sport): 42+

The past year was successful for the Union’s student groups. Membership of existing sports clubs and societies increased despite a reduction in the overall number of groups, enabling the Union to focus its support on those demonstrating sustained activity and engagement. Notable examples of performance during the year included:

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

STUDENTS’ UNION SUPPORT SERVICE

Over the past academic year, the service has supported 410 individual cases, with the largest proportion relating to academic appeals.

Advice Categories

Sub Matter
Category		 Number of
Cases		 Percentages
Appeal
 119 29.0%
Academic Ofence 102 24.9%
Progression 62 15.1%
Complaint 53 12.9%
Welfare 29 7.1%
Other 45 11.0%
Total 410

Report on the Activities of the Student Union Support Team

Academic Year 2024–2025

The Student Union Support Team undertook a wide range of initiatives throughout the academic year to strengthen student engagement, wellbeing, and access to support services. Their work focused on building partnerships, improving visibility of key services, and ensuring students received timely and inclusive support.

1. Development of Internal and External Partnerships

university, aimed at enhancing the student experience and promoting wellbeing:

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

2. Clued-Up Outreach Stall Activities

To improve accessibility and visibility of academic support, the team delivered Clued-Up Outreach Stalls three times per term. These interactive sessions engaged 310 students across the year, providing one-to-one advice and guidance on academic matters such as academic misconduct, appeals and complaints, extenuating circumstances, and disciplinary procedures. The initiative helped break down barriers by bringing support directly to students and increasing awareness of available services.

3. Student Union Support and Promotion

The team delivered presentations during faculty induction sessions to introduce new students to the Student Union and its support services. More than 430 students were reached through these sessions, significantly improving awareness and early engagement with SU resources.

4. Collaboration with EDI and Disability Teams

Services Team, the Support Team helped address the unique needs of diverse student groups. This collaborative approach ensured that support was inclusive, intersectional, and responsive to individual circumstances.

5. Support for the University Safeguarding Team

The team actively participated in initiatives led by the University Safeguarding Team, reinforcing a shared commitment to ensure student safety and wellbeing across the institution. Their involvement helped strengthen safeguarding responses and case co-ordination.

6. Designation as Safeguarding Lead

A member of the team was appointed as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, contributing to the development of safeguarding policies, risk assessments, and procedures. Their participation in the University Safeguarding Panel ensured effective case management and timely resolutions for student welfare concerns.

7. Food Pantry Initiative

In response to growing concerns about food insecurity, the Support Team organised three Food Pantry sessions throughout the year. These events provided essential supplies to 306 students, directly alleviating immediate hardship and fostering a sense of community care.

8. Campaigns and Project Support

facing projects, including:

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Conclusion

Through proactive outreach, collaborative partnerships, and responsive student support, the Student Union Support Team has made significant contributions to enhancing student wellbeing, engagement, and access to advice services.

Their work continues to strengthen the Union’s role as a central, trusted hub for student support and advocacy.

COMMUNICATIONS

Newsletter

The proportion of emails opened increased to just over 50%, representing a slight improvement on the previous year. This increase reflects changes made in response to student feedback that newsletters were too long; content has therefore been significantly reduced and redesigned to be more visually engaging.

time delivering the highest open rates. The layout of the newsletter varies depending on the relative importance of events. While upcoming events for the week and Students’ Union merchandise are always featured, priority is sometimes given to specific campaigns, such as the Students’ Union survey.

lower average open rate of around 40% but remain an important channel for raising awareness. Overall, the newsletter continues to achieve the highest student satisfaction rating of all communication channels, exceeding the second-highest channel, Instagram, by approximately five percentage points, largely due to the ease with which students can access links and information.

Instagram

Between July 2024 and July 2025, the Union’s Instagram account achieved a total reach of 25.5k, representing an increase of 109.7% over the same period in the previous year. During the year, the account also gained approximately 400 followers, bringing the total number of followers to 2,981.

The post with the highest organic reach related to Lesbian Awareness Week. This post went viral, receiving approximately 12k views, with around 90% of views coming from accounts that did not already

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follow the Union. The second most successful post was the Welcome schedule, which generated strong engagement with around 5k views.

While the Union has sought to increase the use of reels, which typically generate higher engagement, the two highest-performing posts were static carousel posts. This highlights continued interest in infographic-style content alongside short-form video. The next ten highest-performing posts were predominantly reels, using trends to promote Students’ Union news, including the Festive Selfie Competition (4k views), Welcome Back schedule (4k views) and LGBTQ+ History Month content (3k views).

Audience demographics remained broadly consistent with previous years. The largest age group was 25–34, accounting for 48.4% of users. Women represented 59% of the audience, and approximately 40% of users were based in London.

Facebook

During the year, the Union’s use of Facebook resulted in a total reach of approximately 9k, representing a decrease of around 20% compared with the previous year. In contrast, page visits increased significantly to approximately 22k, a rise of around 70% year on year. This indicates that while users continue to access the Union’s Facebook page, engagement with individual posts is lower. This trend is consistent with student feedback, which suggests that Facebook is steadily declining in popularity and effectiveness as a communications channel.

The most popular posts during the year related to the Food Pantry (2.3k views), Birkbeck Ambassadors (1.3k views) and Lesbian Visibility Week (1k views).

Audience demographics were broadly consistent with other plaforms. The largest proportion of visitors fell within the 25–34 age group, accounting for approximately 30% of users. This represents a reduction from around 40% in the previous year, further indicating a shift among younger audiences towards alternative social media plaforms.

X/Twitter

During the year, the number of followers on the Union’s X (formerly Twitter) account decreased from 4,375 to 4,132. This decline reflects broader changes to the plaform in recent years, which have contributed to a general reduction in user engagement. External reporting indicates that usage of X has fallen significantly, reinforcing this trend.

interaction were those providing clear and practical information for students, such as updates on the Welcome Schedule and the appointment of new Sabbatical Officers. This suggests that the primary function of the Union’s X account is to disseminate key information, with students engaging with more informal or social content primarily via Instagram or the Union’s website.

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Average impressions during the year were approximately 150, representing a slight decrease compared with the previous year and further evidencing the declining popularity of the plaform. The most successful post related to society elections, achieving 352 impressions and four retweets.

Website

Following extensive work with the University and the Union’s website provider, MSL, issues relating to student logins and data access were resolved towards the end of the academic year. This has improved student engagement with, and confidence in, the website, which is expected to be reflected in improved participation during the Spring elections, including higher voter turnout.

The Union continues to publish regular news content to support search engine optimisation and increase engagement. The article achieving the highest level of engagement during the year was the Welcome Week schedule, which received 1,155 views.

AFFILIATIONS

the Education Act 1994, lists them here. Pursuant to Section 22 of the Education Act 1994, the Trustees declare that no donations have been made to any other organisation.

[th] July 2025:

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees (who are also the directors of Birkbeck College Students' Union for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity company and hence for taking reasonable steps for prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

AUDITORS

The external auditors, Knox Cropper, will be proposed for re-appointment at a forthcoming Finance and Audit Committee Meeting.

DECLARATION

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

5/03/2026

Oluwakemi (Joy) Eche – Chair of Trustees

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Birkbeck College Students’ Union Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Opinion

year ended 31 July 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Birkbeck College Students’ Union Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Birkbeck College Students’ Union Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

• The Charitable Company is required to comply with both company law and charity law and, based on our knowledge of its activities, we identified that the legal requirement to accurately account for restricted funds was of key significance.

• We gained an understanding of how the charitable company complied with its legal and regulatory framework, including the requirement to properly account for restricted funds, through discussions with management and a review of the documented policies, procedures and controls.

• The audit team, which is experienced in the audit of charities, considered the charitable company's susceptibility to material misstatement and how fraud may occur. Our considerations included the risk of management override.

• to ensure that only valid and appropriate expenditure was charged to restricted funds. This included reviewing journal adjustments and unusual transactions.

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Birkbeck College Students’ Union Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Stephen Anderson (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 153-155 London Road Hemel Hempstead Herfordshire HP3 9SQ

Date:………………………………………….

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

INCOMING RESOURCES
Notes
Donations and Legacies
Grant income
2
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Clubs and societies
3
Birkbeck SU branded clothing
Other incoming resources
Other income
Total incoming resources
Charitable activities - Application of resources
SU Student events & activities (central)
4
SU Advice
SU Communications
SU Voice
Clubs and societies
Total resources expended
NET INCOME (EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
15
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
funds
£
471,500
-
527
20,020
492,047
99,366
93,700
104,167
107,435
62,743
467,411
24,636
(65,260)
(40,624)		 Restricted
funds
£
-
7,551
-
-
7,551
-
-
-
-
15,285
15,285
(7,734)
22,720
14,986		 2025
Total
funds
£
471,500
7,551
527
20,020
499,598
99,366
93,700
104,167
107,435
78,028
482,696
16,902
(42,540)
(25,638)		 2024
Total
funds
£
416,500
14,188
1,214
20,114
452,016
108,027
79,139
83,446
124,951
56,583
452,146
(130)
(42,410)
(42,540)

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

0666147

Balance Sheet

for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

FIXED ASSETS
Notes
Tangible assets
11
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
12
Prepayments and accrued income
Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
13
NET CURRENT LIABILITIES
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due after more than one year
NET LIABILITIES
FUNDS
15
General funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 2025
£
1,978
1,978
-
-
56,755
56,755
(84,371)
(27,616)
(25,638)
-
(25,638)
(40,624)
14,986
(25,638)		 2024
£
3,960
3,960
441,938
5,616
41,867
489,421
(535,921)
(46,500)
(42,540)
-
(42,540)
(65,260)
22,720
(42,540)

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 05/03/2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

Oluwakemi Joy Eche Chair of Trustees

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1

The notes form part of these financial statements

BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Birkbeck Students' Union Ltd meets the definiton of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

The financial statements are prepared in Sterling, the functional currency of the charity, and rounded to the nearest £.

Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions

The Charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':

Going Concern

The Students' Union receives a block grant from Birkbeck University and occupies part of the University building. Although the Students' Union continues to generate funds from various activities it will always be dependent on University support. The Union has no reason to believe that the ongoing financial support of Birkbeck University will not continue.

Due to historic financial challenges faced by the Union, the University agreed to provide a loan of £175,000 in 2018. The loan supports the Union whlist it seeks to return to a financially sustainable position. The loan was fully paid on 1st July 2025.

The Union made a surplus this year after incurring a deficit in the previous 2 financial years, due to overspends in some areas.

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Union has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Fund accounting

General Funds consist of funds freely available which may be applied by the Trustees at their discretion in furtherance of the Union’s charitable objects.

Designated Funds represent general funds earmarked by the Trustees for specific purposes. Restricted Funds are those funds which are subject to donor imposed restrictions and may only be applied in accordance with those restrictions.

Incoming resources

Income is recognised in the period in which the Union becomes entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities.

Income comprises donations, grants received in the University, income generated from commercial activities and investment income.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Allocation and apportionment of costs
Support costs have been allocated to Charitable Activities on the following basis:
SU Student Events & Activities (Central) 10.0%
SU Advice 25.0%
SU Communications 24.0%
SU Voice 24.0%
Clubs and societies 17.0%

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are stated at deemed cost less accumulated depreciation. Indicative useful lives are as follows:

Life:
Plant and machinery 5 years
Fixtures and fittings 5 years
Computer equipment 3 years

Stock

Stock comprises of physical stock of TOTUM cards (NUS Extra) cards held for resale.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where there is a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party, and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

Taxation

The Union is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The Union participates in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL) through Birkbeck University, which are funded, defined benefit schemes. The schemes are contracted out of the State Second Pension (S2P). The schemes are valued formally every three years by professionally qualified independent actuaries using the projected unit method. Informal reviews of the schemes' position are carried out in the period between formal valuations.

The Union has agreed with Birkbeck University that any deficit funding liability is recognised in the University's accounts. The charge to the income and expenditure account is the contribution payable to the schemes for the accounting period, which is the same as it would be if these were defined contribution schemes.

2

3

4

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Grant
Strike funds
INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Activity
Clubs and societies
Academic & Careers Societies
Campaigning Societies
Culture & Faith Societies
Hobby & Interest Societies
Political Societies
Sports Clubs
Total Clubs & Societies
Other incoming resources
Birkbeck SU branded clothing
Clubs & societies
Other income		 2025
£
471,500
-
471,500
2025
£
175
5
30
273
8
7,060
7,551
527
7,551
20,020
28,098		 2024
£
390,000
26,500
416,500
2024
£
390
-
63
322
-
13,413
14,188
1,214
14,188
20,114
35,516

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

SU Student events & activities (central)
SU Advice
SU Communications
SU Voice
Clubs and societies		 Direct costs
£
62,459
1,430
15,590
18,858
15,285
113,622		 Support costs
Staff costs
£
34,145
85,363
81,948
81,948
58,047
341,451		 Support costs
Other costs
£
2,762
6,907
6,629
6,629
4,696
27,623		 Totals
2025
£
99,366
93,700
104,167
107,435
78,028
482,696

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5

8

9

BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

SUPPORT COSTS

6

7

SUPPORT COSTS
Allocation
%
SU Student events & activities (central)
10.0%
SU Advice
25.0%
SU Communications
24.0%
SU Voice
24.0%
Clubs and societies
17.0%
100.0%
GOVERNANCE COSTS
Governance office
Auditors' remuneration		 Staff Costs
£
34,145
85,363
81,948
81,948
58,047
341,451		 Other Costs
£
2,762
6,907
6,629
6,629
4,696
27,623
2025
£
1,906
6,634
8,540		 2025
Total
£
36,907
92,270
88,577
88,577
62,743
369,074
2024
£
6,150
6,600
12,750
NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Net resources are stated after charging:
2025 2024
£ £
Auditors' remuneration 6,634 6,600
Depreciation - owned assets 1,982 2,185

TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS Trustees' expenses

Sabbatical officers are paid as authorised in the Union's governing document, for the representation, campaigning and support work they undertake as distinct from their trustee responsibilities. During the year trustees received expenses of £150 in connection with the performance of their duties (2024: £87). The expenses are reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs in connection with their duties, and the costs of refreshments for Union events.

STAFF COSTS

STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security
Pension costs
No employees earned more than £60,000 per annum. (2024: nil)
Average staff FTE
Management and administrative staff
Sabbaticals		 2025
£
309,143
30,377
46,911
386,431
2025
FTE
8.0
4.2
12.2		 2024
£
293,015
22,069
43,541
358,625
2024
FTE
7.4
2.2
9.6

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY

INCOMING RESOURCES
Donations and legacies
Grant income
Unrestricted alumni donation
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Clubs and societies
TOTUM cards (NUS Extra)
Birkbeck SU branded clothing
Other incoming resources
Other income
Total incoming resources
Charitable activities - Application of resources
SU Student Events & Activities (Central)
SU Advice
SU Communications
SU Voice
Clubs and societies
TOTUM cards (NUS Extra)
Birkbeck SU branded clothing
Total resources expended
NET (EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
funds
£
390,000
-
-
-
1,214
20,114
411,328
81,527
79,139
83,446
124,951
50,889
-
-
419,952
(8,624)
(56,636)
(65,260)		 Restricted
funds
£
-
26,500
14,188
-
-
-
40,688
26,500
-
-
-
5,694
-
-
32,194
8,494
14,226
22,720		 2024
Total
funds
£
390,000
26,500
14,188
-
1,214
20,114
452,016
108,027
79,139
83,446
124,951
56,583
-
-
452,146
(130)
(42,410)
(42,540)		 2023
Total
funds
£
375,000
16,952
29,341
621
1,314
26,091
449,319
89,495
72,292
81,501
137,134
77,003
2,940
2,940
463,305
(13,986)
(28,424)
(42,410)

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

12

13

COST
At 1 August 2024
Disposals
At 31 July 2025
DEPRECIATION
At 1 August 2024
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 July 2025
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 July 2025
At 31 July 2024
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Birkbeck University
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade creditors
Accrued expenses
Birkbeck University general loan		 Plant &
Machinery
9,773
(8,462)
1,311
9,773
-
(8,462)
1,311
-
-		 Fixtures &
Fittings
5,219
(4,794)
425
5,219
-
(4,794)
425
-
-		 Computer
Equipment
19,218
(5,840)
13,378
15,258
1,982
(5,840)
11,400
1,978
3,960
2025
£
-
-
2025
£
66,882
17,489
-
84,371		 Totals
34,210
(19,096)
15,114
30,250
1,982
(19,096)
13,136
1,978
3,960
2024
£
441,938
441,938
2024
£
499,321
6,600
30,000
535,921

In 2018/19 a loan of £175,000 was issued to the Birkbeck Students' Union. The loan was issued to support their return to a position of financial sustainability. The loan was repayable over seven years and no interest was charged. The loan was fully repaid prior to 31 July 2025.

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

15

Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Clubs and societies
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Clubs and societies
TOTAL FUNDS		 Unrestricted
funds
£
1,978
41,769
(84,371)
(40,624)		 Restricted
funds
£
-
14,986
-
14,986
At
31 July 2024
£
(65,260)
(65,260)
22,720
22,720
(42,540)
Incoming
resources
£
492,047
492,047
7,551
7,551
499,598		 2025
Total
funds
£
1,978
56,755
(84,371)
(25,638)
Net
Movement
in funds
£
24,636
24,636
(7,734)
(7,734)
16,902
Resources
expended
£
(467,411)
(467,411)
(15,285)
(15,285)
(482,696)		 2024
Total
funds
£
3,960
489,421
(535,921)
(42,540)
At
31 July 2025
£
(40,624)
(40,624)
14,986
14,986
(25,638)
Movement in
funds
£
24,636
24,636
(7,734)
(7,734)
16,902

Clubs and societies: These funds represent income received from the Union’s various clubs and societies and are restricted to expenditure on the club or society to which they relate.

There was no requirement to transfer funds from the unrestricted funds to the restricted funds to cover the expenditure on behalf of clubs and societies (2024: Nil).

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16

17

BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Birkbeck University

The Union's relationship with Birkbeck University is defined in the Trustees Report. The Union received a grant from Birkbeck University, as detailed in note 2 to the accounts.

Sabbatical Officers

The Union's sabbatical officers acted as trustees during their appointment (see note 8).

The table below shows the officers who served during the year ended 31 July 2025 together with the salaries and expenses paid to them for their services as sabbatical officers.

Sabbatical post
Post-holder
Term of Office
Salary & On-costs
Education Sabbatical Officer
William Sarenden
01 Jul 2023 - 30 Jun 2025
21,821
Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer
Fahmida Ferdous
01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
3,613
Welfare Sabbatical Officer
Vajayanti Inara Pirani
01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
18,942
EDI Sabbatical Officer
Zhuoxin Han
01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
19,954
64,330		 Expenses
66
-
-
84
150

PENSION SCHEMES

a) Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)

Birkbeck Students' Union participates in Universities Superannuation Scheme through the University. The scheme is a hybrid pension scheme, providing defined benefits (for all members), as well as defined contribution benefits. The assets of the scheme are held in a separate trusteeadministered fund. Because of the mutual nature of the scheme, the assets are not attributed to individual institutions and a scheme-wide contribution rate is set. As required by Section 28 of FRS 102 “Employee benefits”, the University therefore, accounts for the scheme as if it were a wholly defined contribution scheme. As a result, the amount charged to the Statement of Financial Activities represents the contributions payable to the scheme.

The latest available complete actuarial valuation of the Retirement Income Builder is at 31 March 2023 (the valuation date) which was carried out using the projected unit method. This was the seventh valuation for USS under the new scheme-specific funding regime introduced by the Pensions Act 2004, which requires schemes to adopt a statutory funding objective to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover their technical provisions.

At the valuation date, the value of the assets of the scheme was £73.1 billion and the value of the scheme's technical provisions was £65.7 billion indicating a surplus of £7.4 billion and a funding ratio of 111%.

Following UK government legislation, from 2011 statutory pensions increases or revaluations are based on the Consumer Prices Index measure of price inflation. Historically these increases had been based on the Retail Prices Index measure of price inflation.

The University participates in the salary sacrifice pension scheme. The staff costs note (note 9) shows the pensionable salary which includes the employee salary sacrifice element.

Employer and employee contribution rates for the scheme during the last three years were:

Employer Employee
From January 2024 14.5% 6.1%
From April 2022 21.6% 9.8%
From October 2021 21.4% 9.8%

As at 31 July 2025, the charity had one active member participating in the scheme. The employer contribution for the year was £7,736 (2024: £9,577).

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BIRKBECK COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 July 2025

PENSION SCHEMES (continued)

b) Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL)

The Charity participates in the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (“SAUL”) through the University. SAUL is a centralised defined benefit scheme within the United Kingdom and was contracted out of the Second State Pension (prior to April 2016). SAUL is an independently-managed pension scheme for non-academic staff of over 50 colleges and institutions with links to higher education. Pension benefits accrued within SAUL currently build up on a Career Average Revalued Earnings (“CARE”) basis.

Individuals joining SAUL from 1 April 2023 are automatically enrolled into SAUL Start, a defined contribution scheme, for the first three years of membership. SAUL start is managed by Legal & General. After three years of membership members are transferred to SAUL Care.

The Charity is not expected to be liable to SAUL for any other current participating employer’s obligations under the Rules of SAUL but in the event of an insolvency of any participating employer within SAUL, an amount of any pension shortfall (which cannot otherwise be recovered) in respect of that employer, may be spread across the remaining participating employers and reflected in the next actuarial valuation.

Funding Policy

SAUL’s statutory funding objective is to have sufficient and appropriate assets to meet the costs incurred by the Trustee in paying SAUL’s benefits as they fall due (the “Technical Provisions”). The Trustee adopts assumptions which, taken as a whole, are intended to be sufficiently prudent for pensions and benefits already in payment to continue to be paid and for the commitments which arise from Members’ accrued pension rights to be met.

The Technical Provisions assumptions include appropriate margins to allow for the possibility of events turning out worse than expected. However, the funding method and assumptions do not completely remove the risk that the Technical Provisions could be insufficient to provide benefits in the future.

The Charity is a Participating member in SAUL. A formal actuarial valuation of SAUL is carried out every three years by a professionally qualified and independent actuary. The last actuarial valuation was carried out with an effective date of 31 March 2023. The actuarial valution applies to SAUL as a whole and does not identify surpluses or deficits applicable to individual employers. As a whole, the market value of SAUL's assets as at 31 March 2023 was £3,096 million representing 105% of the liabilities. Informal reviews of SAUL's position, reflecting changes in market conditions, cash flow information and new accrual of benefits, are carried out between formal valuations.

The funding principles were agreed by the Trustee and employers in June 2023 and will be reviewed again at SAUL's next formal valuation in 2026.

At 31 March 2023 valuation SAUL was 105% funded on its Technical Provisions basis (31 March 2020: 94%). As SAUL was in surplus on its Technical Provisions basis at that date, no deficit contributions were required and there is no defined benefit liability to be recognised. The Trustee and the Employers have agreed that the ongoing Employers' contributions will reduce from a rate of 21% of CARE Salaries to 19% of CARE salaries from 1 September 2024. Employer contribution rates for SAUL Start are set at 16%.

It is not possible to identify an individual Employer's share of the underlying assets and liabilities of SAUL. The Charity accounts for its participation in SAUL as if it were a defined contribution scheme and pension costs are based on the amounts actually paid (i.e cash amounts) in accordance with paragraphs 28.11 of FRS102.

The employer contribution for the year was £39,175 (2024: £33,963).

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