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2021-07-31-accounts

Charity registration number: 1148622

University of Bradford Union

known as

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Contents

Trustees' Report 1 to 19
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 20
Independent Auditors' Report 21 to 23
Statement of Financial Activities 24
Balance Sheet 25
Notes to the Financial Statements 26 to 37

Report of the Trustees

Year ended 31 July 2021

University of Bradford students’ union

University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Official Name University of Bradford Union
Working Name UBU
Charitable Status The University of Bradford Union (UBU) is an unincorporated association which was
registered with the Charity Commission on 17thAugust 2012 defined under the Education Act
1994.
Principal Address Student Central, Richmond Road, Bradford, BD7 1DP
Trustees: Name Role Date Appointed
Deborah Cross External Trustee 1/10/17
Ram Saroop External Trustee 1/10/17
Jona Schmidt Chair of Student Council 1/7/20
Abdoulraouf Abdussalam Education Officer 1/7/20
Inshaal Ahmad Community & Activities Officer
Student Affairs Officer 1/7/20
Safwatt Ahktar Sports & Wellbeing Officer 1/7/21
Ahmed Malik Community & Activities Officer 1/7/21
Former Trustees Holding Office in reporting period
Name Role Date of Tenure
Peter Anderson Student Trustee Resigned 31/12/20
Zain Abdin Sports & Wellbeing Officer Resigned 30/6/21
Samera Shabir Student Affairs Officer Resigned 30/5/21
Jona Schmidt Chair of Student Council Resigned 30/6/21
Auditors Watson and Buckle
York House
Wool Gate, Cottingley Business Park,
Bradford BD16 1PE
Bankers Cooperative Banking
6 Tyrrel Street
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1RJ

The Trustees present their Annual Report for the year ended 31 July 2021, which includes the administrative information, together with the audited accounts for that year.

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Structure, Governance University of Bradford Students’ Union Report of the Trustees ~~and Management~~ Year Ended 31 July 2021

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Structure, Governance and Management

Constitution, Objects and Regulations

UBU is constituted under the Education Act 1994 as a charity with internal regulations and a Constitution approved by the governing body of the University of Bradford and members of UBU. UBU’s charitable objects under the Act are the advancement of education of students at the University of Bradford for the public benefit by:

Senior Staff

UBU employs a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to work closely with the Trustees to ensure effective management of the charity assisted by a management team as follows:

Trustees

UBU is administered by its Board of Trustees made up of 4 students elected by the membership of UBU, 4 external Trustees, and 4 Sabbaticals. For the reporting year of 2020/2021 there were 2 student trustees and 3 external trustees on the board. UBU are in the process of recruiting a 4[th ] external trustee.

The flat structure for the period August 2020 to June 2021 consisted of the following Sabbatical Officers: Student Affairs Officer, Education Officer, Sports & Wellbeing Officer and Community & Activities Officer. These posts are full time Sabbatical posts remunerated as authorised by the UBU Constitution. No individual may serve more than two years as a Sabbatical Officer.

The full time Sabbatical Officers go through a three-week intensive training period in the month of July. This includes sessions on roles and responsibilities, organisational mission and values, working in teams, strategic planning, personal development and introductions to University partners. We also provide bespoke Trustee training days for the four Sabbatical officers and arrange continuous development opportunities throughout their term of office.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Committees and Delegation

The position of the Student Executive is at the heart of the Board of Trustees and all other key sub-committees ensures that the student voice is heard throughout UBU decision making structures and that our decision makers are accountable to the student body. In this reporting year all meetings have been conducted online. Student Officers have a majority on all sub-committees; in summary:

Committee/Delegation Period Responsibilities

Student Union Council

Monthly during term time

Responsible for holding Executive to account, reviewing Executive work and informing the campaigning and representative work of UBU

Executive Committee Meets Monthly (at least)

Responsible for campaigning and representative functions of UBU. Responsible for the day to day student engagement

Board of Trustees

Meets Quarterly Responsible for overall strategic direction of UBU

Finance

Meets Weekly

Responsible for review and development of financial procedures, budgets, evaluating investment and general financial risks.

Governance Advisory Committee

Meets fortnightly

Reviews Constitution and Byelaws and other governance issues. Reports into Trustee Board

Strategy Advisory Committee Meets Monthly

Reviews strategic direction of UBU, makes recommendations. Reports into Trustee Board

HR Advisory Committee

Meets Monthly Review HR areas of UBU. Reports into Trustee Board

Health & Safety, Events and Covid (including Risk)

Meets weekly Responsible for UBU health & safety including the risk register. Covid review.

Responsible for ensuring events from across all areas of UBU are carried out in line with Health and Safety, due diligence, financial constraints.

Management Committee

Meets Monthly

Responsible for ensuring activity is in line with strategic, operational and financial plans.

Sports Assembly

Meets Monthly

To consider matters affecting student sports groups and consider their funding bids and activity plans.

Activities Assembly

Meets Monthly

To consider matters affecting student society groups and consider their funding bids and activity plans.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Academic Representation Assembly

Meets Monthly To consider matters affecting Academic Representative areas.

Annual budgets and accounts

These are considered on a quarterly basis by the Board of Trustees

UBU operates on democratic principles and the UBU Executive is responsible for the day-to-day development of representation and campaigning policy that affects students. The work of the UBU Executive is supervised by the Student Union Council, which can hold the UBU Executive to account and recall decisions made by the UBU Executive Committee. The Student Union Council makes and approves representational and campaigning policy.

UBU also employs around 16 staff for the sake of continuity in the management and delivery of its many activities. A clear staff structure is in place and staff members are ultimately accountable to the CEO for the performance of their duties. The CEO is accountable to the Board of Trustees and is formally line managed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Relationships with and support of the University of Bradford

The relationship between the University and UBU is based on an equal partnership across strategic functions such as commercial services, sport, representation, and learning and teaching, the aim of which is to provide the best student experience whilst being a student at the University of Bradford.

UBU received a block grant from the University of £1,345,302. UBU occupies a space in Student Central owned by the University of Bradford and pays rent of £537,737 per annum which includes utility and maintenance costs. The University provides support and other services such as IT support and access to facilities (e.g. sports, rooms) which support student activities and volunteering.

There is no reason to believe that financial support from the University will not continue for the foreseeable future, as the Education Act 1994 imposes a duty on the University to ensure the financial viability of its student representative body.

Risk Management

Budgetary and financial risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for the authorisation of all

transactions and projects.

Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations for staff, volunteers and participants in all activities organised by UBU, including transport provision.

A risk register is in place which is regularly reviewed each quarterly.

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Aims, Objectives and Activities University of Bradford Students’ Union Report of the Trustees Year Ended 31 July 2021

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Aims, Objectives and Activities

The UBU Strategy Plan sets out our Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Objectives. It does not detail the specific tasks that will be completed in a particular period but sets objectives and describes how we will evidence our success. In this way it provides a plan for UBU to navigate flexibly through the future years.

Operating departments which support UBU’s charitable objectives include:

Grant Making Policy

Sports Clubs – Joint membership scheme with the University sport department, an agreed amount is ring-fenced each year for sports clubs’ budgets from the membership fee. As a result of the Covid Pandemic there were no sports fixtures for 2020/2021. UBU agreed with the University not to take any funds from the membership agreement for the academic year.

Activity groups – An agreed amount from the University Subvention is allocated to societies and media groups at the start of the year. As result of the Covid Pandemic these agreed amounts were subject to change depending upon the restrictions placed upon us by the University and Government.

In all the relevant Sabbatical Officer and staff members oversee the budgets to ensure sports, societies and media are in line with their forecast. The relevant Sabbatical Officer and staff members report regularly to the Trustee Board on budgets.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union Long Term Objectives Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Long Term Objectives

Trustee Board

UBU and the University Senior Management team agreed to pursue the creation of a memorandum of agreement to illustrate the relationship between the two organisations particularly regarding Finance, HR and Space. As a result of Covid the support for students and encouragement for them to be tested and vaccinated took priority over the discussion about the agreement. The University have agreed to make it priority for the next academic year.

Student Voice

This area’s main objective remains to be the democratic voice of students through student council, academic representation, and market research. The UBU council still intends to review the role of lay members while this year it focused on the University Academic quality and service and supported students with improving their course through the democratic process.

Student Opportunities

This area was severely affected due to covid with all residentials having to be cancelled and no campus contact allowed. The engagement team transferred all the kick start personal development opportunities online achieving considerable success. The objective this year is re-introduce the residentials with a focus on promoting our internal opportunities to rejuvenate our sports clubs and societies. As UBU progresses through the year we will build up the external fundraising and campaigning opportunities.

Social/Training Space

Our long-term objective remains for UBU to continue to increase its social learning offer within student central and around campus. Also, we now have ambitious to create a student training centre to be the base for the UBU student development plan.

Student Development Programme

The Long term objective remains the same in terms of attracting 500 new students into its Kickstart development programme increasing each year to eventually achieve 2000 students by the year 2026. The aims remain the same to:

To achieve these objectives, strategic alliances with University faculties and halls of residence need to be developed to ensure all students receive information about the programme and have the opportunity to sign up for residentials or personal development programmes or to get involved with one of our many opportunities.

Summary Strategy Plan

Vision

Mission Statement

Values

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Public Benefit

The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The ways in which UBU demonstrates how it provides public benefit are included in its review of achievements and performance as follows:

UBU Response to Covid 19

UBU initially embarked on a process of using all our resources to engage our student body virtual attempting to offer a diary of events as we would do in a normal academic year. The experience of the previous lockdowns and having more time to plan allowed the team to deliver a package of entertainment, personal development and presentation evenings.

The UBU team maintained a presence on campus through adopting a strict rota and covid safety measures to ensure the safety of our staff. Through consultation and agreement each member of the team contributed to the operation of UBU either through a blended approach of virtual and physical or choice between working at home or in the office.

Together with the University the UBU team ran campaigns to encourage students to be regularly tested and then get themselves vaccinated.

As the restrictions lifted, we focused on delivering activities that were within the covid guidelines which were mainly hiking and outdoor sports training. This is involved a thorough understanding of governing body rules and then applying them to the UK Government Covid guidelines. This had a major impact on improving students’ wellbeing especially students who were unable to travel home over the lock down period.

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Student University of Bradford Students’ Union Report of the Trustees Year Ended 31 July 2021 Engagement Area

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Student Engagement Area

Kick Start

Online opportunities included: Make a Child Smile at Christmas; Meet the Paralympian (Disability History Month), University Challenge, scavenger hunts, LGBTQ Month online events, Unify Festival, Skill Share, Gardening group, Students with dependents group, and Football Scouting Training Programme engaged many students.

Several new opportunities presented themselves this year such as Covid Ambassadors, BLM Ambassadors, volunteering in vaccination centres and testing centres, online Boxing training, language classes, survival training, comedy improv, storytelling sessions and many others.

The Kickstart Training Programme ran several events each week, with sessions ranging from Being the Best You, disability awareness, public speaking, productivity ninja, LGBTQ + awareness, Improving your thinking abilities and Laughter yoga and conflict and resolution. This year’s online training programme increased in size and participation and lessons learned will be carried forward into next year.

The UBU team and the University Erasmus team developed and delivered a two 2-week online development programme in Sept and Jan to the students unable to travel to Bradford for their international student experience.

As the Covid restrictions relaxed and outdoor activities with restrictions were permitted the team offered a range of

physical outdoor activities to develop students and improve their wellbeing.

Firstly, UBU ran a major project to climb Ben Nevis with students and young people from our blind community. The student team trained over 4 months to support five blind students to reach the top of Ben Nevis and raised £4,000 for the project.

The UBU team supported a kick start student to raise £7,000 for a charity supporting a child of a Bradford Graduate who has a life limiting disease. The student organised a virtual running project attracting 30 entries to run their own challenging distance.

A range of wellbeing outdoor activities included over 30 hikes, 15 cycling trips, canoeing, and Dragon boating attracting students mainly living on campus who were isolated from their families.

The covid period allowed the UBU staff team to develop the Kick start recognition scheme across the different areas within UBU. This is the administration process which students move through the levels of the scheme as they collect volunteering hours and skills. This year over 1000 kickstart forms were entered into the process with 20 students reaching Level 3 awards and 300 Level 2 awards.

Volunteering

The Volunteering Department provides brokerage, volunteering events, RAG and micro volunteering opportunities as well as been part of the Kickstart scheme.

Approximately 900 students registered for volunteering this year with 231 doing regular volunteering roles. This demonstrates that wider UBU publicity for volunteering (the “Lockdown Volunteering” web page and mail outs to all students) plus offering the correct opportunities has had a big impact on student registrations. We have also produced departmental focused promotion which has met with good success.

The volunteering team run a Bradford Volunteer Managers Forum; Volunteer Managers and Coordinators from local third sector organisations.

We have 152 live opportunities currently, 64 new volunteering opportunities registered this year, and 416 total opportunities (with many on pause, waiting to restart)

Due to Covid and the restrictions lots of volunteering opportunities had to close in 2020, this was a national situation in the voluntary sector.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Throughout the Covid lockdowns, we developed a working partnership with Bradford Council and Volunteering Bradford. Promoting 16 emergency Covid-related student opportunities supported by a dedicated Lockdown Volunteering page on the UBU site. Particularly popular amongst these were - Vaccination Volunteering (31 students), Covid Community Support Volunteer (38 students), Telephone befriending (30 students), Covid Community Champions (8 students). 18 students also completed a national BSL qualification.

One of our students was nominated for the Bradford Community Stars for contributing 300 plus hours. Our Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to a student contributing 170 hrs to Centrepoint, wholly online, during the pandemic.

Campaigns

A campaigns calendar was developed which details the campaigns UBU follows yearly. UBU ran several successful campaigns including Black History Month, Disability History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, engaging over 250 students in each campaign. There were also campaigns such as Hedgehog friendly campus which saw significant student engagement.

Working alongside the Women's Officer and University stake holders UBU have restarted the union harassment network and have successfully improved lighting across the city. The network will continue meeting monthly and working with students to improve their safety in the city.

We raised just under £800 for RAG nominated charities throughout the year and around £1,800 for other charities.

Sports and Activities

This year there were 37 Activity Groups and 30 sport groups, with almost 1500 students joining up. Sports clubs and activity groups were brought together this year, in terms of integrating admin processes, adopting Kickstart as their development programme and even working together to organise a ball and Intermural. Sports clubs and some activity groups were able to train and meet. Some teams even managed to compete in friendlies. Socials ran both online and physically. Committees and Assemblies functioned very well online.

Major sporting events like BUCS and Varsity did not go ahead (the latter at the request of Huddersfield Union). Intermural was a big success taking place later in the year than usual but with just as much enthusiasm as usual. 144 students took part. The end of year ball was also a big event taking place at Bradford City Football Club with 100 in attendance for an evening of awards attended by the Vice-Chancellor. Many awards were given out, including Special Colours Awards, which recognises 4 years of dedication in exec roles across sports, activity groups or both. We gave out 15 this year to students who continued to work hard despite covid-19.

We also gave out 10 Special Colours for students who got it the previous year but wanted to attend Colours to collect their award. The joint awards committee got permission from the Captain Tom Foundation (Captain Sir Tom Moore) to use his name for the Unsung Hero Award which went to two students, Elspeth Jackson and Zoya Naz Raja, who have gone above and beyond with dedication to their clubs and UBU.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union Student Voice Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

Student Voice Trustee Report

The Student Voice department within UBU provides strategic oversight for several of the charities key support services including

The department provides support to student leaders in achieving manifesto aims and communicating key messages to partners within the University and local community.

The 2020-2021 academic year was a tough period for students, and the department had to radically transform its traditional working methods to engage with the student body in line with covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing measures.

Student Representation Update

Student Representation was moved online during the academic year. UBU working in partnership with university faculty staff recruited 307 representatives. Of this number UBU staff delivered 21 training sessions via Zoom and trained 63% of elected student representatives.

All activities for student representatives were moved online including key departmental meetings between students

and programme staff.

As well as this the Unions three main meetings with engaged students and faculty staff were moved online with engagement increasing from the previous academic year. In November

156 students attended the first faculty-based forum event in which reps met with key faculty staff to discuss the University experience.

At the beginning of February 2021 UBU supported the second faculty forum of the year, with 133 student representatives in attendance, in addition to 20 staff from academic faculties. In April UBU hosted the final Faculty Forum which was attended by just under 60 student representatives.

Additionally, the Unions faculty representatives actively engaged with their role, attending faculty-based meetings, as well as meeting with senior faculty staff. As a group they met monthly holding assemblies (UBU committee meeting) across the academic year.

Council

Over the course of the academic year UBU council met eight times in a formal setting, with the council choosing to

also meet informally a further three times.

28 students engaged with the Union’s online training this year, with the total membership being 30 students taking part in various roles. Council was delivered entirely online and has had much more engagement than previous years. The typical attendance is averaging around 24 students which is a big improvement over physical meetings where this has in recent years been circa 12.

Motions that were passed by Council are as follows:

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

One of the key discussions that council has discussed throughout the year has been around equality & diversity which is part of an ongoing consultation that feeds into the Sabbatical Structure review.

Advice and Support

The Advice Centre moved its services online during the academic year. The Union introduced various methods for students to access our support staff, with students being able to book meetings directly into the diaries of our advice team via the revamped website.

Students can also access the Union’s support team via the teams well publicised email address Our advice team will then provide students with support via email or arrange to meet the student virtually to provide either academic, financial, welfare, or housing support to students.

During this period the team were able to engage with over 600 cases, with students utilising the communication channels mentioned to access key advice and support.

The team has now started to use a brand-new case management system which in the coming years will enable the service to provide more in-depth reporting on cases.

The Advice Team also launched a brand-new outreach activity with Unipol (external housing charity) and University support services to launch a brand-new virtual Housing and Student Support Fayre in August. During the event over 320 new students were able to engage with local landlords and housing advisors to make informed housing choices, as well learning more about support on offer before arriving in Bradford.

Student Communications

This academic year has involved considerable change, with investment in staff support to enhance the Unions communications and marketing provision. UBU employed two student interns focusing on the delivery and enhancement of the organisation’s social media channels, and the website respectively.

The Union recently introduced a brand-new LinkedIn page in April as part of our Kickstart project. With regards to other channels current followers are as follows:

During the academic year the team have redeveloped the Union’s website which had become outdated and had been making poor use of the underlying content management systems capabilities. The project is near completion, with the team engaging a small number of students to assist with testing the site before the project can be completed.

Since the beginning of term, we have had over 260,000 page views, with 182,430 of these being unique page views. Our most popular page, apart from the home and sign in pages, was Freshers 2020 with 13,290 views total. Freshers itself on Wednesday the 30th of September saw the site hit 37,507 views within one day, which is over 3000% increase from the regular number of page views (around 1200 - 1500 on non-event days).

Our active user stats also reflect the large events of the academic year, with 1-day active users increasing from around 300 to 2000 the day of freshers, and again going from 200 to 2500 the day of the elections. 61% of our page demographics are in the 18 - 34 age range, with a 45.85% female 54.15% male gender split.

UBU Elections

UBU Elections took place during March 2021. At the close of the nomination period UBU received 29 self-nominations from students.

To encourage election activity the Union utilised the election budget to migrate normal election activities into the virtual environment. The included hosting a virtual candidates fayre stylised on the model successfully introduced for Septembers Freshers fayre.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union

Report of the Trustees

Year Ended 31 July 2021

This event was attended by just under 500 students. Additionally, UBU supported virtual hustings events which were well attended, with over 80 students attending our main AGM, and then an average of 30-40 students attending our minor hustings for Student Representatives, Sports Executives, and Activities.

To support the promotion of elections the Union ran several online competitions that were linked to all online activities to incentivise student engagement with the event. At the close of elections 1627 Students voted, with the Union receiving 0 election complaints for the third year running. The election numbers were slightly short of 150 votes down from last year.

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University of Bradford Students’ Union Report of the Trustees Year Ended 31 July 2021

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University of Bradford students, Unlon Report of the Trustees Year Ended 31 July 2021 Funds held as Custodlan trustee on behalf of others UBU acts as custodian for funds raised by the students. many clubs and societies and these funds are separately shown in the accounts. At the ye8r end the balances due to these dubs and societies was £97,063 {2020.' £85.2001. Reserves Policy In aecordance with the Charity Commission's guidancè on best Practi￿ we have targeted our level of reserves as that of 3 months wages costs. The amount of the lolal funds hdd is £484.973 the amount of restricted fvnds Is £21.440. The amount of fund that can onty be realised by disposing of tangible fixed assets 15 £7.044. The number ol reserves after making allowance for the above is £477,929. The amount of 3 months wages is £145,000 and is greater than our targeted level of reserves. Full Finanelal Revlew As in previous years the subvenb.on for the yearwas agreed at a level to allow UBU to meet agreed levels ol service provi510n tts students. This year UBU has delayed the recruitment process to fill vacanc￿$ and this has enabled us to achieve a further surplus whilst still b8in9 able to carry out our activities. Atthe start of the year, we decided to rèduce our expenditure in the potenb.ally area of èntertainments. This enabled us to increase the resources made available to the expandillg Studènt Voice area. We have also closely rnonitored the spending by the U8U's dub8 and activities tts ensure that the allocated budgets arè baing spent correctly. These are areas that we will have to continutr to scrutinise in the corning year as we wll be subject to inflationary pressures, especialty in Vfdge5 Costs. Approved by the Trustees on 2S and signed on their behalf by.. Trustee Truste& 19

University of Bradford Union known as UBU Statement of TrusteÈy' Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for p￿paring the Trustees, A[￿U31 Report ond the fll)ancial ststements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kin8dom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and appli¢abl¢ law and regulations. The law applicable to chariiies requires the trustees to prepare fjnanciai statements for each fmancial yw which give a trut and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resource$ of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial 5tat¢ments, the trustees are required tt).. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them ¢oDsistently,' observe the methods and principles in the Charities SOFTr 2015 FRS 102,. make judgements and ¢stimat¢s ihat ar¢ reasonable and prudent- siaie whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departure5 disclosed and explained tn the fjnancial ststements. and prepare the financial ststemenis on the going concern basis unless li is inappropria¢¢ io presume that the charhty will continue in business. The tN5te¢5 are responsible for keeping proper a¢¢ollnting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any lime th¢ fjnancial p051tion of the ¢haTity artd enable them to ensure that the fxnancial Statements Comply with the Charities Act 2011. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other i￿egular1tieS. Approve by the trustees of tht ch￿lty on 25 January 2022 and signed on its behalf by.. R Sar(￿P Trustee Page 20

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of University of Bradford Union

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of University of Bradford Union (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 July 2021, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, 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 United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (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 Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity 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

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were 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.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

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University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of University of Bradford Union

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (set out on page 20), the trustees 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.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to 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 charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report 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.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

In planning and designing our audit tests, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement within the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. Our assessment of these risks includes consideration of the nature of the industry and sector, the control environment and the business performance along with the results of our enquiries of management, about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities. We are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

Following this assessment we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the company for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in evaluating the assets and cash balances etc.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the company operates in, through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector in which the company operates, to enable us to identify the key laws and regulations applicable to the company. We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, Charities SORP (FRS 102), taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation.

We then performed audit procedures after consideration of the above risks which included the following:

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University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of University of Bradford Union

All engagement team members were informed of the relevant laws and regulations and potential fraud risks at the planning stage and reminded to remain alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. The engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify such items.

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of report

This report is made solely to the charity trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees 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 charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

......................................

Watson Buckle Limited (Senior Statutory Auditor)

Bradford

25 January 2022

Page 23

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July 2021 (Including Income and Expenditure Account)

Unrestricted funds
Note
Designated
£
General
£
Income and endowments from
Donations and legacies
3
4,525
1,345,302
Charitable activities
4
-
1,025
Other trading activities
5
-
7,165
Total income and endowments
4,525
1,353,492
Expenditure
Raising funds
-
(23,173)
Charitable activities
(8,085)
(1,264,794)
Total expenditure
(8,085)
(1,287,967)
Net (expenditure)/income
(3,560)
65,525
Transfers between funds
-
(9,278)
Net movement in funds
(3,560)
56,247
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
8,973
401,873
Total funds carried forward
14
5,413
458,120		 Restricted
funds
£
8,586
-
-
8,586
-
(57,128)
(57,128)
(48,542)
9,278
(39,264)
60,704
21,440		 Total
2021
£
1,358,413
1,025
7,165
1,366,603
(23,173)
(1,330,007)
(1,353,180)
13,423
-
13,423
471,550
484,973		 Total
2020
£
1,381,829
171,881
3,074
1,556,784
(43,753)
(1,425,695)
(1,469,448)
87,336
-
87,336
384,214
471,550

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2020 is shown in note 14.

The notes on pages 26 to 37 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 24

University of Bradford Union known as UBU (Registration number: 1148622) Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2021 2021 2020 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 7,044 12.102 Currellt A85ets Debtor5 C&8h at bank and in hand 12 593,140 318.567 597,859 296.136 911,707 893,995 Creditors: Amounts falling due withiD Otle year 13 433.778} 434,547) Net current assets 477,929 459.448 Net assets 484,973 471,550 Funds of the charity: Restricted income funds Restricied funds 21,440 60,704 UDrestrieted 1￿come fund$ Unrestricted funds 463,53) 410,846 Total fund$ 14 484,973 471,550 The financial statements on pages 24 to 37 were approved by the trusiees, at)d authorised for LS5ue on 25 January 2022 and sigtled on ih¢sr behalf by.. R Saroop Trustee The rto¢e$ on pages 26 to 37 forni an integral part of these financial statements. Page 25

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

1 General information

The entity is an unincorporated registered charity governed by its constitution.

Their registered address is: Student Central Richmond Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD7 1DP

2 Accounting policies

Statement of compliance

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The entity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The company's functional and presentation currency is pound sterling.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 14.

Income and endowments

Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Page 26

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

Donations and legacies

Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Other trading activities

Income from generating funds includes income recognised as earned.

Charitable activities

Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

All resources expended are inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Grant expenditure

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specific service or output.

Grants payable without performance conditions are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity.

Grant provisions

Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that ongoing financial support will be provided by the University of Bradford and accordingly do not take account of adjustments, if any, which may be necessary if the University of Bradford Union was unable to continue as a going concern.

Page 27

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate Furniture and equipment 25% straight line basis

Debtors

Debtors are recognised initially when they become due at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment. A provision for impairment of debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the debtors.

Creditors

Creditors are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired by the charity. Creditors are initially recognised at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Page 28

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

3 Donations and legacies

Subvention
Donations
Grants, including capital
grants;
Choices 4 All
Take A Hike		 Designated
£
-
-
-
4,525
4,525		 Unrestricted
funds
£
1,345,302
-
-
-
1,345,302		 Restricted
funds
£
-
8,586
-
-
8,586		 Total
2021
£
1,345,302
8,586
-
4,525
1,358,413		 Total
2020
£
1,345,302
13,833
9,654
13,040
1,381,829

4 Income from Charitable activities

Entertainment income
Athletic Union membership fees
Trips income
Competition fees income
Braduate income
5
Other trading activities
Advertising income
NUS extra
Sundry other income
Events income;
Other events income		 Unrestricted
funds
£
1,000
-
25
-
-
1,025
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
519
3,228
3,418
7,165		 Total
2021
£
1,000
-
25
-
-
1,025
Total
2021
£
-
519
3,228
3,418
7,165		 Total
2020
£
5,121
70,000
2,959
90,000
3,801
171,881
Total
2020
£
783
668
1,241
382
3,074

Page 29

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

6 Expenditure on raising funds

Wages and salaries recharged
Telephone and fax
Printing, postage and stationery
Sundry expenses
Travel and subsistence
NUS expenses		 Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
23,173
23,173		 Total
2021
£
-
-
-
-
-
23,173
23,173		 Total
2020
£
6,308
183
215
1,615
108
35,324
43,753

7 Expenditure on Charitable Activities

Entertainment
Clubs and societies
Student representation
Welfare services
Marketing and
communication
Volunteering
Administrative expenses
Duke of Edinburgh		 Designated
£
-
-
-
-
-
8,085
-
-
8,085		 Unrestricted
funds
£
11,310
99,247
52,194
116,751
44,269
110,804
830,219
-
1,264,794		 Restricted
funds
£
-
51,849
-
100
-
-
5,179
-
57,128		 Total
2021
£
11,310
151,096
52,194
116,851
44,269
118,889
835,398
-
1,330,007		 Total
2020
£
14,596
243,912
57,798
115,274
20,752
93,034
879,087
1,242
1,425,695
Clubs and societies
Grant funding of activities		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
93,971
5,276
99,247		 Restricted
funds
£
17,442
34,407
51,849		 Total
2021
£
111,413
39,683
151,096		 Total
2020
£
161,050
82,862
243,912

Page 30

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

Grant-making

Analysis
Clubs and societies		 Grants to
institutions
£
39,512

During the year, grants of £34,599 (2020 - £70,081) were paid to 29 (2020 - 26) sports clubs and grants of £4,913 (2020 - £8,614) were paid to 39 (2020 - 17) culturally diverse societies.

Name of institution
Volleyball
American Football
Football - Mens
Cricket
Netball
Rugby Union - Men
Rugby Union - Women
Basketball - Mens
Hockey Mixed
Lacrosse
Rugby League
Baking Society
Individual grant to institutions under £1,350		 £
4,316
3,928
3,136
2,520
2,443
2,180
1,845
1,750
1,726
1,719
1,665
1,614
10,670
39,512

Page 31

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

8 Trustees remuneration and expenses

2021 2020
Remuneration Expenses Remuneration Expenses
S Shabir 18,788 - 21,628 239
A Malik - - 23,749 22
A Ahmed - - 20,490 170
Z Abdin 21,111 - 22,233 35
A Abdussalam 25,706 - 2,671 -
I Ahmad 22,001 - 2,353 85
S S M Akhtar 2,429 - - -
A S Malik 2,429 - - -
M Yasin - - - 18
Total 92,464 - 93,124 551

The trustees received remuneration in relation to their role as a students union officer, not as their role as a trustees. They are paid in accordance with the constitution.

9 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Recharged staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2021
£
493,710
35,937
52,370
582,017		 2020
£
487,887
35,601
51,880
575,368

The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was:

£60,001 - £70,000 2021
No
1		 2020
No
1

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £65,129 (2020 - £65,023).

10 Auditors' remuneration

Audit of the financial statements
Page 32		 2021
£
8,750		 2020
£
8,250

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

11 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 August 2020
Additions
At 31 July 2021
Depreciation
At 1 August 2020
Charge for the year
At 31 July 2021
Net book value
At 31 July 2021
At 31 July 2020
12 Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 Furniture and
equipment
£
64,167
4,533
68,700
52,065
9,591
61,656
7,044
12,102
2021
£
268,699
318,542
5,899
593,140		 Total
£
64,167
4,533
68,700
52,065
9,591
61,656
7,044
12,102
2020
£
317,399
273,888
6,572
597,859

Debtors includes £48,570 (2020: £54,642) receivable after more than one year.

Page 33

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2021
£
276,592
97,055
60,131
433,778		 2020
£
328,027
85,192
21,328
434,547

Included in the other creditors above are monies held on behalf of student clubs and societies amounting to £97,063 (2020: £85,200). During the year the charity received funds of £29,738 and paid funds of £21,024 on behalf of the students' clubs and societies.

students' clubs and societies.
Deferred income at 1 August 2020
Amounts released from previous periods
Deferred income at year end		 2021
£
1,804
(474)
1,330		 2020
£
12,906
(11,102)
1,804

Page 34

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

14 Funds

14 Funds
Balance at 1 Incoming Resources Balance at 31
August 2020 resources expended Transfers July 2021
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted
Unrestricted general funds
General funds 401,873 1,353,492 (1,287,967) (9,278) 458,120
Designated 8,973 4,525 (8,085) - 5,413
Total unrestricted 410,846 1,358,017 (1,296,052) (9,278) 463,533
Restricted funds
Athletic Union 35,736 - (34,227) - 1,509
Competition fees 8,264 - (17,442) 9,178 -
Choices 4 All 7,466 - - - 7,466
RAG fund 3,160 3,457 (5,179) - 1,438
Crisis fund - - (100) 100 -
Your Turn Programme 1,980 - - - 1,980
Arthur Williams Creative
Fund 1,670 - (180) - 1,490
Braduate Fund 2,428 - - - 2,428
Funds 4 Runs Womens
Cricket - 2,698 - - 2,698
Climate Action Fund - 2,431 - - 2,431
Restricted 60,704 8,586 (57,128) 9,278 21,440
Total funds 471,550 1,366,603 (1,353,180) - 484,973

Page 35

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

Balance at 1 Balance at 1 Incoming Resources Balance at 31
August 2019 resources expended Transfers July 2020
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General 335,718 1,356,456 (1,290,033) (268) 401,873
Designated - 13,040 (4,067) - 8,973
Total unrestricted funds 335,718 1,369,496 (1,294,100) (268) 410,846
Restricted funds
Athletic Union 35,768 70,000 (70,032) - 35,736
Competitions - 90,000 (81,736) - 8,264
Choices 4 All 6,635 9,654 (8,823) - 7,466
RAG 853 12,633 (10,326) - 3,160
Crisis fund - - (268) 268 -
Your Turn Programme 3,160 1,200 (2,380) - 1,980
Arthur Williams Creative
Fund 2,080 - (410) - 1,670
Braduate Fund - 3,801 (1,373) - 2,428
Restricted funds 48,496 187,288 (175,348) 268 60,704
Total funds 384,214 1,556,784 (1,469,448) - 471,550

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

Athletics Union membership fees must be used to provide grants to sports clubs.

Competition fee income must be used to pay for competition entry fees for the sports clubs.

Choices 4 All income must be used to meet the costs of delivering the scheme.

RAG fund income must be used to donate fundraising monies to the two annually nominated Union charities.

Crisis fund income must be used to support students experiencing financial hardship.

Your turn programme income must be used to engage non-active students, women and other liberation groups through free campus sports.

Arthur Williams Creative Fund must be used in respect of the arts.

Braduate Fund covered the Child Play and Palestine Awareness week, Sustrans, a sustainable cycling organisation, and a Community Safety Project run by the Police.

Funds 4 Runs to be used in the promotion of participation in womens cricket from the ECB.

Climate Action Fund from the national lottery to focus on addressing waste and consumption.

Page 36

University of Bradford Union

known as UBU

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2021

15 Analysis of net assets between funds

15 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Designated Restricted
funds funds funds Total funds
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 7,044 - - 7,044
Current assets 884,854 5,413 21,440 911,707
Current liabilities (433,778) - - (433,778)
Total net assets 458,120 5,413 21,440 484,973

16 Related party transactions

During the year the charity made the following related party transactions:

The University of Bradford

(The University of Bradford has significant influence over the union by virtue of its relationship as sponsoring organisation.)

2021 2020
Amounts received from The University of Bradford
Athletic Union membership contributions - 70,000
Competition expense contributions - 90,000
Subvention 1,345,302 1,345,302
Grants 8,800 -
Amounts paid to The University of Bradford
Rent (537,737) (537,737)
Salaries (577,500) (582,349)
Other costs (10,729) (17,441)
Amounts due (to)/from The University of Bradford
Amount due to (316,552) (317,782)
Amount due from 525,318 524,596

Page 37