Helping students love their time at Leeds

Love your time at Leeds – this is the vision that has driven our work over the last four years and beyond. Leeds University Union exists to enhance and improve the experience for students during their time at University of Leeds. It is a broad mission, encompassing everything from student support, activities, campaigns and representation, to jobs and value for money in our shops, bars and cafes.

As LUU steps into a new strategy, it is important to look back at how the strategic plan for 2018-2022 was carried out, and the impacts it left on our students. The three impacts we set out to achieve were – feeling good, feeling valued, and feeling ready for the future.

The recent years have been driven by learning to adapt to a ‘new normal’ during and after the pandemic, with multiples challenges, like online learning, industrial action, and the cost of living crisis, to face. It has been brilliant seeing our students embrace a fuller university experience, with the energy and intensity that comes with that.

Making students feel good

A well rounded and full student experience includes opportunities to socialise and build friendships, discover and develop interests, and maintain good mental health. From mindful yoga, dance and exercise sessions and relaxing arts & crafts workshops to therapy pets and outdoor walks, our programme was full of events that are good for the body and the mind. We supported more than 300 clubs and societies, so every student could find their community of like-minded students to learn new skills and develop their talents, build friendships and make good memories. And, of course, our trained advisers in Help & Support have always been there to offer free, confidential, and independent advice, and useful resources.

  • Over 150,000 memberships across 363 student groups and sports clubs
  • Over 507,000 total recorded attendances at events

“Whilst I was a student here, I was a member of the LUU Development Netball Club, and this was undoubtebly the best thing I did at university. Joining Dev gave me a huge sense of belonging as a fresher, I met lots of like-minded people who became my best friends, and the club gave me a wide variety of opportunities, both on and off the court, including events, trips abroad, and socials, to name a few.” – Sara

“One of the things I like the most about being a School Rep, is how connected I feel to the student community in my school, in my faculty, and the University as a whole.” – Elena

Making students feel valued

Student voice is at the heart of everything we do. Through campaigns like Liberate LUU and World Unite Festival, we continued to celebrate the diversity of Leeds and offered representation and support to the different communities and cultures here. We gave students a platform to express their views and to make changes in their Union and beyond through Better Forums and our regular surveys. And we ended the year with a variety of award ceremonies during the Celebrate week where we acknowledged the hard work of everyone who made Leeds an exciting, inclusive and supportive place.

Varsity
  • Over 4 million transactions made across LUU
  • An average Net Promoter Score rating of +37.75 across LUU services

Our goal is to make students feel at home at LUU. Whether it’s using our spaces to study, relax and catch up with friends, enjoying a range of delicious and healthy food options and affordable drinks, shopping for necessities or memorabilia, taking part in events, fairs and gigs, or simply following our social media channels to catch up with the latest LUU news, offers, and tips, we are always striving to increase the student engagement, so every student gets more than a degree out of their university experience.

Making students feel ready for the future

We offered part-time jobs in our shops, cafes, events and offices to equip students with a range of skills to add to their CV, and we provided further job opportunities and advice through JobLink. We also equipped students with tools and support to empower them as leaders, change-makers and activists with our campaigns, including Liberate LUU and Sustainability at LUU, as well as Better Forums, student-led projects, and, of course, our annual leadership race – Lead LUU.

  • More than 15 and a half thousand students jobs over the last 4 years
  • Over £10 million in student pockets via salaries over the last 4 years
  • Over 71 and a half thousand learning opportunities for students via LMS courses and training for Liberation Coordinators, Hall Exec, Community members, Activities Exec, Committee members and School reps
  • Over 137,000 learning and volunteering opportunities taken up