Please note: the campaigns grant is open for applications however they will not be processed until after 8 January 2024.

What is the campaigns grant?

At Durham SU, we want to bring students together to tackle the big issues that hold them back. The campaigns grant is a part of this aim! A campaign is simply a group of students working together to make change at the University, benefit Durham students or the wider community.

The purpose of this grant is to support students in running campaigns. This funding could go towards producing materials such as posters or banners, hosting campaigns-related events, inviting guest speakers and more!

This academic year, £3,000 is available to support student activist. Each group of students will be eligible for up to a maximum of £150 to support their campaign. In some circumstances, if a students can evidence the need for more than £150, this will be considered by the committee.

What is the process of applying for the grant?

1. Fill out the campaigns grant application form.
2. Submit the form to sophie.l.birch@durham.ac.uk. Depending on the nature of your planned campaign activities, you may be required to provide extra information or complete a risk assessment to accompany your application.
3. The application will be assessed by the SU Officer Committee.
4. A decision on whether the grant has been approved will be provided within around 7 working days.
5. If your application is approved, you can then spend your allocated funds (please see below).

If you need any support with the application process or filling out the forms, contact Sophie, the activism programme coordinator at sophie.l.birch@durham.ac.uk

Please note: if you submit your application outside of term time, it may take longer for a response to be given.

How to use the grant

If your grant is approved, here is how you will be able to use it.

1. You will be informed on how much money you have been allocated – this may be the full amount you applied for or a reduced amount depending on the decision of the Officer Committee.
2. You can then use up to your allocated amount of funding to go towards the activities detailed in your application form. There are two ways in which you can spend your allocated funds.
   • Using money from your own account and submitting the campaigns grant expense form along with receipts/proof of purchase to sophie.l.birch@durham.ac.uk. You will then be refunded within 10 working days. If you submit the expense form and receipts/proof of purchase by Monday lunchtime you will be refunded on Friday of the same week. If they are submitted after Monday lunchtime you will be refunded on the Friday of the following week.
     Please note: if you submit your expense form outside of term time it may take longer for you to be reimbursed.
   • Submitting a request via email to sophie.l.birch@durham.ac.uk and they will make the purchase for you. This method can be used if buying more expensive items.

What are the criteria?

The following criteria will be considered by the Officer Committee when reviewing your application.

• You must complete the campaigns grant application form in full including the campaign plan, budget plan and risk assessment (if required).
• The campaign should aim to create positive change that benefits Durham students or the wider community.
• The grant must only be used for the activities detailed in the application. These activities should further the overall aims of the campaign.
• The campaign should align with the strategic objectives of the SU
• The campaign cannot go against the SU’s charitable objectives

Campaigns Grant Regulations

The following regulations must be taken into account when applying for and using the campaigns grant.

• Students can apply for a maximum of £150 within the academic year 2023/24 and may not apply for further funding for the same campaign within that year.
• In some circumstances, if a students can evidence the need for more than £150, this will be considered by the Officer Committee.
• The funds must be spent within the same academic year.
• The SU reserves the right to reclaim any money from the students’ account that is not used for its intended purpose or remains unspent at the end of the academic year in which the campaign takes place.
• Once the application has been submitted, the Officer Committee will consider the application and you will have a response within around 7 working days.
• The Officer Committee reserves the right to award all, part or none of the money that the student has applied for and may provide reasonable conditions to any funding.
• Any activity funded by the campaigns grant may require an approved risk assessment before it can take place.
• Once the funds have been used you will be required to complete and submit an evaluation form.
• The grant cannot be used for the following purposes:
  1. To fund any food or drink unless it is the focus of the activity.
  2. To provide funds retrospectively i.e. for events that have already taken place or resources that have already been purchased.
  3. To fund activities whose primary aim is fundraising for other charities.
  4. To provide donations to charities or political parties.
  5. Spending funds on activities or resources that only benefit individuals or a small number of individuals.
  6. To fund events that should be self-funded (e.g. socials), such events should be ticketed to cover costs.
  7. For recurring activities and expenditures.

Campaign Equipment Borrowing Scheme

• The SU are planning to set up a campaign equipment borrowing scheme.
• If there is a piece of campaign-related equipment that you think the SU should invest in, please complete this form and we will take this into account when buying equipment that will become available to borrow.