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Following a review of our byelaws and operations we are making some changes to the membership categories available for our clubs and societies. These changes are intended to ensure that current students are able to take advantage of as many places in our clubs and societies as possible and provide reassurance that we are meeting our charitable objects as set out in our articles of association. 

Club and Society Members

Our future membership categories will therefore be as follows with effect from 1 September 2022:

Full members – students of the University of Leeds

Previously we included a public membership category, which allowed alumni and others to hold member rights in our clubs and societies, as well as an affiliate membership category aimed at students attending other Leeds universities and education institutions. But as our focus is very much our current membership our board has taken the decision to remove other categories of membership from our offer. 

The reason for this is the risk arising of LUU being unable to discipline or sanction anyone who is not a Leeds student, which has serious implications if someone is accused of a misbehaviour or crime; effectively there is an imbalance in the sanctions available to be applied to students at the University of Leeds and anyone else.  

We have an obligation to run affairs (including clubs and societies) for Leeds students but recognise that some clubs and societies draw benefit from the involvement of members of the local community and fellow students from other institutions. We will therefore be working with our clubs and societies over the coming months to identify other routes for those individuals who wish to continue working with our clubs and societies to do so. However, these new forms of participation will not provide any membership rights as these are reserved for full members only i.e. students at the University of Leeds.

We already have some schemes in place such as our approved coach/instructor registration scheme that may suit some participants and are offering a registered participant scheme, should clubs and societies wish to offer this, administered through our Activities and Opportunities Officer, supported by the Activities Executive.

Please note that current memberships for 2021/22 will all lapse on 31 August 2022 and that at present there are currently only 113 public members in over 350 LUU clubs and societies compared to over 35,300 full (Leeds student) members and just over 600 alumni/students from other institutions.  

Non-University of Leeds students who were elected committee positions for 22/23 will be able to maintain these roles. 

We will be providing some FAQs regarding these changes and will update you further as the consultations with clubs and society committees take place.

Non-University of Leeds students, including alumni and students from other institutions, can still take part in societies. They can sign up as a Participant, there is more information available here.