Cardiff University Students' Union

Analysis

Cardiff University Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cardiff. It was registered in July 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and amateur sport, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07328777). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, Cardiff University Students' Union reported income of £14.0m and spending of £13.1m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £6.0m to £14.0m (+135%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 106%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, Cardiff University Students' Union sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Pony Club (£13.8m), Circadian Trust (£14.1m) and Coventry Sports Foundation (£12.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 39%, donations and legacies 36% and charitable activities 24%. Charitable activities took 34% of spending and raising funds 66%. Reserves of £1.8m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 938 people.