University of Essex Students' Union

Analysis

University of Essex Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Colchester. It was registered in February 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and amateur sport, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, University of Essex Students' Union reported income of £8.2m and spending of £8.3m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £5.1m to £8.2m (+61%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 55%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, University of Essex 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 Burnley Leisure and Culture (£7.9m), Plymouth Argyle Football in the Community Trust (£8.3m) and Absolutely Together (£7.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 58%, donations and legacies 40% and investments 1.2%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 271 people.