University of Manchester Students' Union

Analysis

University of Manchester Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in October 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and recreation, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07759820). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, University of Manchester Students' Union reported income of £8.3m and spending of £8.8m, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £4.0m to £8.3m (+109%), an average of +20% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 254%. Over the whole period it spent 84% 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 Manchester 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 Plymouth Argyle Football in the Community Trust (£8.3m), The Hawthorns Educational Trust Limited (£8.4m) and University of Essex Students' Union (£8.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 54%, donations and legacies 43% and charitable activities 3.5%. Charitable activities took 42% of spending and raising funds 58%. Reserves of £1.0m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 108 people.