University of Bradford Union

Student engagement with UBU comes via things like its societies and sports clubs, its academic representation system in which students can be elected representatives, and its various volunteering and charitable opportunities.

Of the many societies, some are course-related, such as the optometry society BOOSA; there are also international societies, faith groups, charitable and campaigning societies, and some purely recreational societies.

Many of the sports teams feature Bradford's traditional colours of black with red and white accents for their playing kit.

UBU runs campaigns on varying issues, with a focus on education and welfare, together with sustainability and diversity. Campaigns are directed by the elected leadership team, or sometimes by motions brought by students through the Council.

Past notable campaigns have included: Free Education & Grants for all — The Union has a long-standing position for free education. In 1997 the Union supported people refusing to pay the first fees including fees strikes. That latest free education policy was passed in 2008 to support the call for a national demonstration for free education.[6] In September 2008 the General Meeting of students decided that the call for Free Education should be the campaign priority for the academic year and voted to allocate over one thousand pounds to the cause.[7]

Palestine and Gaza — After the Union made two demands for support of Gaza of the university[8] in 2009 over 80 students occupied the university boardroom with a number of further demands of support for Gaza.[9] they claim to have achieved some success as of the morning of 28 January 2009.[10] In 2007 a Bradford Student Khaled al-Mudallal became trapped in Palestine. The union ran a campaign to support Khaled[11] and to aid his return. It was supported by UCU, the Lectures Union and the NUS the National Students' Union. He was elected the Honorary Vice President[12] of the LSE Students' Union and released on 4 December[13]

Blood Donation — UBU has supported the right for gay men to give blood with its LGBT society campaigning throughout the year of 2006 and 2007 to lift the ban.[14] The union supported the society[15] in encouraging people who can to give blood and to call for the ban to be lifted in favour of a ban on promiscuity and people who partake in unsafe sex giving blood.

Fair Trade — UBU coordinates the Bradford University Fair Trade Status,[16] in 2006 the Union gained Fair Trade status for the university and continues to campaign on this issue.

Historically, like many other students' unions, UBU ran the shops and bars on campus, and in the late 1970s the Union-run businesses had a combined annual turnover of more than £1 million. A joint board was set up during the 2010 refurbishment of the Student Central building and identified that due to significant losses the Student Union entity was no longer a viable option to manage a commercial development which resulted in the bars and shop areas falling under University of Bradford commercial services, and they are currently run by business managers, theoretically allowing the Union to focus on student engagement.

The bars have been through many changes of name; one was originally the Junior Common Room.

As of 2021, the "Entertainments Mall" is home to a number of venues:

• The Amp Bar
• The Sports Bar
• The Escape Lounge
• Central Shakes Diner