Monday 06-04-2026 - 09:26

University of Bristol Students’ Union Pole and Aerial Arts Society

 

1. NAME

1. The name of the Society shall be the Bristol SU (University of Bristol Students’ Union) Pole and Aerial Arts Society

2. The Society shall be affiliated to the University of Bristol Students’ Union and represented by the Societies’ Network.

 

2. AIMS 

 

• To ensure any member or participant in pole dance or aerial arts (such as aerial hoop or aerial silks) feels confident, capable, safe and are able to enjoy themselves.

 

• To offer free open practice sessions for Members to attend on a regular basis, ensuring that Pole and Aerial Art remain accessible .

 

• To educate and advocate for the support of Sex work and the origin of the art of pole dance and aerial arts, and to actively fight the stigma associated with the art through education and connection with local sex worker communities.

 

• To offer members at least one opportunity per year to perform in a non-competitive setting and provide a minimum of two performances a year in the form of a Winter and Summer showcase. 

 

• To offer members the opportunity to compete regardless of their level or apparatus and to support them in their competition preparation. 

 

• To ensure an inclusive, welcoming and supportive environment for Members and the Public through open practices, socials and wider Society events

• To ensure the Society is a safe and inclusive space, with a zero tolerance policy on bullying, discrimination or disregard for other genres of pole or aerial arts. 

• To give members the opportunity to learn and practice pole dance, aerial hoop and aerial silks as well as other aerial disciplines through regular classes and workshops

• To offer classes at a partnered studio that are financially accessible to students as well as student-only classes to ensure participation is available for all

• To spend according to the member participation and to promote funding opportunities to help widen participation and engagement, ensuring our Society remains financially accessible

 

The Society shall abide by the Union’s Code of Conduct, and any other policies laid down by the Union’s Board of Trustees.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP

1. Full membership is open to all full members of the Union by application to the Society.

2. Associate membership is open to all other persons who are associate members of the Union.

3. Not less than three-quarters of the Society members shall be full members of the Union.

4. The Secretary shall keep a list of all members, differentiating between full and associate members. The Secretary shall inform the Student Services Team of the membership of the Society each year.

5. There shall be a subscription fee levied for membership, which shall be fixed at the discretion of the Committee being no less than the minimum rate demanded by the Union.

 

4. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Only members may sit on the Committee.

2. Only full members may vote in Committee elections.

3. All categories of membership shall have equal rights of attending meetings etc.

 

5. COMMITTEE

1. There shall be a Society Committee which shall be the executive decision-making body of the Society.

2. The President, Secretary, Treasurer and Equality Officer of the Committee shall be full members of the Union.

3. The Committee shall be responsible for the general and financial policy of the Society, subject to such rules as laid out in the Union’s Constitution and Byelaws, and any rulings made by the Union.

4. Quoracy for Committee meetings shall be set at 50% of the post filled positions plus one.

5. All Committee meetings must be minuted by the Secretary (or other Committee member if they are unavailable) and the minutes circulated to the Committee before the next committee meeting.

6. The Committee is comprised of:

 

President

President will act as spokesperson for the Society, key contact with the University of Bristol Students Union, Committee, Members, coordinate the Society, Committee and Members. They will be responsible for organising and chairing committee meetings and for protecting the interests of . the Society, as well as its aims and objectives as laid out in the constitution. They will also organise Give It A Go sessions for the society and Freshers Fair at the start of the academic year, as well as regular room bookings and taking charge of ensuring welcome emails are delivered to members. They will also act as a point of contact and support for Committee members in executing their individual roles. 

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer:

Equality, diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer must ensure the Society is a space inclusive to all regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexuality or other factors at all times. The EDI officer will also ensure the zero-tolerance policy on harassment and bullying is enforced, and if necessary will flag any issues to the Students Union and President in an unbiased and professional manner in the case of any incidents. They will also work with the wider Committee to ensure events and the Society are accessible and inclusive to all.

 

Treasurer:

Treasurer will oversee the financial functioning of the Society and ensuring the Society adheres to the University of Bristol Students Union Financial Guidelines. Treasurer is also responsible for gaining sponsorship from external sources and maintaining these relationships. Treasurer will also work alongside social secretaries to provide fundraising events to cover the cost of the society if necessary. 

 

Secretary:

Secretary will ensure the running of the Society and keep accurate and up to date records, including minutes at each committee meeting. They will also communicate with Committee and Members via email principally, but may also use Whatsapp or Instagram. Secretary is also responsible for answering Member queries and signposting members to resources appropriately. Secretary will also be responsible for completing Risk Assessment Forms through the year if necessary. 

 

Vice-President:

Vice-President is the first point of contact if the President is uncontactable or unable to fulfill their role within the society for a maximum period of 3 months, After this period, an election would be held to establish a new president, which would be organised by the Vice-President. The Vice-President will also support Committee members as well as Members. Vice-President will be support for President, as well as helping to balance responsibilities for the President. Vice-President is also responsible for overseeing completion of the Balloon Accreditation Scheme for the year, with the aim for Gold Accreditation. 

 

Events officer

Events officer will be responsible for organising large events such as Winter and Summer Showcases as well as ensuring smooth running of events on the day. They will work with media and publicity officer for promotion, as well as organising the venue, lighting, performers, photography, filming, charity raffles and running order. They will also be responsible for coordinating transportation of equipment to the venue if necessary. In the case that our Society hosts South West Pole Varsity, the Events officer will work with the COmpetition officer to organise this event.

 

Floorwork and Stretch officer

Floorwork and stretch officer will be responsible for organising workshops and classes for Members involving strength, flexibility training and floorwork. They are also responsible for running warm ups and cool downs at Give It A Go sessions. if the Floorwork and Stretch officer is to teach sessions, they shall be provided with training that can be, in part or whole, subsidised by the society (if funds allow) to ensure all our members are being taught safely and that as a society we are being responsible. They are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of an even split of floorwork to stretch and flexibility classes throughout the year and listing these for members on the SU website. They will also be responsible for one off room bookings for workshops if necessary. Floorwork and Stretch officer will also ensure that sexy style and floorwork are practiced safely and gives connection to the roots and origins of pole dance. If necessary, the society may subsidise any qualifications needed if they wish to teach the Floorwork classes, but teaching is not mandatory. If the Floor Officer is not teaching, it is their responsibility to find a teacher to employ for the floor classes.

 

Media and Publicity Officer:

Media and Publicity Officer will produce content for the Society Social media to engage people with out Society, as well as communicating to our Members via the newsletter. they will produce original and engaging publicity and entertainment for the Members and Public, as well as promotional material. They will also produce flyers, posters, videos or digital adverts for events. They will also encourage people to attend events, workshops and open practices by advertising and making people aware of what they involve. 

 

Social secretary/ secretaries:

Social secretaries will be responsible for planning a variety of socials for Members throughout the year, including sober socials, in line with the interests of members. They will also be primarily responsible for organising the Family scheme for the upcoming year and supporting Member engagement at events, socials and the family scheme throughout the year. The Social secretaries will aim to always have at least one Social secretary at events or socials to ensure a welcoming environment. 

 

Competition officer

Competition officer will organise auditions, coordinate room bookings and practices for the competitors as well as support the competitors and their wellbeing during the competition season. They will also ensure travel to and from competitions will be as efficient as possible and can be afforded by the society. Competition officer will also research the rules and guidelines for the competitions and ensure these are adhered to by competitors, and is responsible for answering queries regarding guidelines. Competition officer will also liaise with competition organises, complete entry forms and organise any entry fees within the competition deadlines. They will also organise external support for competitors with Instructors at a local studio if necessary. 

 

Wellbeing officer

Wellbeing officer will collate and organise support resources for Members that are accessible through the SU or university, as well as resources that provide support specific to some of our Members, such as Be.Loved to support student sex workers and their wellbeing, and ensure the support is easy to find for members. They will also act as a point of contact for wellbeing concerns for Members and can signpost Members to the correct source of support. 

 

Aerial Arts Officer

Aerial Arts officer will organise and support workshops for aerial arts as well as working with wider committee to organise competition and performance opportunities by holding auditions and putting together teams. They will also support the presence of aerial arts including silks and hoop and ensure they are not overlooked in the society.

 

6. FINANCIAL

1. The Treasurer of the Society shall be a full member of the Union and not in their final year at the University. However, if given approval by the Union, a final year student may take the position.

2. All financial arrangements must be made in accordance with current instructions to Society Treasurers, as set down by the Union.

3. The Bristol SU Union Affairs Officer, Sport and Student Development Officer and Director of Finance shall jointly be empowered to issue financial instructions on behalf of the Society if:

(i) the affiliated student group ceases to be affiliated

(ii) there are concerns that funds are being managed in breach of the provision set out in the Byelaws

(iii) the group ceases to exist or there are breaches to any minimum standards set out in Union policy.

 

7. GENERAL MEETINGS

1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting once per annum, and this shall be during Teaching Block 2.

2. Notice of such meetings must be sent to the Society’s membership via email with at least 14 days’ notice.  An agenda must be sent out with at least 7 days’ notice. 

3. Quorum of such meetings shall be set at twice the Committee size plus one.

4. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by either the Committee or 5% of the membership of the Society by application to the Committee. An EGM shall be called as specified on the application, but at least 7 days’ notice shall be given.

 

8. ELECTIONS

Elections shall be held at the Annual General Meeting to elect officers of the Committee for the following annual session. Officers can only be removed from their posts by an EGM or AGM. Nominations must be received 7 days in advance.

1. If Committee positions are left unfilled after the AGM, then the Committee shall have the power to co-opt Society members onto the Committee to fill the vacant posts. However, co-opted Committee members are not regarded as full Committee members and can be removed by the Committee at any time.

2. Voting shall be by {{voting method}} and shall be conducted by a show of hands if the position is uncontested, having asked the candidate to leave the AGM room. If the position is contested, then ballot papers shall be issued to those voting and a count taken of the ballot papers by a Committee member. In the event of a tie, the outgoing President shall have the deciding vote.

 

9. AFFILIATIONS

1. The Society shall affiliate to external bodies only where membership of those bodies is essential to the fulfilment of the core aims, and only with the prior agreement of the Union.

 

10. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

1. Any amendment to this constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of the members present at a properly constituted General Meeting.

2. All such amendments shall become valid only after approval by the Union.