Referendum

As part of the next stage of our Democracy Review, we will be asking members to take part in an advisory referendum on the Union’s proposed new Articles of Association. The referendum will take place during our annual Student Leadership Elections.

The Articles of Association are the Union’s governing document. They set out how the Students’ Union is structured, how decisions are made, and how members are represented in the organisation. Updating them is an important step in ensuring the Union’s governance reflects how we want the organisation to operate in the future.

Because the Articles underpin how the Union works, we strongly encourage you to read the supporting documentation on this page. The proposed changes will affect how the Union operates and how students are represented across all levels of decision-making.

Referendum Question

The question we will be asking is as follows:
‘Should the Students’ Union adopt the proposed Articles of Association’

What does this referendum do?

This referendum is advisory. It allows members to express their views on the proposed Articles and helps inform the Union’s decision-making.

Following the referendum, the proposed Articles will continue to be refined through consultation with the University and the Union’s legal advisors. The final proposed wording will then be presented to the Students’ Union’s Board of Trustees for approval on 31 March 2026 before being brought forward to a General Meeting of the Union in Term 3, where a special resolution will be considered in accordance with the current Articles of Association.

The outcome of the referendum will be reported to that meeting to help inform the discussion and decision.

Important note on the draft proposals

The draft Articles shared on this page are provided to support the consultation process. The specific wording of the proposed Articles may change following feedback received during consultation, discussions with the University, and further legal review before the final proposal is approved by the Board of Trustees.

You can read more below about our journey to improve democratic representation at Roehampton Students’ Union, and how we’re creating more opportunities for students to be involved in how the Union is run.