What is a society taster session?

Your taster session should be your first meeting of the year. It should be reflective of your regular activity as a society and offer prospective students the opportunity to try out your society without the membership cost. Hosting a taster session also gives your society the chance to gain new members.

Examples of past taster sessions:

  • Film Society screened a film in their usual venue, the Void, and applied for funding to provided popcorn for their extra attendees.
  • Band Society invited new members to attend one of their weekly rehearsals.
  • Hallam Union Pole applied for funding to subsidise pole classes for a full week! Prospective members were able to attend for just £1.

When should we run our taster session?

Societies should host their Welcome Back taster sessions between 3/2/25 - 9/2/25. Committee members will need to register their taster sessions with us by 26 January 2025. Sessions taking place after 10/2/25 will not be eligible for funding.

 

Register your taster session

Inclusivity and Accessibility

Committees should consider the inclusivity and accessibility of their taster sessions. This is especially important as many students will be unfamiliar with the city and unsure of what to expect from your society activity. Taster sessions should be free to attend as this allows more students to engage with your activity. Some other things to consider that can make your taster sessions more inclusive include:

  • Using a central venue that is easy to get to
  • Offering sober options if alcohol is present
  • Clearly communicating what the session will involve—what type of activities will take place? Will it be loud or crowded?
  • Consider access to lifts and toilets

For further support on planning an inclusive event, committees can refer to the Inclusivity and Accessibility.

Can we get funding for hosting our taster session?

You can apply for up to £150 towards your taster session (including a maximum of £50 for food costs), and we'd encourage you to apply! You should request funding when registering your taster session. You'll need to state how much funding you want to apply for, and what the funding will be used for.

You must complete your Annual Risk Assessment before hosting your taster session

The Annual Risk Assessment can be found in the 'Committee Responsibilities' tile on the Committee Portal tile. There is an example template available to help you.