Aside from the social aspect of the society, a major role of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Society is to act as a welfare organisation, responsible for looking after the interests and welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students at the University of Surrey. This basically means we’re here to help and support with anything you may need, also to represent you, your opinions and your interest on a university, local and national level.

For many people, moving to university can be a difficult and stressful time, for many it will be the first time they have left home. Making new friends and finding your feet often appears a daunting task, particularly if you are a LGBT student.

Whether you are in, out, or want to come out, the LGBT can help support you. The social meetings and events can provide a safe, friendly, welcoming and very casual environment in which you can meet other LGBT (and indeed S, the only thing we turn away is LGBT-phobia) people who come along to our meetings and events.

Committee members are always happy to talk to you anonymously (via e-mail or telephone, details below), providing any information/advice you require, failing that we can use our resources to point you in right direction. All communication is treated with the up most confidence.

The LGBT can represent you on a local level, working closely with, and building contacts with local organisations, companies and local government in order to ensure your needs and rights are met in and around Guildford.

The University of Surrey Students’ Union is a democratic organisation, run by a mixture of annually elected sabbatical officers, permanent staff, and students. They are responsible for deciding what the Union should be doing, and representing the interests of its members to the University and beyond.

Union Council is the governing body of the students union and is responsible for changing and approving all the unions’ campaigns and policies.

The LGBT has two representatives at union council (LGBT Officer and LGBT Society representative). These two representatives will vote, representing the interests of LGBT students, on all relevant matters that arise. These representatives can also raise any issues concerning LGBT students to the union council.

The National Union of Students is a voluntary membership organisation consisting of local student representative organisations in colleges and universities within the UK and Northern Ireland, Such as USSU, which have chosen to pay a membership fee in order to affiliate with NUS. With nearly 750 organisations and institutions affiliated with the NUS, almost every college and university in the country is involved.

The purpose of the NUS is to represent students’ views and needs on a national level, and to fund campaigns and activities in the support of students. The NUS has its own department for the representation of LGBT students, with a wide range of campaigns to support the interests of LGBT students.

The LGBT can send delegates to regional and national conferences and referendums, where the action and campaigns of the NUS LGBT are decided.