Society Awards happened on the 29th May, it was a sellout event full of end of year celebration and achievements. Whether they are on a committee or a society member, they all contributed to what has been an outstanding year for societies, and society awards showed that.
First, we started with a moment to reflect on the year:
‘We’ve had over 5,200 members join societies this year, and we’ve officially reached a huge milestone — 168 affiliated societies here at Swansea University! Including 35 bring new and newly adopted societies successfully launching and operating in their very first year.
With Medsoc having the most members by a mile, 408, with hiking coming second with 227 and wild swimming and gaming with 219
Every week, we book between 100 to 150 hours of society room bookings for socials, events, and activities, which you guys take the time to come up with and successfully deliver.
Another key achievement this year was improving committee support and training. We launched the new Society Committee Handbook, whilst also launching the new and upgraded Equipment Hire system to help reduce barriers for societies running events and activities. Since launching, over 380 committees have hired equipment.’
Category Awards Winners = Presented by Maddy and the Society Executive Team
- Politics, Campaigns and Liberations Award =
The nominations for this year’s category is Raising & Giving, Uniboob, Prostate Cancer Awareness and SWASH.
This society has gone above and beyond throughout the year, combining impactful awareness with the student community. From raising nearly £3,000, to hosting awareness stalls, charity events, collaborations and socials, they have consistently promoted the important message of checking your chest. Their creativity, engagement and dedication to both students and the wider community.
The winners are …. The Uniboob Society
- Hobbies and Interests Award =
Now moving onto the Hobbies and Interests award, this year’s nominations are Film, Scouts and Guides and Gaming society.
This Society has created a vibrant, welcoming, and creative community that brings students together through a shared love. From weekly screenings and engaging discussions to inclusive socials and successful short film competitions, this year the society has built an environment where friendships and creativity can thrive. Their dedicated committee has consistently gone above and beyond to keep members engaged, resulting in a supportive and joyful community that has become a highlight of university life for many students.
So, I am very proud to announce that the winners are… the Film Society
The societies short listed for the performing arts award this year is South Asian Dance, Choral and Dance.
Despite only becoming an official society just one week before Freshers’ Fayre, this society has had an incredible first year, rapidly growing its membership and building a welcoming community through weekly classes and events. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and achievements in such a short time make them truly deserving winners of this award.
Therefore, I am very happy to announce the winners being the South Asian Dance society
The nomination for this category is Christian Union, PENSA and Islamic Society.
This society has truly excelled this year, demonstrating outstanding commitment to building a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive community for its members. Through the organisation of regular events and activities, the society has fostered a strong sense of belonging which has continued to grow throughout the year. One of their greatest achievements was the creation and delivery of the Intercultural Fayre. The fayre celebrated cultures from around the world, giving students the opportunity to explore diverse traditions while learning about foods from the Sunnah. Their ability to successfully collaborate with 9 other societies highlighted their dedication.
Very happy to announce the winner being the Islamic society
- Cultural and International =
The societies short listed for the cultural and International award this year is Nepalese society, Latin American Society and Y Gym Gym.
This society has made an outstanding contribution to campus culture this year by creating an inclusive community that celebrates and shares their culture with all students. Through many events, they brought students and societies together while also supporting local charities and encouraging cultural exchange.
Therefore I am proud to announce the winners are Nepalese Society
- Humanities and Social sciences =
The societies short listed for the Humanities and Social Sciences award this year is Women in Law, Canadian Law and Politics & IR.
This society has created an engaging and inclusive community going beyond academic study. Through a wide range of events including speakers, debates, panel discussions, quizzes, and social events, they have encouraged students to engage with politics in a meaningful and accessible way. Their commitment to inclusion, accessibility, cultural awareness, and student participation has created a welcoming environment where members feel empowered to learn, discuss ideas, and engage with the wider world.
Therefore I am proud to announce the winners are Politics and IR.
- Medicine health and life sciences =
Now moving onto the Medicine health and life sciences award, this year’s nominations are MedPharm, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paramedics.
This Society has created a supportive, welcoming, and highly engaged community. Through regular CPD events, wellbeing initiatives, charity fundraising, and inclusive socials, the society has provided both academic and personal support to student across all year groups. Their dedication to wellbeing, professional development, and community spirit (alongside raising £2,500 for the British Heart Foundation) has made a lasting impact on their members.
So I am very proud to announce that Paramedics are the winners.
- Science and Engineering =
The nominations for this category is the Women in Tech, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Women in Engineering.
They have shown exceptional dedication to student engagement, outreach, representing Swansea University on both a national and international level. This year, they honoured the late Professor Simon Bott by naming the teaching wet lab after him, recognising his lasting impact on the department and its students. Alongside hosting the Top of the Bench Welsh chapter and national finals, the society delivered regular outreach events to inspire GCSE and A-Level students. Their achievements were further recognised internationally when the committee was invited to the Spring Conference in Atlanta, where they received the Outstanding Student Chapter Award - the highest award available.
I am very happy to announce the winners being Chemistry
Spoon Award Winners = Presented by the Maddy and the Society Executive Team
This Award has been given to a society that are always out and about, bringing people together through socials and events. All of us at the SU have see how hard you have worked throughout the year with variety of events
The winners are…
The Gaming society
So many societies have purchased and designed merch, however this one society has gone above and beyond creating merch that is so unique and personalised for that society
Therefore, the winners are…
The Film Society
This Society are always on hand to help out, they were present at the society tournaments, Swansea 7s and many more events around Swansea, we couldn’t thank them enough for their help this year
Winners are….
The DJ society
This Award is for a society who are always outgoing and reaching out to not just students but the public. They have been seen putting on several networking events supporting their society members.
The winners are…
The Law society
- Best New Society Application
As an exec committee every month we go through over 10 new society applications each month!! After lots of discussion this one new society application really stood out to us!! In the application the aim of the society was ‘we would like to catch fish and have fun whilst doing that’ and for that reason alone the winners are for the best new society application is ….
The Fishing Trip
Other than going through society applications, we also go through the society finance requests, so this award is going to a society that asked for the least amount of money, £0.95 to buy some milk
So the winner of this award goes to…
Politics and IR society
We took loads of considerations with this award, but in the end, we have decided on one very special society that are brand new this year. This society has not just got an amazing logo they have worked incredibly hard with inventive socials and bring students together
The winners are…
The endometriosis society
This award is for the society that has been outside Fulton house selling baked goods all year round, in all weather conditions. The society that has had the most bake sales is
The Islamic society (ISOC)
This award goes to a very special society who are always reaching out to not just students but the general public. They are seen on many occasions out on wind street handing out water to talking to individuals on campus, creating a very engaging and helpful atmosphere
This award goes to….
Christian Union
This society has travelled all the way to Iceland this year!! Taking many students on the trip of a lifetime, this society went snorkelling, spotted the northern lights as well as of course wild swimming
This award goes too…
Wild Swimming
- Highest Percentage of Members Voted
During the FTO elections all student groups entered a prize role for the highest percentage of members that have voted. The winning society got over 77% of their members to vote which is over 100 members overall
The winners are...
The Guides and Scouts Society
Get Active Award – Presented by Get Active Coordinator Ella
This award is going to a society that won the Society Sports day in March. There was 3 points in it, but they won with 111 points the Turkish society.
Samuel Clayton-Smith Memorial Award – Presented by Maddy (Societies & Services Officer 24/26)
So, we are going to be moving on to a very special award which has been chosen by everyone in the SU. This award was brought in 2021 in the memory of Samuel Claydon-Smith with an aim to recognise and honour students who use their voice, prioritise wellbeing and make changes. An amazing student has been chosen for this award who has shown excellence in community, wellbeing. giving and raising in society spaces.
(unfortunately, this person cannot be here today)
However, ever since they have been on committee they have excelled in spreading community and belonging within their society and making it their goal to spread kindness and raising money and awareness for several charities. She is always in the SU asking for help with her ideas and always there ready to help others
I am very happy to announce that this very special award is going to…. Azrah
Recognition Award – Presented by the Full Time Officers
- Best Collaboration of the Year Award
The first award is for the best collaboration of the year, the nominations for this award Guides & Scouts, Nepalese and Wild Swimming.
This society has won the award for outstanding collaboration and engagement with other societies throughout the year. They have hosted a wide range of events and socials including hosting their first Varsity with Cardiff. Their most successful collaboration was in February, where they worked with over 30 different sports clubs and societies in aid of Surfers Against Sewage.
Overall, this society has demonstrated commitment to collaboration and inclusivity making them truly deserving winners of this award.
Therefore, the winners of this award… goes to Wild Swimming!!
The next award is for the Best Event of the year, the nominations for this award is Gaming & Film, Canadian Law and Nepalese society
The winner of this award is a society which put on this event every year!! It’s a incredibly successful Christmas-themed mix of murder mystery and courtroom trial called Holiday Homicides. The participants take on themed character roles such as lawyers, suspects, witnesses and jury members. Beyond this event being a hugely entertaining social event, holiday homicides also provided students with valuable opportunities to develop essential public speaking and advocacy skills that are central to studying law.
The amount of dedication and work that goes into organising holiday homicides is amazing, from writing the storyline assigning roles and coordinating the event it makes this society very deserving of this award.
I am happy to announce the winners are….. The Canadian Law society
Next up is the Best New Society Award, the nominations are Women in Tech, South Asian Dance and Turkish Society.
This Brand-new society have not only has not only created an incredible impact in such a short space of time but have already won society of the month in their first year of running. Since then, they have only grown, creating a welcoming, supportive and inspiring community for students. They have been invited to speak at the launch of Gower College’s ‘Girls in Stem’ group as well as hosting many study session and networking events.
So the winners of the best new society award goes too… Women in Tech
The Green impact Award is next with the nominations being Conservation and ecology, SWASH (Swansea action for Sustainable health) and Geoscience.
This society has truly gone above and beyond in promoting sustainability, not only through raising awareness. Throughout the year, they have organised regular beach cleans, hosted engaging guest speakers and created initiatives that encourage students to make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives. From Veganuary campaigns to clothes, plant and book swaps, they have constantly found creative and accessible ways to inspire positive change.
The winners for this year’s green impact award goes too…. SWASH
- Best Campaign of the year Award
The next award is the best campaign of the year, this year’s nominees are Women in Tech, Politics & IR and Friends of Palestine
The winners of this award organised a very impactful campaign that was exceptionally well received across the university. It took place during the first semester, encouraging students to wear traditional Palestinian scarfs on campus as a symbol of solidarity, cultural understanding and recognition of the history and identity connected to Palestinian culture. The overwhelming participation throughout the week demonstrated the society’s ability to create an inclusive and respectful space for discussion and awareness.
Therefore, I am proud to present the best campaign of the year award to…. Friends of Palestine society
- Committee member of the year
The next award to present always makes me extremely emotional, as it truly recognises and celebrates all the amazing work committee members do. It goes to a committee member that has gone above and beyond for supporting and developing their society, which all three of these nominations have done!! There was so many amazing nominations so even getting short listed is a huge achievement!! let’s give a huge round of applause to Christima, Hannah and Thomas for being shortlisted for this award!!
The winner of this award is someone who has consistently working hard to support their society and committee members, taking initiative without needed direction, making a remarkable impact on not just one society but two. Through constant fundraising and charity concerts she has managed to raise well over £1,500 for charities including war child, guide dogs, Macmillan and local food banks.
As president of the society, her committee have spoken extremely highly, explaining that she has helped not just grow the society by 37% this year but helped with personal development of committee members alongside an impressive programme of events. As well as her president role she also is small bands manager in the musician’s society, where she independently organised and ran two huge successful concerts, which thanks to her creativity, organisation and promotion, both concerts achieved outstanding audience attendance.
Beyond her university commitments, she also volunteers multiple times a week with local Scouts and Cubs groups. Her hard work has already been recognised nationally, where she received the Committee Colander Award for the best-run Guides and Scouts University Society committee in the country and was elected as Members Officer for the national committee. She has also been recognised within the Musicians Society as Committee Member of the Year.
So I am very happy and proud to announce the well-deserved winner of this award goes to….
Hannah
- Most Charitable Society Award
The next award is the most charitable society, this year’s nominees are Uniboob, STAR and Paramedics
This year alone, this society has raised over £2,900 for a range of charities. Their efforts have demonstrated not only incredible generosity, but also commitment to making a positive impact both within university and the wider community. The organisation of a 24-hour CPR marathon in aid of British heart foundation an outstanding achievement, raising awareness of the importance of early CPR and lifesaving skills.
Therefore, I am proud to present the best campaign of the year award to…. Paramedics
The most improved society is next with the nominations being Mechanical Engineering, Nepalese and Film.
Building upon the foundations of previous years, the society has worked tirelessly to completely elevate the experience offered to their members, creating not only a stronger engineering society, but also a welcoming and supportive community for students across all disciplines. Their commitment to growth, collaboration and member engagement has resulted in one of the most significant society improvements seen this year.
The winners for this year’s most improve society award goes too…. Mechanical Engineering
- Social media of the year Award
The next award is social media of the year, the nominations are K-pop, Nepalese and Gaming.
Having previously operated only through Discord, this society has made huge efforts to expand and improve their insta presence, achieving success by growing their following from 350 to 726 in a year. Also incusing Welsh int their posts and descriptions as well as creating a linktree, containing all relevant fundraisers, resources and society links. Their creativity, consistency and dedication to improving communication and transformed the societies online presence.
Therefore, the winners of the best social media of the year are…. The gaming society
This award is for a committee member or society that has recognised by someone out or within the society of another person’s dedication and hard work, we have two nominees for this award, Annie and Harvey.
The winner of this award has been recognised for their extraordinary dedication, leadership, and passion fort he past three years. From just 2 months into her first year taking on the role of musical director they always have played a vital role in helping the society grow, develop and thrive. During periods of low society membership, they played a huge part in rebuilding and expanding the society, creating a welcoming and supportive environment.
Their enthusiasm and positivity have not only strengthened the society internally, but have also helped establish valuable external connections, securing accompanists, performance opportunities, and collaborations with university staff, including performances for alumni and donor events.
For her outstanding leadership, commitment, and the lasting difference she has made to both the society and its members,
The winner of this award is ….. Annie
- Society of the Year Award
Now moving onto the main award of the night the Society of the Year, we have three amazing nominees who have all shown outstanding dedication and improvements to their society this year that has blown me away. Film, Nepalese and Politics and IR society
So now it’s time to announce the winner of Society of the Year, a society that deserves the recognition of an exceptional year of leadership and ambition.
Throughout the year, this society have consistently demonstrated what it means to be a well-rounded society, delivering over 15 successful events attended by more than 200 students.
One of the society’s standout achievements was the hugely successful Momo Night, which had over 60 attendees and was delivered in collaboration with Swansea Council. Not only did the event celebrate culture but it also raised over £250 for a local housing charity.
Beyond events and socials, they also demonstrated responsibility when protests broke out in Nepal in September, the society became the first Nepalese student society in the UK to publicly raise awareness of the situation. At a time when misinformation was rapidly spreading, this society provided accurate information and played a key role in helping coordinate a joint statement between Nepalese societies across the country.
Their achievements this year have been truly outstanding, making them exceptionally deserving winners of Society of the Year. So please join me in congratulating the winners of Society of the Year
Nepalese society