How to set up a SAAC group

A step-by-step guide

The idea of setting up your very own SAAC group can seem a bit daunting at first, but don't worry, it's a lot easier than it might sound. And we're here to support you every step of the way! Back to Get Active Ideas
  1. The first thing is to approach the Student Union or equivalent student body, to see a) if societies are allowed, and b) if there is already an animal rights or vegetarian group at your uni.
  2. If such a group does already exist, go along to a meeting and see what they're like! And then let us know so that we can tell other students about the group and add them to our database.
  3. If no such group exists then you have a free run on things! If you can, start asking around your friends to help a little with the set up of the group, as it can be quite a lot of work to begin with. But persevere, it's all worth it in the end...
  4. Most unions require you to have a certain number of potential members before you are granted society status, generally this can be anywhere from 5 to 15 people. Find out for sure and while you're at it ask for a bunch of membership forms.
  5. Also, most unions expect a written constitution, which we can help you with - just drop us a line!
  6. The best time of year to start a group is just before Freshers' Week (if you're not a Fresher yourself!), as you will be able to book a stall at the Freshers' Fair - a perfect opportunity to recruit members and spread the cruelty-free word.
  7. Set up an email account through hotmail, gmail or whoever, with an easy-to-remember address. You'll need to give this address to prospective members so they can easily reach you.
  8. Download our sign-up sheets to get the names and email/phone no.s of all your new recruits.
  9. Try to keep everyone's details safe and organised right from the start, setting up a simple spreadsheet on Word or Excel.
  10. Don't forget to make sure all your members Join SAAC!

That's basically how to start the group; the rest will snowball as it goes along. Try to have weekly meetings and always go with an agenda. You could start with some tasty snacks, keeping it fun as, after all, the matter in hand is rather serious!

Top of page

Other points to consider:

Will you charge membership?
Yes... good to cover costs and a few quid from each person can't hurt.
No... if you automatically get funding you may not need this to start with, but maybe take a vote amongst the group. You generally find that as it's a charitable cause that people feel passionate about, they'll sacrifice a pint or two for it.
What will be your first campaign?
Prioritise. Look at the university first; does it conduct animal testing? Is the catering shoddy?
Are there any local groups you could link with?
If the town/city that you're in has a local likeminded group, why not arrange to meet up with them and see how you can work together?
Having problems with your union?
'Not allowed' to set up a group of this nature? Contact us for some pointers.
Top of page