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Mission & Constitution

The OU Club has been running almost as long as the University, and was conceived to engender a sense of community on the campus. All staff, on appointment, are automatically entitled to Club membership. Our history page tells an interesting story of how the Club came about, along with some interesting facts and figures from over the years.

The Club is run by a voluntary committee, comprised of a rich mix of staff that is elected at an annual AGM.

OU Club Constitution

OU Club: benefits it provides

The OU Club represents and accommodates all staff, inclusive of associate lecturers and research students, throughout the regions and nations. Through promotion, financial assistance and support, the OU Club helps sustain around 40 Affiliated Clubs along with our Nations, Manchester and Nottingham.

In addition to the obvious health and wellbeing benefits to staff, the Club’s support of the diverse mix of clubs and societies also provides an additional business benefit to the University, in the informal networking opportunities that present themselves both internally and externally.

Having a natural synergy with the OU mission, the OU Club also promotes inclusivity, not only for staff members but also their friends, family and the wider community. The OU Club’s work, therefore, additionally helps to protect and promote the reputation of the OU as a desirable place to work and is advantageous in helping to provide leisure pursuits that are attractive to research students.

  • Innovative: with the support of Estates, the Club seeks to maximise the benefits of the available facilities throughout all of the University’s locations. Where appropriate, facilities are also sought within the surrounding areas.
  • Inclusive: OU Club helps foster a sense of community, both within the University and with local communities, which has direct relevance to the People and Culture priority previously set out as Focus Area 12.
  • Enlightenment: The Club organises cultural experiences, such as theatre trips and exhibitions, for OU staff, their family and friends, at discounted prices.
  • Economic: The Club recognises the need for cost-efficiency and value for money in helping to secure facilities or procuring arrangements with outside services, as well as securing discounts with local and national businesses which is a popular staff benefit.

Strategic objectives

  1. To build and strengthen partnerships, and identify opportunities, both within and outside of the University community
  2. Further harmonise the OU Club with University operations (e.g. Communications; Estates, etc) and priorities, highlighting more the employee benefit that OU Club provides.
  3. To redevelop our communication strategy with Club members in commissioning the Club’s new online presence: a website that provides better user experience and greater engagement with members all in a ‘one-stop-shop’ format.
  4. Update and enhance existing OU Club signage (i.e. display areas around Walton Hall) in relation to OU Club to reflect a more adept image.