Russian Speaking Society
[The grant supported] activities, teas and snacks that cater to diverse cultural backgrounds and dietary preferences, fostering a welcoming environment that encourages participation, intercultural exchange and community building. – Yelisaveta Khorishko Rennie (2025-26 Treasurer)
Type of Grant
Club Grant
What the Grant Supported
The Club Grant fully subsidised the “Chai and Board Games” collaborative event between the Tea Society, Persian Society and the Russian Speaking Society in November 2025. The grant covered all costs of the event materials, so 103 UofG students attended for free, which was a drop-in social format with tea, snacks and culturally themed board game stations hosted by student societies.
Long-Term Impacts
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Increased membership across all three societies through effective multi-channel promotion, including the SRC website, social media, and cross-university outreach.
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Strengthened collaboration between societies and improved visibility across campus and beyond.
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Helped challenge stereotypes and increase cultural awareness through shared activities and intercultural engagement.
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Provided a positive, inclusive social experience for unaffiliated students, encouraging wider engagement with student societies.
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Led to recognition for successful collaboration, including nomination for a VCS Award.
Inclusivity & Accessibility
“This event was held in an inclusive space with access available to all. We also had a silent wind-down area for those to help with large crowds. We had a list of allergens for tea and food. The event was suitable for all, learners of Farsi, Russian or English.”
Lessons Learned
“The most valuable lesson we learned was collaboration and teamwork. It proved to be quite the challenge at first with all 3 parties having very busy schedules and having to compromise on meeting times. We then eventually came to realise it would not be always possible to meet at the same time, so we have to divide tasks up for all the socs and had to take into account our strengths and weaknesses.”
Additional SRC Support Provided
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Booked the Gilchrist Postgraduate Club through SRC room hire, providing an appropriate space for the event’s size and format.
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Used SRC Lending Library equipment (including two hot water urns) to facilitate the tea service component of the event.
Would Your Society Apply for an SRC Grant Again?
“Yes, the process was very accommodating and we would apply again. We don’t have any ideas at this moment in time, but it would probably be for a collab event that would require more funds.”