Our Mission
One conversation can make all the difference.
The Cambridge Union Society is an educational charity devoted to defending free speech, promoting the art of debate, and fostering innovative conversation. We operate in the UK and around the world, and host global leaders, business innovators, Nobel laureates and Oscar winners to cultivate discussion on the most important issues in Britain today.
In today’s political climate, our mission to promote free debate is more significant than ever. And our institution is dependent on the generosity of our members, alumni, benefactors, and the wider public. We use your donations to further all our charitable causes: from building restoration and heritage work, to outreach initiatives and programs that widen participation for young people.
How To Pledge Your Support
As an educational charity, The Cambridge Union is reliant on the generosity of sponsors, benefactors, and the general public.
Direct Donations
All donations to The Cambridge Union directly support our charitable purpose, and are tax efficient. You can find out more about what your money goes towards by exploring below.
Our Bursary Fund
The Union maintains a dedicated Bursary Fund to support students from underprivileged backgrounds who are unable to pay for all or part of a membership. Donations to our Bursary Fund go directly to providing student membership applicants with free or heavily subsidised memberships. Click below to find out more.
The Centre for Global Conversation
We’ve started work on converting our Library into The Centre for Global Conversation: an international project to help young people communicate across borders. Using cutting-edge technology, we want to reinvigorate our Library with state-of-the-art facilities and establish an international network of free discussion. Click below to find out more.
Sponsor a Bench
The iconic benches in the Debating Chamber have been a staple of it’s design and aesthetic for decades. But over time, they’ve become a little worn. Our Bench Sponsorship scheme allows donors to sponsor the refurbishment of our benches, including a dedicated bench plaque to remember their contribution. If you’re interested in sponsoring a bench, then please make an enquiry via email at media@cus.org, and we’ll write back to you.
Legacy Donations
You’re also able to donate to The Cambridge Union by leaving us a gift in your will, or by commemorating someone special through a donation. All legacy donations, no matter how large or small, make a vital contribution to our charitable work.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Union offers a range of sponsorship packages to corporate and external partners, giving access to our 37,000 members worldwide, our Cambridge-based community, and over 2.5 million viewers who watch our content online.
Support Today, Change Tomorrow.
Competitive Debating
Competitive Debating
The Cambridge Union Society runs one of the most successful and inclusive competitive debating programmes in the world. As part of our charitable efforts, we provide our competitive debating teams with expert coaching from some of the best debaters in the world, and subsidised travel costs to all domestic and international competitions.
Overseas Debating
The Union provides materials and access in over 15 countries worldwide, through the medium of competitive debating, which also includes assisted places to participate in our worldwide competitions.
