Why Join Us?
1) You want an LGBTQ+ friendly safe space to hang out and chill.
2) You like social events and tabletop games
3) You're looking to meet other LGBTQ+ students at BU and AUB.
What do we do?
We are a social group for LGBTQ+ students at BU and AUB, with a focus on creating a chilled and friendly safe space, while using tools like boardgames and videogames to facillitate meeting new people without any pressure.
Membership for Iris LGBTQ+ is £2.50 for the whole year and allows you to come to all our weekly events.
Though some special events may be paid, we make an effort to keep things cheap and affordable whenever possible, and may subsidise prices when neccesary.
Key Events
Weekly Social - Wednesdays from 5pm till 8pm (F202 is our usual main room and F208 is our usual quiet room, but these can vary so we will post any changes to our social medias!)
When and Where?
Weekly Social
Every week in term time, we hold a weekly social on campus. Usually for these people bring boardgames, videogames and snacks, as we meet to hang out through the evening. If boardgames aren't your thing, don't worry! We bring these largely to help icebreak, and help keep a low pressure environment.
For those who prefer drinking often members head to Dylans, the on campus bar when we pack up for the night around 8pm.
These take place Wednesdays, term time from 5pm onwards, typically in F202
We also provide a quiet space in F208, in case the room gets too loud, overwhelming or people want an alternative space.
Online Hub
We host a hub online using Discord for LGBTQ+ students to hang out.
Non-members are welcome to join, so if you're considering buying a membership feel free to say hi to us online first!
Special Events
Our comittee aims to hold frequent special events to accommodate the diverse queer community studying at Bournemouth.
Some events we hold include (but are not limited to pumpkin carving), film screenings, game tournaments, murder mysteries, special nights at The Old Fire Station, and a variety of collaborations with other societies. We're always open to try out exciting new ideas, so if you have something you want us to try running, please do get in contact with us via email or our social medias!
We have also participated in the annual Queermas dinner at Flirt Cafe, taken members on a trip to London Pride, and helped run Bournemouth's Student Pride which happens every May.
Keep your eye on our socials as well as on the 'What's On' SUBU page for updates!
Our Committee
President: Kimera Royal (It/She)
"Hi everybody, I'm the president of Iris this year! I want to make sure Iris is fun, welcoming, inclusive, and consistent in offering a relaxed space for people to LGBTQ+ people and our allies to come together and hang out. I also want to branch out and try lots of fun new events - Iris should feel like something that everyone can get something out of.
I'm a final year Game Software Engineering student, coming back after a year on placement, and I've been a member of Iris since my first year in 2020. Things have changed a lot since then (thankfully), but Iris has stayed as a consistent place to meet new people and have a great time."
Communications Officer: Kanaya Hull (It/Its)
"Hi I'm Kanaya, the current Communications Officer for Iris. As part of my role I aim to give the society a fun and welcoming presence on social media, and initiate communications with other societies, groups, and students to make Iris more open and collaborative.
As a student I am currently studying in my second year of Game Software Engineering. Outside of uni I'm very interested in music and trains, and I hope to meet lots of cool people in the society this year. You know what they say: look out,,, AHHH"
Treasurer: Hannah Marsden (She/Her)
"Hello! My name is Hannah and I’m the Iris Treasurer for this year. That means that I’ll be keeping an eye on our society account and expenditures, making sure we can finance all of our exciting events year-round.
I’m in my third year of Computer Animation Art and Design, and find Iris to be a great opportunity to take a break from uni work and meet LGBTQ+ friendly people across different courses. I can’t wait to meet many more people this year!"
Accessibility
As Committee, we're comitted to making sure Iris is an accessible space, for everyone, inclusive of disabilities and neurodiversities. For information on room acess, you can find the BU acessibility information here:
https://www.accessable.co.uk/bournemouth-university
The Fusion Building is our regular building, situated near the university car park and a short walk from the busses, in rooms that are wheelchair acessible and situated near to multiple acessible bathrooms. Both rooms are reachable by stairs, or just next to the lifts on the second floor. The quiet room has a wheelchair acessible desk, however the desks in the main room may be too low for some chairs. Please do be aware that these rooms may have relatively harsh lighting, and the doors are heavy and some may require assistance. Our main room may also be relatively loud during peak times, but aswell as a quiet space, the building is usually empty at these time, and has lots of comfy seating directly outside the rooms. Doors to enter the building are electronic and should be openable with a button. There is one Gender Neutral bathroom on the ground floor, aswell as the neutral acessible bathrooms on the floor we use.
We also try to keep our events low cost at every possible opportunity, including most of them in our membership fee, or covering with grants. If money is ever an issue, please do let us know and also look into the clubs and society's hardship fund which may be able to help you out:
https://www.subu.org.uk/involved/clubs_societies/hardshipfund/
When we are away from our usual building we will try our best to provide access information ahead of time where possible, and if you have any questions, concerns or feedback, please don't be afraid to contact us at our email subuirissoc@bournemouth.ac.uk