-
MadeAtUni campaign
highlighting the role of universities in the health and
wellbeing of communities across UK
- Grassroots sports clubs reliant on university sports
facilities prior to pandemic
- University facilities set to fill gaps left by closure of
traditional leisure facilities following Covid
Dame Katherine Grainger believes UK universities are vital to the
country’s post-pandemic health and wellbeing recovery, with
communities across the UK benefitting from their innovative
research and access to their sports facilities.
The University of Glasgow Chancellor and one of the UK’s most
decorated Olympians is backingMadeAtUni: Energising
Places – launched today by Universities UK (UUK) and British
Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) to highlight the role
universities play in improving lives through sport and physical
activity, following concerns over the impact the coronavirus
pandemic has had on the nation’s activity levels.
Innovations showcased in the campaign include work by Oxford
Brookes University to increase activity levels of children with
neurological conditions, and ‘Snacktivity’ – a mobile app
developed by Loughborough University to tackle obesity and call
for changes to food labelling to highlight the link between
physical activity and calories.
The campaign also features partnerships between universities and
professional football clubs in their communities, including Edge
Hill University in Liverpool and Everton in the Community, and
the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen FC Community Trust.
Dame Katherine said: “Many people know that
universities develop some of our greatest Olympians and
Paralympians, but there is an untold story about their work in
local communities that improves peoples’ lives through sport and
physical activity.
“The pandemic has disrupted all areas of life, and our physical
and mental wellbeing has suffered a great deal. The role
universities play in bringing communities together to get fitter,
healthier and happier will be more important than ever in the
months and years ahead as we emerge and recover from Covid-19.”
From 2016 to 2018 universities invested £350 million in their
sports facilities, and with traditional leisure opportunities
threatened by the pandemic’s economic fallout, campuses and
university staff are well placed to support government efforts to
get the nation active again.
Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, President, Universities
UK, added:
“For years universities have been improving the nation’s health
and wellbeing through their science, research and community-led
projects, including public use of sports facilities. Prior to the
pandemic over 80% of university sports facilities were being used
by local grassroots clubs, and we want to make it clear to
government that universities can help resolve the pandemic’s
impact on physical activity levels by filling gaps left by the
closure of traditional leisure facilities.”
MadeAtUni: Energising Places is a partnership between
Universities UK and BUCS, who represent90,000 student athletes
across the UK. It is estimated that over 725,000 students
volunteer in their local communities every year, including many
from university sports teams and societies.
Vince Mayne, Chief Executive, BUCS, said:
“Whilst in the last year we may have lost sports competition, we
have gained compassion and kindness – all of which are
exemplified through students’ significant efforts to support
local charities and organisations. They have played a huge part
in helping communities across the country recover from the
pandemic, and this really highlights how sport is a fantastic
tool to bring students together to engage with local communities,
volunteering thousands of hours of their time every year.
“Universities too are at the heart of their local community,
providing access to great facilities for grassroots to high
performance clubs, student coaches for teams, as well as players
and athletes competing for their local communities outside of
university competition. This facility and workforce element will
be absolutely vital as we emerge from the restrictions and people
want to return to playing sport. We know there is a huge
challenge for community clubs and many will not survive;
universities can play a lead role in helping support their
communities through this challenge.”
The campaign is taking place between 12–16 July and includes the
Club Charity Initiative Award at the annual BUCS Awards, which celebrate
the positive effect of student sport and students who participate
in the wider sporting sector in the UK.
To find out more about the MadeAtUni Energising Places campaign
visit www.madeatuni.org or follow
@MadeAtUni on social media.
Notes to editors
- The Higher Education sector spent over £350 million in
developing sports facilities between 2016–2018 (BUCS and Complete
University Guide survey, 2019).
- Almost 33% of university students give a significant
proportion of their spare time to volunteering in the community
with over 725,000 students volunteering for an average of 44
hours per year (Back Your Universities, 2017).
- 81% of universities' sports facilities are used by community
groups and grassroots sports clubs (BUCS analysis of Complete
University Guide data)
