Sporting students embrace campaign to promote wellbeing
Be the Influence- a positive lifestyle campaign for Sport and Active Life designed to promote student wellbeing in four areas: physical, mental, social and sexual, has been embraced by students at our university. Following an effective collaborative approach between Sport & Active Life and the Student Support Service, the campaign has seen a number of successes this year, including:
- More than doubled online social media engagement, with regular interaction from almost all 34 clubs across a number of themed events.
- National campaign aimed at inspiring women in Higher Education to participate in physical activity trended in Leicester with the hashtag #ThisBUCSGirlCan.
- ‘Girls Night In’ event specifically aimed at engaging inactive women in physical activity.
- 88% of clubs now have a designated Wellbeing contact on their Club committee, up from 18% in 2016-17. Wellbeing contacts have attended workshops such as Mental Health in Sport, led by Student Minds to provide more effective support to their members with Mental Health issues.
- HeForShe Theatre piece originated by University of Leicester alumnus Sadie Alleyne receives praise from the United Nations and is now being implemented across Universities throughout the UK.
To further demonstrate support, the Sport & Active Life Service has agreed to purchase new kits for all Team Leicester Clubs with the HeForShe logo embellished across the front of playing shirts, making the campaign the University’s primary kit sponsor for its 2000 members.
Clubs at the University have also promoted the White Ribbon Campaign against Gender Violence. Over 400 students wore white ribbons during the ‘Sport & Active Life Takeover’ on Wednesday 29 November while a further 100 wore wristbands in support of the campaign at their respective fixtures.
Paul Robbins, Team Leicester Sports Coordinator, said: “These are just some examples of the many ways in which the Sport & Active Life Service & Student Support Services have engaged with the Be the Influence Campaign, and credit must be given to the enthusiasm and dedication of student volunteers, who have made it such a success so far this academic year.”