Thursday 30th January 2020

Scottish Student Sport, along with partners ASH Scotland, NUS Scotland and SAMH, are delighted to launch Healthy Body Healthy Mind 2020. Read more about the new look criteria and award!

Scottish Student Sport, along with partners ASH Scotland, NUS Scotland and SAMH, are delighted to launch Healthy Body Healthy Mind 2020.

Healthy Body Healthy Mind supports colleges and universities in improving student and staff well-being and inspires positive changes on campus. In receiving an Award, institutions demonstrate how they are encouraging sport and physical activity, a smoke-free culture and good mental health.

We believe that young people should be able to arrive into learning environments that support physical and mental well-being. We aim to help create a health promoting culture across campus with the emphasis on positive action and preventing ill-health. This is central to the institution’s duty of care towards all students and staff and supports wider goals such as improving attainment and student retention.

Following an external review of the award last year, we have made some positive changes to the criteria and submission process that we hope will be welcomed and provide an environment to achieve more together. Through offering more support to institutions, as well as ongoing feedback on evidence submissions, the partners are committed to supporting the institutions achieve their goals.

What to expect;
  • Dedicated support from the SSS Project Officer.
  • Initial meeting with SSS staff to establish baseline data and set project goals
  • Access to ASH Scotland staff to support your plans for positively impacting the aim of a Tobacco Free generation by 2034 as well as access to ASH Scotland online training.
  • Support through SAMH as part of Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport, to explore and build your ideas on how to ensure mental health is being addressed through your activities. This will give you access to online training and resources.
How to Sign Up

It couldn’t be easier to sign up to Healthy Body Healthy Mind! Just complete the online form to confirm your interest and then we will be in touch with you on how to take your next steps.

🔗 Complete the online form NOW!

In the meantime, should you have any queries then please do not hesitate to get in touch with SSS Project Officer, Sarah Gandon via sarah@scottishstudentsport.com or on 07779 117120.

Documentation

Here you can find the all important docs and files for this years Healthy Body Healthy Mind.

📝 Healthy Body Healthy Mind Criteria 

📝 HBHM Additional Information 

📝 Mental Health Additional Information

📝 Physical Activity and Sport Additional Information 

📝 Smoking Prevention Additional Information 

📝 HBHM Process Map 2020

 

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Wednesday 20th November 2019

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Scottish Student Sport, along with partners ASH Scotland, NUS Scotland and SAMH, are delighted to launch Healthy Body Healthy Mind.

Healthy Body Healthy Mind supports colleges and universities in improving student and staff well-being and inspires positive changes on campus. In receiving an Award, institutions demonstrate how they are encouraging sport and physical activity, a smoke-free culture and good mental health.

We believe that young people should be able to arrive into learning environments that support physical and mental well-being. We aim to help create a health-promoting culture across campus with an emphasis on positive action and preventing ill-health. This is central to the institution’s duty of care towards all students and staff and supports wider goals such as improving attainment and student retention.

Mental health continues to be a real focus area within the student population. As we know sport and physical activity can have an overwhelmingly positive outcome on the overall wellbeing of both students and staff on campus.

We have delivered Healthy Body Healthy Mind since 2010/11 with partners NUS Scotland and more recently ASH Scotland. The project is funded by the Scottish Government with the aim of highlighting the links between mental health, physical activity and smoking. HBHM encourages institutions to implement practical changes on campus and adopt a cultural shift to enhance wellbeing through sport and physical activity.

Following an external review of the award last year, we have made some positive changes to the criteria and submission process that we hope will be welcomed and provide an environment to achieve more together. Through offering more support to institutions, as well as ongoing feedback on evidence submissions, the partners are committed to supporting the institutions achieve their goals.

What to expect;
  • Dedicated support from the SSS Project Officer.
  • Initial meeting with SSS staff to establish baseline data and set project goals
  • Access to ASH Scotland staff to support your plans for positively impacting the aim of a Tobacco Free generation by 2034 as well as access to ASH Scotland online training.
  • Support through SAMH as part of Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport, to explore and build your ideas on how to ensure mental health is being addressed through your activities. This will give you access to online training and resources.
How to Sign Up

It couldn’t be easier to sign up to Healthy Body Healthy Mind! Just complete the online form to confirm your interest and then we will be in touch with you on how to take your next steps.

🔗 Complete the online form NOW!

 

Wellbeing has never played such a prominent part of the student experience before with physical activity now central to life on campus for thousands of students and staff across the network. We now have 15 institutions working their way through the HBHM criteria and in doing so having a hugely positive impact on the health of thousands of students. Various studies have highlighted the impact being active has on the wellbeing, retention and employability of students – HBHM champions this alongside supporting our members to create inspiring and innovative physical activity programmes.

As SSS move onto a new strategic cycle the HBHM project will fall under the portfolio of Active Health and Megan will build upon Sarah’s excellent work whilst continuing the HBHM journey.

SSS would like to encourage any institution not yet taking part in HBHM to have a look at the information provided on our website and arrange a call with Megan to become part of the growing initiative. All HBHM and Active Health enquires should be sent to Ben via ben@scottishstudentsport.com

Documentation

Here you can find the all important docs and files for this years Healthy Body Healthy Mind.

📝 Healthy Body Healthy Mind Criteria 

📝 HBHM Additional Information 

📝 Mental Health Additional Information

📝 Physical Activity and Sport Additional Information 

📝 Smoking Prevention Additional Information 

📝 HBHM Process Map 2020

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Wednesday 30th September 2020

SSS are delighted to confirm that the Healthy Body Health Mind programme has secured funding from the Scottish Government for an additional three years! Read the full story here.

Scottish Student Sport and the Scottish Government have agreed a three-year commitment to Healthy Body Healthy Mind, ensuring the project work will continue into 2024.  Alongside ASH Scotland and NUS Scotland, SSS will be working to support Scottish institutions to deliver a campus with physical activity, mental health provision and smoking prevention at its core.

The landscape of education is now very different, with student mental health and well-being playing a more critical role than ever to the student experience and wider society. The Healthy Body Healthy Mind programme aims to bring about a positive change to the institutions working towards an award. Working alongside physical activity and smoking prevention we can all improve Scotland’s recovery.

To gain a Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award students’ associations, sports unions, colleges and universities must work together on a project that brings about practical changes across the whole institution. These changes include activities that make progress towards smoke-free campuses, improve uptake in sport and recreational programmes, and better signpost student and staff communities to practical support and resources around positive mental wellbeing.

The three-year commitment gives institutions the opportunity to work towards their achievements at a pace that works for them. This new flexible and supportive approach has been welcomed by the current cohort of institutions. The aim is to ensure that institutions achieve their level with the support and help of the project team who comprise of SSS, ASH Scotland and NUS Scotland.

At the moment, 15 institutions are currently engaged with HBHM, equating to 40% of institutions in Scotland! The door is always open and SSS will always welcome any new sign-ups. More information on HBHM and how to sign up on how to sign can be found here.

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Monday 19th April 2021

SSS Conference 2021 | Always Active


Key Information

The SSS Conference will look slightly different this year… Rather than being held in one location only, the SSS Conference will reach every corner of the country and beyond as we bring the tribe together virtually to celebrate 10 Years of Scottish Student Sport.

In an unprecedented year, we are looking forward to the return to sport and a more recognisable way of life. In that respect, we are pleased to announce more details of the 2021 Scottish Student Sport Conference. Having postponed the 2020 event the return of the annual get-together will mark a welcome milestone in the return to normality for the SSS Tribe.

The 2021 event will focus on how student sport can lead the way forward and make significant contributions to the wellbeing of society. With expert contributors from across the world of professional sport, public health, social enterprise and student sport, the SSS Tribe will be challenged and inspired over two action-packed days. Sessions will include high-performance culture, developing active populations and changing lives through sport.

The opening keynote speaker will be Professor Damian Hughes. Damian is the co-host of the High-Performance Podcast and author of several best-sellers including The Barcelona Way and The Winning Mindset. Damian is an international speaker who combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisational development and change psychology, to help organisations and teams to create a high performing culture.

The 2021 Conference will be the most active yet, with a mass participation event aimed at celebrating 10 Years of Scottish Student Sport. We’ll also have contributions from across the Tribe through exclusive special episodes of #SSSPOD.

As part of SSS’ ongoing efforts in sustainability, for every attendee we will plant a tree through Trees for Life. SSS has purchased a grove in the Scottish Highlands and will be able to plant tree’s in the grove for many years to come. Trees for Life’s vision is of a revitalised wild forest in the Highlands of Scotland, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive.

The Agenda

📋 Download the full SSS Conference Programme HERE! 

Wednesday 9th June

  • 09.30 – Welcome to SSS Conference
  • 09.45 – Creating a High Performing Culture with Prof. Damian Hughes
  • 12.00 – Get out and active over lunch with Part 1 of a SSS Podcast Special
  • 13.30 – Active Living Panel and Workshop – featuring Andy Mytom, Kim Atkinson and Ross Cunningham
  • 15.30 – BiteSSSize Best Practice – Uni. of Edinburgh Womens Hockey Club
  • 16.00 – An audience with Hannah Rankin, former IBO Super-welterwight World Champion

Thursday 10th June

  • 09.00 – Celebrating 10 Years of SSS – #Timefor10 Active Challenge and Part 2 of the SSS Podcast Special
  • 11.00 – BiteSSSize Best Practice – Here for Sport; CHANGES; Healthy Body Healthy Mind
  • 14.00 – Changing Lives through Sport Panel featuring Mel Young, Pam Dewar and Douglas Samuel
  • 15.00 – Changing Lives Workshop facilitated by sportscotland’s Changemakers
  • 16.30 – Closing Keynote: Craig Burn, Director of Strategy, Policy and Impacts – 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

The Details

  • The Conference will cost £40 per person to attend for SSS members (£55 for non-members)
  • Sign up HERE!
  • This page will be continually updated as we announce new speakers, workshops and activities in the lead up to conference!
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Thursday 26th November 2020

In what has been a difficult year for everyone, we are focussing on the good work that has been done across the country amongst these uncertain, challenging times. We asked our members to share some of their “COVID Highlights” and moments they have been proud of this year. Here is what they came up with 💙

Online classes, revamped facilities, virtual welcome fayres, free gym memberships, mental health and wellbeing resources, virtual socials and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fundraising - it is safe to say that not even a global pandemic could stop our members, partners and sports clubs from making a difference. Here are a few "COVID Highlights"  from our student sport community. University of Strathclyde | Community Spirit & Fundraising  Strathclyde Sports Union has not allowed the current pandemic to affect our community spirit and fundraising efforts. This semester we have witnessed sport member’s most creative thinking and determination to continue to play sport. After restrictions stopped them from training, our rowing club swapped their boats for bikes and completed a ‘Time-lapse Challenge’ in aid of Scottish Association for Mental Health charity. This consisted of a 25-hour cycling endurance event in teams of four, with an extra power hour being added due to the clocks changing. The challenge was completed online via Strava, so it was the perfect event to do as a club while adhering to covid regulations. The club completed laps within Glasgow Green working in various shift patterns throughout the night. The club’s community spirit ensured that participating members were supported throughout - people chipped in to act as mechanics (attending to seven different punctures throughout the event) and chefs, baking plenty of sausage rolls to keep everyone fuelled. On completion of the event, the club raised an impressive £1195 with the teams cycling over 300 kilometres throughout the 25 hours. Whilst indoor sports club training was halted, our Netball club showed incredible innovation and looked for an outdoor fitness solution. The club took their nets and set up at Strathclyde's outdoor sports facilities, Stepps Playing Fields, utilising an old blaze pitch (pictured above). They set up their posts and lines, on a largely derelict space, to allow members old and new to step foot on a court. These training sessions saw even the most senior club members make their first-ever trip to the University facility, brave the cold and get to enjoy throwing a ball around again. As part of the StrathActive programme, the club is currently running online zoom fitness sessions, allowing those that are bound by travel restrictions an opportunity to participate. The club runs two sessions at Stepps per week, ditching their shorts and t-shirts for baselayers and joggers. The sessions may look a little different but the club have really demonstrated resilience and a determination to play. #PlayTheModifiedGame University of Glasgow | Wellbeing Resource & Makeshift Facilities As lockdown began in March and our facilities as we know them closed UofG Sport immediately jumped to action to create a wellbeing offering for all of our students, staff and community. In a matter of days, we created a webpage and filled it with a range of content for everyone to access for free. Initially, we started filming classes with our amazing active lifestyle team and uploaded them for people to continue exercising no matter where they were based. The page went from strength to strength and now includes a whole range of information resources including nutritional advice, bodyweight circuits, home-workouts and couch to 3K training plans, meditation tips and links to support resources. ✔️Since March our wellbeing resource recorded over 10,000 clicks. Another highlight at GUSA has been the new intramural programme to invite students to get involved in sport for free without restrictions of memberships. This has massively improved the student experience at a time when most other social activities have been restricted. To support these activities we have adapted our facilities where ever we can - turning our outdoor rugby pitches into volleyball courts and using an outdoor marquee to host the boat club. ✔️In the last month, over 550 students attended our brand new drop-in Badminton and Table Tennis sessions to replace cancelled sports.     RGU | Digital Content & Free Gym Memberships To support our community to remain active and take time to look after their physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown, RGU SPORT created Stay Safe Stay Home Stay Well. An initiative that saw us work with departments across the university to give the RGU community free access to the breadth of our services. Over the course of 23 weeks, we offered daily digital content ranging from live classes and stretching sessions to mindfulness visualisations, showing our commitment to keeping our community well during the challenging times being faced. On campus we continued to place our student wellbeing at the top of our priorities. We believe the benefits of physical activity and using the facilities at RGU SPORT extend through all aspects of University life, whether that’s improving physical and mental wellbeing, meeting new people, increasing motivation or potentially enhancing academic performance. Due to the challenging time students are facing, we believed the opportunity of free membership for the remainder of semester one for all students, regardless of individual physical activity background, would be a great way for students to get active at RGU and maintain an active lifestyle in order to support a healthy body and mind, without having to worry about the cost. This opportunity has been made available to all students, whether or not they have used, or even visited the gym before. RGU SPORT is a safe space for students with a team who are always on hand to support students in their physical activity journey. University of Dundee | Active Living Programme & MND Fundraising  In response to COVID-19, the ISE Active Living Programme delivery immediately moved online in March, with nine classes delivered weekly, supported by online member resources and guidance. Regular member circulars with updates, guidance and reassurance ensured that online class attendance was very positive, with over 40 participants for some classes.  The feedback from programme members, who are in the highest risk COVID category, has been overwhelmingly positive: “The classes have been the best thing about lockdown. Apart from maintaining some degree of fitness, the classes have added some much-needed structure to our days.” The success of the programme delivery resulted in its manager, Hazel Ednie, being shortlisted for the Evening Telegraph’s Dundee Champion Awards 2020 On the sports clubs front, over the summer, the Dundee University Men’s Rugby Club worked together with club alumni to complete 1,000000 reps of different exercises in support of Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). After 30 days of hard effort, the club successfully completed 1,027,746 reps and smashed their fundraising target of £2k, with a total of £3894 raised. The individual efforts of one member – who completed 6012 reps on the final day – highlighted the individual and collective efforts of the club and its commendable focus on those in greatest need. University of Aberdeen | Performance Swimming  & Space Management Volunteers After three months of lockdown, the possibility of elite swimming returning emerged in June 2020.  Working in collaboration with Scottish Swimming, colleagues from the University and Aberdeen Sports Village seized the opportunity to host one of three regional ‘Performance’ locations (Aberdeen, Edinburgh & Stirling).  Plans were initiated to mobilise quickly, with colleagues returned from furlough, documentation produced, COVID training undertaken, and building compliance ensured. By 20 July all the necessary checks were complete and ASV was able to facilitate the successful return of elite swimming and diving to ASV’s world-class aquatic facilities.  This ensured that performance sport was able to resume six weeks before other aquatic activity in ASV. Although initially open to only a handful of elite athletes, the high-performance programme helped enable the wider return to sport.  Alongside ASV and University staff, club volunteers, Scottish Swimming officials, and the swimmers tested our health-related and building-specific processes and procedures, with all seen to be robust. This bred confidence ahead of the return of both public and club swimming which took place in September. This highly collaborative exercise was undertaken with exceptional dedication and attention from all partners. The pandemic related contribution of the sports staff at Scottish universities hasn’t just been about facilitating the resumption of student sport and maintaining facilities.  In Aberdeen, the specialist Sport & Exercise Team mucked in to help their Estates colleagues complete a vital institutional assessment of teaching spaces. With Aberdeen Sports Village closed and most of its staff furloughed, the University’s small team of specialist sports staff were also furloughed through May & June.  However, when an opportunity came up that required adaptable, resourceful, and physically active staff to volunteer to support the wider University effort to reopen the campus … the sport and exercise team jumped at the chance to come off furlough two weeks early. Armed with hand-sanitiser, masks, tape-measures, common-sense, and a giant bunch of keys, the team set out on the exercise.  They visited, measured and analysed every seminar and lecture room on the University’s Old Aberdeen campus.  Each room was assessed for various social distancing scenarios; furniture was counted, logged and moved to lay the rooms out in the optimal format; and a data sheet for every room was compiled.  Ten days and 100 rooms later an exercise vital to the timetabling of face-to-face classes in the autumn was complete. University of Edinburgh | Wellbeing Offering  Given the unique challenges of this year, student wellbeing has been at the forefront of all of our activity so far. Sophie Weeden, our Wellbeing Officer, has worked on creating a dedicated wellbeing pack for all club welfare officers. A huge amount of planning went into various EUSU campaigns across Mental Health and Wellbeing Week(s) across November. Our #LetsTalk video highlighting men’s mental health had over 28,000 views across all platforms; we are running Mind Athletics and Growth mindset workshops; and have created a brand new social media campaign.

Alongside this, many of our sports clubs have supported Movember and a number of other mental health-related campaigns during this time, highlighting the importance of student wellbeing across our membership. Staying with sports clubs, during lockdown a number of our sports clubs took the opportunity to fundraise for different charities, including;
  • The Boat Club raised £2500 for Alzheimer's Society by rowing for 24 hours straight on an erg - breaking the Lightweight Tandem world record in the process!
  • Ladies Rugby raised over £2000 for SAMH, My Name'5 Doddie, and Coppafeel - by virtually cycling/running/swimming from BT Murrayfield to each of the 6 Nation Stadiums - a total of 1,900 miles in just 7 days!
  • Our cricket club raised over £3000 for Age Scotland - running/cycling/swimming the length of their planned summer tour - from Edinburgh to Barbados, in total a whopping 7,800 kilometres in 12 days!
Heriot-Watt University | The Watt Welcome Fair The Watt Welcome Fair was a celebration of all that is good about a University environment. A Sports Fair is not new as a concept but in the midst of a pandemic, Heriot-Watt held its largest-ever fair (based on the number of stakeholders) at Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, with attendees from across the Heriot-Watt Community. These included the Sports Union, Students Union and Chaplaincy to name but a few. With so much activity around induction and welcome being online, the fair gave new students a much needed physical event to attend. The planning for the event ended up being military level with every single detail scrutinised to ensure everyone’s health and safety was looked after. All key partner groups were part of the planning and delivery with over 100 volunteers from both the Sports Union Ambassador and Student Union helpers teams supporting the event. Such was the success of the event, discussions have already started on how the 2021 event, with or without covid, will be bigger and better next year. Once our new students signed up - our sports clubs activity took off! Our main highlight of this season so far has been our Movember campaign.Our Sports Clubs are doing a phenomenal job raising money for Movember this year - taking part in fitness challenges, growing moustaches and hosting socials, raising over £20,000 so far! We never would have thought that within a week we would've surpassed last years target of £14, so we decided to revalue our target to £25k. Our HW Movember Ambassador Stewart Morgan is leading the campaign. Movember is a campaign close to his heart and he has been instrumental in raising money and awareness for the cause. He spoke with Mark Beaumont SSS Honorary President Mark Beaumont earlier this month about the campaign, chatting all things student life, motivation and the importance of speaking up about mental health. Alongside Mark, Stewart also interviewed Tongan Rugby Player Nasi Manu to discuss their experiences with Testicular Cancer in the hopes to encourage others to regularly self-check and take action if they feel something is not quite right! Stewart also managed to link in with external companies such as First Bus to advertise our campaign and John Pye to host a Movember Auction which has turned out to be very successful and raise awareness for such a worthwhile cause. As well as fundraising through growing a moustache or doing exercise our Clubs have held socials too - both our Volleyball Club and Basketball Club hosted a virtual Bingo and Movember Quiz Nights to add to our ever-increasing total. Everyone at Heriot-Watt is hugely proud of all our sports clubs who have built such a great community spirit together during the pandemic. QMU | Food Pantry & Inclusive Movember 

Despite the disruption to the regular season, QMU’s Sports & Societies have joined forces to raise awareness and funds for Movember 2020. But it hasn’t just been moustaches! Students from a diverse range of sports & societies such as Men’s Rugby, Netball, Hockey and Musical Theatre have all shared a common goal in challenging themselves to get active, completing ‘5K per day’ challenges throughout the month - raising the profile and awareness of men’s physical and mental health. In just twelve days they raced past last year’s fundraising total of £3,500, an immense achievement in the current circumstances. 

 

Also on campus, recognising the additional pressures that the pandemic has put on students finances in particular a group of QMU students worked with local partners Cyrenians and QMUSU to develop QMU’s first-ever food pantry! This student-led project aims to provide healthy, quality food and ingredients to students, in an affordable and accessible way. The first of its kind in Scotland, and possibly the UK, the Food Pantry has been a huge success in its opening months and has become a must-visit for students living on campus!

University of St. Andrews | Charity Work In line with COVID restrictions, the St Andrews Hockey club has been able to provide regular hockey activity throughout the first semester of 2020/21  in a safe and competitive environment. We have had a record number of students join the club, consequently expanding our squads to 8 women’s teams and 3 men’s teams. We were also able to host pitch sessions for freshers in line with national and university guidelines, giving them the opportunity to meet new people in a safe environment. We are thrilled with the positive attitude everyone has brought to training this semester. Since May the club has been actively raising money and supporting charities that are close to the club. In May, members ran over 4,500km and raised £4131.76 for SAMH as part of our ‘Run 4 SAMH’ challenge - a challenge which will be completed again next year and hopefully become a new tradition for years to come. Students participated in 'Green Week' by hosting a virtual veggie cooking competition, using reusable bottles and more sustainable transport decisions. The club is currently participating in Movember, encouraging the ‘run and chat challenge’ as well as some moustache growing. As of today, the club has have raised £4,138 and ‘moved’ 2345.15km. We have loved hearing all your positive news stories over the last few weeks. All of this work only scratches the surface of the hard work and countless hours the student sport community have put in throughout this unusual year. We are so proud to be able to showcase this fantastic work from our members. If you have a good news story you would like to share with us please contact Communications Coordinator Gavin Rittoo on gavin@scottishstudentsport.com. BACK TO LIST

Thursday 11th June 2020

SSS are delighted to sign the SAMH Charter for Physical Activity and Sport, and we have now put a plan alongside this to support the work further. Find out more about what we are doing to look after our staff.

As one of the original working group to the establishment of the SAMH Charter for Physical Activity and Sport, and being a signatory of the Charter since it’s inception, SSS have created a declaration plan to support this work further. In response to the re-launch of Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, SSS have committed to celebrating the positive work we do at SSS to look after each one another’s mental health and challenge ourselves to improve wherever possible. At present, at SSS we pride ourselves on looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff – from day one inductions to last day goodbyes – we look after our staff. Starting a new job can often be a stressful, nerve-wracking process so we make sure our new staff are warmly welcomed at SSS. Staff inductions often include (along with the operational stuff) a relaxed welcome lunch, giving new starts the opportunity to meet and get to know the rest of the team in an informal environment. Welcome signs, personalised playlists are also SSS favorite to make sure new starts feel comfortable. Facilitating sport and physical activity is core to what we do at SSS, and we make sure these principles are adopted into everyday aspects of our working life too. Walking meetings, allocated time for team physical activity and actively promoting physical activity lunchtime ensures the staff can get a decent break to switch off which studies suggest often leads to improved mental health. We are also very proud to provide an open and flexible working environment where we encourage conversations surrounding mental health, check-in with each other and understand the challenges that one another might face. Over the last few months, this has never been more important so we have introduced a weekly Wellness Survey and continue to support our staff through our daily calls. If a staff member needs some headspace, flexibility around working hours or locations are often accommodated for to suit the individual’s needs. In recent weeks our staff team have completed their mental health awareness training and Nicola Scott, Head of Development has been allocated to champion mental health and be qualified in mental health first aid once courses are back up and running. Appropriate time will be allocated for the mental health champion to fulfill the role alongside their other responsibilities so that the role can be fulfilled effectively.   📝If you would like more information on the SSS SAMH Declaration you can download it here. 📲If your institution would like to sign up for Healthy Body Healthy Mind you can find information on it here. BACK TO LIST

Friday 29th May 2020

SSS are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Intermediate Level of the Equality Standard in Sport. Read the full story about what the award is and how we achieved it!

SSS recently received the very positive news that we have been awarded the Intermediate Level of the Equality Standard in Sport. This achievement represents three years of excellent work within the organisation and significant leaps across student sport in terms of participation, projects, and partnerships. The Equality Standard is supported by sportscotland - via Plan4Sport - as part of its expert resource help to governing bodies and other partners. By working through the standard, funded organisations are encouraged to own and deliver an Equality Action Plan that can demonstrably improve their impact on people in protected groups. For SSS this has produced a number of highlights including:
  • Our well-developed work with partners at Scottish Disability Sport
  • An active contribution to the SAMH Charter for Physical Activity & Sport
  • A lead delivery role within the rejuvenated Healthy Body, Healthy Mind programme
  • The collection, collation and analysis of better equality data
  • A series of impactful campaigns and projects including Rainbow Laces, CHANGES, and She Can She Will
  • Embedding value-based decision making across SSS – adopting an INCLUSIVE approach in all we do
Reaching the Intermediate award milestone represents another 2021 strategy target achieved, and so it is fitting to pause and celebrate the network-wide commitment that this represents. SSS would like to thank all who have contributed to the work thus far, both across our membership and within the many partner organisations who have supported us along the way. A special thanks to Barbara Lawson and all of our Equality Steering Group members for giving additional volunteer time to help guide the work. We couldn’t have managed it without you. Having reached this level SSS is now amongst the most developed sports bodies in the country. This important work will now continue towards the top-level (Advanced) over the coming years, in our bid to make student sport a place where everyone is able and welcome to play. BACK TO LIST

Monday 5th February 2018

 Welcome to the

College Sport Award

The College Sport Award is a self-improvement framework for Colleges that wish to provide physical activity and sport opportunities to their students, staff and communities.

The Award is a key project for us and is part of the work we will do over the coming years as we aim to help build a world-class system for physical activity and student sport.

 'Our College recognises the unique role, value and potential that sport and physical activity has to enhance College life - that's why we are involved in the College Sport Award'

We caught up with our Honorary President, Mr Mark Beaumont, to hear his views and endorsement of the College Sport Award. 

 Framework


Number of Colleges Engaged
0

Any questions? Don't hesitate to ask!


Completing the Award requires a firm commitment from the College and Students Association around planning, staffing and timetabling which will naturally need to be resourced. However, the Award itself - including the staff support time from SSS - is free to sign up to, provided the College is already in membership of Scottish Student Sport.
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Monday 10th April 2017

Awards

The annual Scottish Student Sport Awards, recognizing the highest achieving athletes, coaches and volunteers in Scotland.

Categories

This will be awarded to a male individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2018-19 season. This can include international performances achieved between 22nd April 2018 and 20th April 2019.

This will be awarded to a female individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2018-19 season. This can include international performances achieved between 22nd April 2018 and 20th April 2019.

This will be awarded to a team for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2018-19 season. This can include international performances achieved between 22nd April 2018 and 20th April 2019.

This award will be awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport by coaching during the 2018-19 season. Good quality coaching; innovative ideas; dedication to the sport; and a drive to continually improve their own skills are features of an outstanding coach.

This will be awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport during the 2018-19 year.  The contribution may be in many forms such as exceptional active or administrative services to a club, college, or university; as a faithful club servant, committee member, leader; officiating; coaching; or purely down to their love of sport. Volunteers purely in a coaching capacity should be nominated for the Coach of the Year award.

This will be awarded to a club that can demonstrate excellence in the 2018-19 season. Increasing memberships, upping participation, innovative projects, developing volunteers, promoting the role of officials; fundraising, community links and involvement in institution activity are just certain elements that would demonstrate excellence.

2017 - 18 Winners

Club of the Year

Edinburgh University Women's Hockey Club

 Female Athlete of the Year

Laura Muir (Athletics) - University of Glasgow

Team of the Year


Edinburgh University Women's Fencing Team

Male Athlete of the Year

Duncan Scott (Swimming) - University of Stirling

Coach of the Year

John Higson (Boat) - The University of Edinburgh

 Volunteer of the Year

Gill Thayne - University of Stirling

2017 - 2018 Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Five Stars

City of Glasgow College

 Four Stars

Dundee & Angus College
University of Dundee
Fife College
West Lothian College

Three Stars

University of Aberdeen
Perth College
University of Stirling

 Two Stars

Edinburgh College
Glasgow Clyde College
University of Glasgow
University of the Highlands and Islands
Queen Margaret University
Scotland's Rural College
South Lanarkshire College

One Star

Border's College
Dumfries & Galloway College
Edinburgh Napier University
Heriot-Watt University
Inverness College
New College Lanarkshire
Robert Gordon University
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
West College Scotland


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Monday 15th January 2024

Embrace a Healthier You in 2024: New Year, New Active Lifestyle

Embrace a Healthier You in 2024: New Year, New Active Lifestyle As we usher in the new year, many of us are contemplating resolutions and goals to make positive changes in our lives. For students looking to kickstart 2024 on a healthy note, adopting an active lifestyle can be a transformative choice. Whether you're starting fresh or rekindling good habits, incorporating exercise into your routine can contribute not only to physical fitness but also to mental wellbeing.

Benefits of Regular Exercise: Unleashing the Power of Movement

The college or university experience is a whirlwind of excitement, change, and new beginnings. For many students, it marks a period of significant lifestyle shifts – moving away from home, making new friends, and, of course, hitting the books. Amidst this exciting journey, it's essential for students to carve out time for physical activity and exercise. The benefits extend far beyond just physical health; they play a vital role in maintaining mental well-being and academic success.

The Multifaceted Benefits of Exercise

1. Relieving Stress:

Student life comes with its fair share of stress – academic pressures, social adjustments, and the general hustle and bustle. Exercise serves as a powerful stress buster, releasing endorphins that act as natural mood lifters and stress relievers.

2. Enhancing Mood:

The connection between exercise and mood improvement is well-established. Engaging in physical activity triggers the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin, contributing to a more positive state of mind.

3. Improving Memory:

As students juggle lectures, assignments, and exams, a sharp memory is invaluable. Regular exercise has been linked to improved memory retention and cognitive function, which can significantly aid in academic performance.

4. Improving Concentration:

Staying focused during lengthy study sessions can be challenging. Exercise has been shown to enhance concentration and cognitive abilities, allowing students to absorb and retain information more effectively.

Prioritising Exercise in a Packed Schedule

While it may seem daunting to find time for exercise amidst the myriad of student activities, dedicating just 30 minutes, three times a week, can make a substantial difference. Consider incorporating the following into your routine:
  1. Join a club: Join one of the amazing sports clubs that your College or University offers.
  2. Gym Sessions: Hit the campus gym for a mix of cardio and strength training.
  3. Fitness Classes: Join group fitness classes – a fun way to stay active while making new friends.
  4. Swim Sessions: A refreshing swim not only offers a full-body workout but is also a great stress-reliever.
  5. Physical Activities you Enjoy: Whether it's playing a sport, going for a run, or dancing, choose activities that bring you joy to make exercise a sustainable part of your lifestyle.

The Transformational Impact of Regular Exercise

Committing to regular exercise during your college years doesn't just contribute to physical fitness. It has a profound impact on your overall well-being. Expect to feel less stressed, more energised, mentally sharper, and physically fit. As you navigate the exciting and challenging aspects of college life, prioritising your health through exercise will undoubtedly set the foundation for a successful and fulfilling academic journey. So, lace up those sneakers, find an activity you love, and make exercise an integral part of your college experience – your body and mind will thank you!

Ways to Get Active Near You: Tailoring Fitness to Your Lifestyle

Regardless of your fitness level or experience, there are numerous ways to get active, especially as a student. Consider the following options to kickstart your fitness journey:
  1. University/College Resources: Speak to your university's or college's sports union or sports facility to discover the variety of facilities, classes, and support available to you.
  2. Couch to 5k Programme: Set a personal fitness goal with the Couch to 5k programme - a structured plan to guide you from the couch to running 5 kilometers.
  3. Park Runs: If you're interested in running and want a supportive community, join your local Park Run. It's a free, weekly event that welcomes runners and walkers of all levels.

Mindfulness: Nurturing Your Mental Wellbeing

Transitioning back to university or college life can be overwhelming. Mindfulness and meditation can be powerful tools to manage stress and enhance your mental well-being:
  1. Headspace's Stress Guide: Navigate stress with Headspace's comprehensive guide.
  2. Headspace's Meditation Benefits: Understand the multitude of benefits that meditation can bring to your life.
  3. Headspace's Mindful Eating: Explore the connection between mindfulness and your eating habits.
  4. Headspace's Breathing Exercises: Learn effective breathing exercises to calm your mind.
For a more immersive experience, check out Headspace's interactive guides on Netflix. As we embark on a new year, let's commit to a healthier and more active version of ourselves. Whether you're hitting the gym, lacing up your running shoes, or practicing mindfulness, taking these steps can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling 2024. Here's to your health and well-being in the new year! BACK TO LIST