Thursday 24th March 2022

In a continued bid to positively influence the culture in student sport, SSS and the CHANGES: Programme has extended our partnership to continue tackling the challenges of initiation and hazing activity within student sport. Read more about the continued partnership below!

As of August 2019, Scottish Student Sport and the CHANGES Programme have strived as partners to advocate that student sport in Scotland is a safe and inclusive environment for all. Alongside CHANGES’ Programme researchers Professor Moira Lafferty (University of Chester) and Dr. Caroline Wakefield (Liverpool Hope University), we are continuing to work towards the commitments set out in the partnership agreement which are supported by SSS CHANGES trainers, Development Committee, and Equality Steering Group.

Through the partnership, we aim to:

SSS Commitment

  • Promote and market the CHANGES programme to SSS’ members
  • Continue to formally support the staff within the membership who make up the CHANGES delivery workforce as trainers
  • Advocate the use of the CHANGES workshop programme annually and work with sport sabbaticals to create a national campaign endorsing CHANGES messaging
  • Provide ongoing support through SSS staff, Development Committee, and Equality Steering Group

“The work we have done over the last 3 years in partnership has been ground-breaking in the UK. By working together through this agreement, we can move the programme forward through research-informed practice developments.”

CHANGES Commitment 

  • Continue to provide SSS members with the CHANGES workshop programme and components at a not-for-profit delivery
  • Continue to run SSS Train the Trainer workshops so we have people trained at the Regional level to lead the workshops
  • Update and share CHANGES resources
  • Work with SSS to further develop CHANGES to tackle anti-social behavior beyond welcome and initiation activities
  • Provide support, input, and updates at SSS Conference and meetings as required.
  • In all work involving CHANGES with other Educational groups/student sport acknowledge and reference the partnership agreement with SSS.

Lead researcher, Professor Moira Lafferty, from the University of Chester’s School of Psychology, told us:

“Renewing the partnership with Scottish Student Sport means we can continue to roll out the Challenging Hazing and Negative Group Events Programme (CHANGES) by working with students, our Scottish trainers, and their Committees to ensure that student sport in Scotland is safe and inclusive. The work we have done over the last 3 years in partnership has been ground-breaking in the UK and by working together through this agreement, we can move the programme forward through research-informed practice developments.”

Eilidh Paterson, Inclusion & Culture Development Coordinator shared:

“We at Scottish Student Sport are so grateful to be partnered with two incredible experts in Moira and Caroline who continue to provide our members’ student and staff with training at no cost but also, addressing extremely important and challenging subjects on campus shifting the sporting culture as we know it. We are delighted to extend our partnership with CHANGES and look forward to being part of the continued progress.”

staff writing on a poster paperSince the partnership’s conception in 2019, we have hosted three Train the Trainer sessions which has led to the upskilling of 26 staff from the SSS Membership. This strong foundation of trainers means SSS is able to offer members the opportunity to arrange training for their students on campus with the only cost being to cover the trainer’s travel expenses. As a result, a few of our members have created their own partners who return the on-campus training delivery favor to those that deliver for them.

If you are interested in booking one of our trainers to deliver some training to you or you do not have a staff member trained within your College or University, please reach out to SSS’ Inclusion & Culture Development Coordinator, Eilidh, and submit a note of interest.

Tayside, Fife, and Grampian Regional Trainers;

Eamonn Laird, University of Dundee

Rory Anton, Robert Gordon University

Kieran Matthews, Robert Gordon University

South East Regional Trainers;

Amy Beattie, University of Stirling

Catherine Wilson, Heriot-Watt University

Douglas Jardine – Scotland’s Rural College

West Regional Trainers;

Seona McKenzie, University of Strathclyde

Jamie Taylor, University of Glasgow

Scottish Student Sport’s Staff;

Eilidh Paterson, Scottish Student Sport – eilidh@scottishstudentpsort.com

Megan Richardson, Scottish Student Sport – megan@scottishstudentsport.com

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Wednesday 26th January 2022

February is LGBTQ+ History Month, help us celebrate the great work of the membership!

SSS logo with LGBTQ+ colours

In the words of our LGBTQ+ Lead Carolina, “every month we focus on supporting the inclusion of LGBTQ+ sporting participants across Scotland”, now it is time to shine a spotlight on that work. This LGBTQ+ History Month, you can help SSS celebrate the great work of the membership alongside your student clubs, unions, and facilities.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

Student Club Spotlight

During the month, SSS is going to share at least one spotlight story each week from across the country that is doing good work within their club by creating a safe & inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people – Do you have any clubs in mind? If so, please email your interest to Eilidh before Monday 14th February to be featured.

Rainbow Laces

SSS would like to donate our limited stock of Rainbow Laces to our members (max 100 pairs each) during this month with the only cost we ask to be covered being postage. The laces will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. If interested please email Eilidh.

Football v Homophobia Month of Action

FvH Grassroots is an initiative supported by Puma to get grassroots football clubs to take action to tackle LGBTQ+ discrimination in football throughout February, the Football v Homophobia Month of Action. We recognise this is an individual journey for each club, so the campaign pack will provide different ideas which clubs can adapt.

Find out more here.

Trans Active Glasgow & Edinburgh (NEW!)

LEAP Sports programs, Trans Active Glasgow and Edinburgh are friendly sport and physical activity groups where students and community members will have the chance to socialise with other trans people, make friends, and try out new things. Now new to the city of Edinburgh, find out more here.

LEAP Sports Corporate Cup

Would you like to enter a ten-pin bowling team, raise money for LEAP Sports and compete for the win in Glasgow? Find out more here but be quick, there are is limited number of space left.

Thank you to our partners LEAP Sport for continued assistance with our development within this area of work and to our LGBTQ+ Lead Carolina for the passion and expertise she bring to her volunteering role in SSS.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Inclusion & Culture Coordinator, Eilidh.

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Monday 29th March 2021

CASE STUDY | How Scottish Student Cycling kept students active, motivated and engaged during the cold, dark winter!

Spring has sprung – gone are the cold,dark winter nights. Replaced with longer, brighter and more hopeful days ahead.

The changing season is very much welcomed, with the easing of restrictions of the next couple of months proving a glistening light at the end of the tunnel. Whilst the winter months were a challenging time for all, there was plenty of golden nuggets of refreshing innovation within the student sporting world to look back on. This extract focuses on our Scottish Student Cycling community and how they spun a negative situation into a positive one.

With in-person, cycling events cancelled for the foreseeable future, the Scottish Student Cycling community led by SS Cycling Chair Aaron Johnson pulled together taking it in turns to host virtual rides, jumping from institution to institution to provide a virtual competitive offering and giving students the opportunity to keep active and motivated throughout the winter.

Scottish Student Cycling Chair, Aaron Johnson writes

Between November and March, 10 different university cycling clubs across Scotland, took on the responsibility of hosting weekly virtual cycling rides (meet-ups), with the support of SS Cycling. Meet-ups took place on the virtual cycling platform, ‘Zwift’. Each week, a different club would delegate a member who would be responsible for creating the meet-up, organising the route and sending invites to fellow students.

A total of 38 participants took part across the various meeting – engaging both current students and alumni members. The highest turnout saw 18 participants tackle one of the hilliest routes on Zwift and was hosted by RGU student, Jamie Chree.

Students were able to use these meet-ups as an opportunity to socialise and engage with clubs, something that has not been possible in-person this year, due to the Covid pandemic. A lot of students also used this an opportunity to fit in a workout, whilst still being able to ride with a group.

The overwhelming response from students and competitors was very postive. Speaking to SSS, Louise Smith (University of Stirling) said:

“I really enjoyed the whole experience! It was good to have a weekly session, knowing I was going to be on Zwift on a Tuesday evening. It was great to be able to chat with students from other universities too. It also helped to fill the hole, that the lack of group rides has left in my life.”

Aaron Blackwood (University of Aberdeen), enjoyed the social aspect of the meet-ups and believes the format has long term potential. He said:

“The SSS Zwift meet-ups gave me a great opportunity to get to know fellow cyclists from across Scotland, at a time where meeting up in person was not possible. The laid-back format with different universities hosting every week really helped to personalise the meet-ups rather than just having a single host picking the routes every time. Even after the pandemic is over I could still see the benefits of running similar events!”

Honourable mentions go to Aaron Blackwood (University of Aberdeen), for never missing a meet-up and even hosting one himself.

Well done to all the students and institutions who took part in meet-ups! Going forward the Scottish Student Cycling team are hoping to build on the momentum gained from the winter events and provide an even better event offering for the 2021/22 season and beyond!

 

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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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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.

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Wednesday 27th November 2019

We are excited to launch our brand new Scottish Student Sport Podcast! Episode 1 is now LIVE and available on Spotify! Find out more here.

We are excited to announce the launch of the brand new Scottish Student Sport Podcast!

In its debut series hosts Gavin Rittoo and Stew Fowlie will be joined by a variety of guests from across the Scottish Sporting world and beyond to discuss their journey and how student sport has shaped it along the way.

Aired monthly, the podcast will feature a chat with one of the sports sabbatical officers from our member institutions – getting to know them a little bit better and the exciting work they are doing this year. There will also be a ‘competitions corner’ segment which will round up all the latest results and reaction from our competitions and events across the country. Alongside this the show will round up all the latest news, updates and discuss all the hot topics in the exciting world that is Scottish Student Sport.

Episode 1

00:00 – 08:00 – Intro and Welcome with Stew & Gav

08:00 – 24:30 – Interview with Georgia Moran, Edinburgh Napier University

24:30 – 28:00 – Live musical performance from Georgia Moran

28:00 – 31:00 – Competitions update and reaction

31:00 – 50:30 – Interview with Malcolm King from the Big Sleep Out, previewing the event in December which SSS will be participating in

50:30 – 53:00 – Round up and upcoming events with Stew and Gav

How to listen:

You can find us on spotify, stitcher, spreaker and all other good podcasting sites.

Listen to “Episode 1 | Georgia Moran & The Big Sleep Out” on Spreaker.

Get in touch

If you have listened to the podcast then we want to hear from you!

Tweet us your thoughts on the podcast using the hashtag: #SSSPOD. Whether its praise, criticism , support or if you have a great idea then let us know! We will read out the best tweets on the next episode…

If you would like to appear on the podcast then drop as an email: info@scottishstudentsport.com 

If you are interested in joining our SSS Sleep Out team on Saturday 7th of December to help raise money and fight homelessness in Scotland then all the sign up information can be found here.

 

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