{"id":194,"date":"2024-12-07T23:51:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T23:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/joseph-chisholm\/?p=194"},"modified":"2024-12-12T17:02:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T17:02:36","slug":"newcastle-university-student-union-plans-to-enhance-support-within-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/joseph-chisholm\/2024\/12\/07\/newcastle-university-student-union-plans-to-enhance-support-within-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle University Student Union plans to enhance support within sport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Newcastle University student union are planning to develop support on offer for students participating within sport. Alex Duggan is the Athletic Union Officer<\/a> on the Athletic Union Executive Committee<\/a> at the student union, and is responsible for overseeing the 65 sports clubs at Newcastle University.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Screenshot of an Instagram post by nclsport Click the link below to hear from Alex and a bit more about her role,
View this post on Instagram<\/a>
A post shared by Alex Duggan (@nusu_au)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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She said, \u201cWe have split the committee into three different areas,<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is finance, so removing financial barriers, we\u2019re going to look at how grants are being divvied out next year to clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve got a positive culture change group, that\u2019s looking at dangerous behaviours within sports clubs and tackling that locker room culture and initiation drinking culture within clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final group is mental health support because I know a lot of students do struggle at uni and we\u2019ve got great systems at the university with the student health and well-being team. But I think finding that specific sport outlet for student athletes would be really beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Fahim Mohammed- Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Alex, a former rugby player here at Newcastle University, is in her first year as Athletic Union Officer after being involved with the Executive Committee last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role oversees the day-to-day workings of different clubs and helps out with any issues they may have. This can be to do with club finances, health and safety or any disciplinaries, offering relevant support needed on top of what is already on offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added, \u201cI saw lots of areas for growth that I thought if I was in the role I can maybe help a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimiko Cheng, last year\u2019s Athletic Union Officer, recommended Alex for the role, who won with a resounding 1126<\/a> votes after a successful campaign, and is already planning to make sport more appealing and enjoyable at Newcastle University.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hal Gatewood- Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Studies have found<\/a> that 75% of university students would like to do more exercise but feel like there are certain obstacles that prevent them from doing so, with students from lower socio-economic groups<\/a> being less likely to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Fabian Blank- Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Alex recognised these obstacles, saying, \u201cBalancing your time from being a student and being academic but also being involved in a sports club, it\u2019s really hard to find that balance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of recent plans to develop support, the University also offers an Activities Access Fund<\/a>, (although this is now closed for 2024\/25), which grants \u00a3350 to eligible students per academic year to support participation within sport.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Screenshot from Newcastle University Student Union website- <\/a>Newcastle University Students’ Union<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The new initial plans by Alex and the committee cover a range of support areas to help combat barriers to participation for students and encourage more people to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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