Funding boost for Sport at UCLan

UCLan students will have more chances to play sport after the University secured a significant slice of National Lottery funding.

Following the award of £97,000 from Sport England’s University Sport Activation Fund, UCLan Students' Union is setting up the 'Get in2' project which will build upon the strong foundations laid down by the University’s successful Sport 4 U scheme.

Get in2 aims to create more sporting opportunities by offering new 'pop up' sessions around campus and within the halls of residence to help overcome different barriers to participation that students face. The project will deliver a diverse, accessible and affordable sporting programme, as well as offering volunteering opportunities for students.

The Union have also teamed up with Preston City Council's Sport and Health Development team to provide affordable swimming opportunities at both Fulwood and West View Leisure Centres.

UCLan is one of 54 universities to benefit from nearly £10 million of funding to help get almost 180,000 new students playing sport. Sam Bloomfield, the Union's Activities and Participation Officer said: "I'm delighted we've received funding from Sport England's University Activation fund for our Get In2 programme.

"We're always looking for ways to improve the student experience and with the support of the Get In2 initiative we'll be able to provide new and exciting projects that should see student involvement in physical activity increase rapidly. This funding will really enable Sport and Activities at UCLan Students' Union go far beyond where they have in the past."

Currently just over half of higher education students take part in sport at least once a week. The funding will support projects to not only maintain this level of participation, but also increase it by trialling new methods of getting students into sport and offering a wider variety of opportunities to keep them playing sport during their time at university.

The projects will particularly concentrate on those that do not currently play. It will also help tackle the issue of many young people giving up sport in their late teens and early twenties.

Sport England Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said: “We know universities play a vital role in maintaining and growing a student's love of sport. They can encourage them to continue playing once they've left school or help those less sporty discover a new sport. By investing in UCLan Students' Union we're helping students develop a lifelong sporting habit while they study."