The annual BUCS Awards Dinner was held on Thursday 14th July and hosted at the University of Hertfordshire. It saw a record number of 246 nominations across nine categories, making it the most competitive awards to date!
It was just rewards the Northumbria Sport Student Development Programme won the BUCS Workforce Programme of the Year 2017. This is a brand new award to recognise Universities impact in Student Development, particularly around life and employability skills.
The award reflects a very dedicated Sport team that includes staff and students working together on campus and throughout the community, including the partnership with British Tennis across the North East.
The partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association has been going from strength to strength with student volunteers getting involved in a range of opportunities across the area, which has seen them offer over 500 voluntary hours in the last year alone. This includes helping run the Great British Tennis Weekend events, mini tennis competitions, coaching, social media and park led activities that has seen thousands of people of all ages and abilities experience and get involved in the game.
Sarah Stephenson (Sport Services Assistant for Student & Staff Development) was delighted with the National Award,
“We are exceptionally proud of the work our students do, and the impact they have within Northumbria University and our local communities. We pride ourselves in offering our students every opportunity to become workplace ready and there are so many examples of graduates who have been part of the Northumbria Sport team now making their mark in the wider world!”
Jo Cunliffe (Regional Tennis Participation Manager) was buzzing,
“This is a fantastic achievement for Northumbria University and we are so honoured to have played a part in their success. There is nothing more rewarding supporting our next generation and all the students who have become involved in tennis through the partnership have been a credit to themselves and the University. I am 100% certain they will be a huge asset to whichever organisations are lucky to recruit them in the future!”