Our Christmas round-up post celebrates the Semester 1 and what LSBU Active have achieved so far in the Student Sport and Community programmes. Let’s kick it off with our Sports Ambassadors who have been at the forefront of sport and physical activity. Many of the projects and programmes simply wouldn’t run without the work of our student staff cohort. 

Coach Education 

Alba Foster-Diez, 2nd Year, School of Health & Social Care, BSc Hons Sports Rehabilitation 

Meet Alba, our Sports Ambassador of the Semester. Alba has engaged with a range of sports coaching and this term, has started as the Lead Coach of London South Bank University’s Women’s Football Team. Alba has immersed herself into Sports Coaching with a variety of coaching qualifications throughout her studies. 

Completing all prerequisites for safe coaching practices and has begun The FA’s ‘Introduction to Coaching Football’, in addition to completing 20 hours of voluntary placement in accordance with Alba’s studies with the School of Health & Social Care to complete the Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification. 

“It has been exciting to return to be the women’s football coach for 2024/25. It’s allowed me to keep in touch with football and to bring new female students together through football.  Being a Sports Ambassador has given me new opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have had and professional experience relevant to my career interests and area of study” 

Thomas Norman, 2nd Year, School of Built Environment &Architecture, BEng Hons Building Services Engineering 

Both our Women and Men’s Rugby Club Leaders and Sports Ambassadors have taken part in Emergency First Aid Courses delivered by LSBU Active. This is to qualify our students to offer safe sport and professional development.  

With our students, we have been able to deliver two Emergency First Aid Courses with fifteen students certified to provide safe First Aid. We hope the coach education programme offers a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for new students looking to try sport, knowing the sports club members and volunteer workforce are skilled in all aspects of sports provision.  

Hear from the Men’s Rugby Club Leader, Thomas Norman who took part in the course to keep players safe and to welcome new students trying university sport for the first time.  

“The first aid course is great to have, not only to have when playing a contact sport but also in day-to-day life. It’s also great to put on your CV and could aid your future career prospects” 

What Have We Achieved? 

LSBU Active’s Sports Ambassador Scheme celebrate the collective efforts of all its student-staff as we wrap-up for the Christmas Break. See below to view our semester in numbers. 

• 5286+ participants engaged with Sports Ambassador sessions 

• 1350+ paid coaching hours 

• 290+ volunteering hours 

• 32 coaching qualifications & certificates issued to students 

• 29 newly appointed Sports Ambassadors 

• And a partridge in a pear tree! 

Partnerships 

Our Active Partnerships in the local community saw LSBU Students to deliver vibrant activity programmes for a local charity and sports coaches for the School Sport Programmes LSBU Active delivers. Examples of this include the October Half-Term Sports Camp for Bankside Open Spaces Trust, providing much needed free physical activity for local children with limited access to open spaces. To add, our work with the Harris Academy & King’s College Math’s Sixth Form sees our Sports Ambassadors act as lead coaches across three Sixth Form Colleges in Lambeth and Southwark, inspiring school students to take part in physical activity as part of the school curriculum.  

Peter Croucher, Sports Administrator, Harris Academy 

“Internal feedback from our students shows that the sessions are very much enjoyed.  The use of LSBU facilities and their coaches has enabled the schools to offer a much wider range of sports and of higher-quality sessions than would otherwise have been possible” 

LSBU Sports Ambassadors have also volunteered their time this term to enhance their skills with further training, coaching badges and workshops. Volunteering and upskilling added to student success and champions the efforts of our Ambassadors with an enhanced student experience with improved access to opportunity and graduate prospects.  

Hear from our Sports Ambassador Graduates! 

Gee-oh Ho, School of Business, MSc Postgraduate 

“As a recent master’s graduate, being able to test and implement skills as a team leader has been an exciting opportunity. I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to work with children and encouraging them to pursue new sports is fulfilling”. 

Next up let’s talk about our student sport club and participation programmes! 

Student Sport Club Successes! 

This academic year we launched our new Sports Collectives offering more holistic activity outside of the competitive environment such as Yoga, Pilates and Dance. As well as 2 new clubs in Powerlifting and Weightlifting alongside our new Men’s 3rd team in football due to the rise in members last year within the club. It’s been great to see the rise in students engaging in Physical activity with continued growth across all aspects, tracking to be our best year ever so far! 

We also want to highlight some great news from our sports clubs and our teams who are having a great season so far. Our Men’s Football 2nd Team are currently chasing the double promotion, currently sitting in 2nd place after securing promotion only last season. 

With the theme of successful 2nd teams, our Netball 2s are currently sitting top of the tree in 1st place within their LUSL division, as well as progressing into the quarter finals of the LUSL Plate competitions. 

Hear from the 2 captains below: 

Phillip Crichton, Men’s Football 2nd Team Captain: “I’m so proud of my team, we’ve worked so hard this year. It’s been a positive attitude from everyone, a team effort. We have come into this season with a real sense of commitment and community where everyone involved in the team brings their best every week. To fight for back-to-back promotions is huge and would be a great achievement for the club and all the lads. We’re proud and fighting for all we can get from this season.” 

Caitlin Hedger, Netball 2nd Team Captain: “The girls have been playing incredibly well this season, and we haven’t lost a league match so far! It’s been great to see the girls showing up to training each week, making sure we have a full squad, and supporting each other on and off the court. Finishing top of the league going into 2025 is motivating us to keep up the momentum.” 

We have seen some great fixtures all year round having now played 39 competitive matches against universities all round London and the South-East region. 

Women’s Sport 

Following on from the great work last year we have continued to see a growing number of women’s engaging in sport here at LSBU, continuing to break down barriers. This is in part due to the FA and BUCS funding we secured for this academic year, allowing us to offer a more focused women’s football offering right here at LSBU Active. This has proven to be a great success with over 100 attendances so far in term 1, this funding has also allowed us to support level 1 coaching courses for some of your female players, furthering their career opportunities. 

Elite Performance Sport 

This year our Sports Scholarship programme has expanded, attracting elite Athletes to LSBU. 7 students are now on our Elite Scholarships with another 3 being support athletes. Of this cohort of 7 students we have 3 times European Gold Medallist, Desharne Bent-Ashmeil, in diving. As well as the current British U23s 100m title holder, Jennifer Eduwu. We are incredibly proud of these students as they manage their career in sport and balancing their academic goals here at LSBU. 

Here is what Ralfe E Aslam Raja, current Pakistan National Amateur Golf Champion, said about joining the programme:

“This is my first year as an LSBU Active Scholar, and I’m excited for the comprehensive support it provides, including rehab, sports science, a free gym, and other resources, which will help me balance academics, training, and competitions while striving to achieve even greater heights in both my studies and my sport.” 

Movember 2024 

This month, we’re thrilled to highlight an incredible opportunity one of our students, Carl Russell, embraced by becoming a Movember Student Ambassador for 2024. 

The role of Student Ambassador is a prestigious position that allows students to lead their university’s efforts in Movember’s nationwide fundraising challenge, competing against over 100 universities. This opportunity also enables Carl to develop key skills such as project management, event organization, and leadership, which are invaluable for future career prospects. As part of his role Carl will also be able to receive training and mentorship from Movember HQ and have the chance to apply for an exclusive internship in Summer 2025. 

We’re incredibly proud of him for stepping up to take on this important role, representing LSBU at a major charity with passion and creativity while supporting a life-saving cause.  

As part of his role Carl led and supported with fundraising efforts this year including kick starting our effort this year. Carl said the following about the first event he led on:

“As a Movember ambassador I wanted to kick start the university’s fundraising efforts early on in November with a sponsored run. Hosted by the rugby club, we managed to get 16 people across rugby, netball and women’s football to join us on a 10 kilometre (6.2 mile) route that took us to London Bridge and along the Southbank to some major tourist sites and back to a pub to watch the first England rugby game of the autumn internationals. It was a huge success as we had quite a few people clocking their longest run they have ever done on that day and inspiring them to enjoy and keep running and get outside more.  

Overall, this event was a huge success and in general a really fun day. We raised £180 from the event for the Movember campaign, showing our continued support for men’s health and issues.” 

We’re incredibly proud of Carl for stepping up to represent LSBU with such passion and creativity, making a real difference for this life-saving cause. 

Elevate Your Wellbeing—Discover the transformative power of gentle exercise this festive season! Join us for a complimentary one-hour session 7.10 am at LSBU Active on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. There is no need for gym intimidation or lengthy runs—this is all about embracing a kinder approach to health and happiness.

No experience is required – book your free ticket, wear comfortable attire, and show up! Immerse yourself in a rejuvenating hour dedicated to your physical and mental health.

Spaces are limited, so register for your free ticket to secure your spot. If your plans change, kindly cancel your ticket to open up the opportunity for someone else. Experience gentle movement’s joy and prioritise your well-being this festive season!

Level up your holiday-style game! Slip into your comfiest Christmas jumper, top it off with Santa hats and antlers, and immerse yourself in the festive spirit. As a special treat, each participant will receive a free, ultra-stylish red LSBU T-shirt – the perfect keepsake for this memorable occasion. Join us for a celebration where every detail sparkles with joy and chic elegance!” 🎄👕🎁🌟

Book here to reserve your ticket, or contact the centre for further information. Don’t miss this chance to have a blissful festive season experience!

Escape the holiday hustle with Yoga for You! Join us 6 pm on Thursday December 19, 2024, at LSBU Active for a free, rejuvenating yoga session. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, our expert instructors will guide you through invigorating poses and calming exercises. We have yoga mats available but feel free to bring your own yoga mat and discover inner balance and peace in a tranquil atmosphere. 

Get ready to jingle with festive vibes! Spice up the merriment by rocking your comfiest Christmas jumper, Santa hats, and antlers – because who says holiday cheer can’t be stylish? And here’s the icing on the gingerbread house – everyone’s getting a free, fabulous red LSBU T-shirt to make this joyful celebration even more unforgettable! Let’s sleigh this together in style and laughter! 🎄🎁🌟

Book here to reserve your ticket, or contact the centre for further information. Don’t miss this chance to have a blissful festive season experience!

Unleash the Fun – Dive into an exhilarating Zumba experience this festive season! Join us on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 6 pm for a workout that blends cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility. Get ready to shake off the stress, boost your energy, and dance to fitness.

Perfect for everyone, from beginners to seasoned Zumba enthusiasts! Our dynamic instructor will guide you through the core steps, ensuring you groove to your favourite feel-good tracks. It’s more than a workout – it’s a serious dose of fun!

This high-energy session is designed to make you sweat and move, so wear what makes you feel confident (think comfy and chic)! Bring trainers for smooth pivots, plenty of water, and a sweat towel for an energetic and sweat-worthy experience. Don’t miss the joy – join us for a Zumba celebration!

Elevate your holiday spirit in the most enchanting way possible! Picture this: wrapped in the warmth of your cosiest Christmas jumper, topped with Santa hats and antlers, creating a scene straight out of a winter wonderland. But that’s not all – as a delightful surprise, each participant will receive a chic red LSBU T-shirt, turning this festive gathering into a keepsake moment. Join us for an unforgettable blend of joy, style, and the magic of the season – because this celebration is not just an event; it’s an invitation to make memories that sparkle.” 🌟🎅✨

Book here to reserve your ticket, or contact the centre for further information. Don’t miss this chance to have a blissful festive season experience!

During the month of October, at LSBU Active – we are so pleased to have been celebrating ‘This LSBU Girl Can! The ‘This LSBU Girl Can’ initiative is a movement which celebrates females in sport, with the purpose of encouraging other women who may not have had the confidence to try something new and get involved.  

For us, a key part of this campaign was to promote female involvement in sport across the University by distributing some fantastic ‘This Girl Can’ t-shirts for girls to wear in sports sessions and around campus. Additionally, we wanted to shine a light on our female sport captains from various sports clubs and find out why they think other females should get involved. We asked our captains what being in sport means to them, and what they get out of leading their teams and going to training. Here’s what they had to say….

“Hi, I’m Elisha, the co-captain of women’s basketball. One thing I get out of sport is having a leadership role. I’m able to work with others to organise games and things that are fun. I also get the chance to communicate with women inside the sport and see how they deal with life. Normally I don’t talk to many people like that – but in sport we have that communication and family bond.” Elisha Dawes, 2^nd year Bachelor of Arts in Education student. 

“Hi, I’m Danya, I’m the netball vice-captain of our BUCS team. I joined netball in my first year, I was originally just looking to keep fit – but I really enjoyed making close friendships, hanging out with the girls socially and obviously improving my health and fitness too!” Danya Casaleggio, 3^rd year psychology student.

We also caught up with one of our fantastic female sports ambassadors who leads our community programmes. Pamela said “Sports coaching has had a positive impact as I have been able to apply and develop my knowledge as a Sport Science student. Planning sessions has been rewarding as I get to see the impact it has on the participants in my sports coaching sessions. As a female sports coach, I feel supported and respected when trying new innovative ways of coaching, whilst distancing from traditional coaching practices.” Pamela Carreno, School of Applied Science, Sports and Exercise Science, 3rd Year student.

Here’s to a fantastic celebration of the This LSBU Girl Can campaign!