Active Residences and Men’s XC shortlisted for BUCS Awards
This year we have been nominated for two BUCS Awards. Our Active Residences programme and Men’s Cross Country Club have both been recognised for their outstanding achievements across 2023-24.
Active Residences
Shortlisted for: Active Wellbeing Programme Award
Delivered in partnership with Accommodation, Active Residences is a free, year-round sport and exercise programme accessible to students living in UoB Halls.
Now in its second year of delivery, Active Residences was devised to address gaps in how sport engaged with the University community, focusing on increasing engagement amongst international students and ethnic minorities.
Last year, the programme was shortlisted for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award.
From safe spaces to run during dark evenings, to calming yoga classes, indoor and outdoor sport and other social events, the programme offers a diverse timetable of activities for students to get involved in.
The Active Residences programme has been invaluable to many students looking to get involved in sport, either for the first time, or for those looking for ways to stay fit whilst making friends alongside their studies. Students have said:
‘Over Christmas, I was being downward both because of the weather and most of my friends were not there. I found out about Active Residences and my first session was cardio which I really enjoyed. Thank you for being so supportive, kind and friendly during these sessions.’
‘I’m super grateful for this Active Res programme, it relieves my university stress and has single handedly improved my uni experience.’
Coordinated and facilitated by students and staff, Head of Sport Development, Chris Anthony, reflects on what it means to be shortlisted for a BUCS Award this year:
‘Active Residences has been a wonderfully collaborative programme to be a part of and it’s fantastic that all those that have made such a difference to the active wellbeing of students in our halls have been recognised for their hard work.’
Men’s Cross Country
Shortlisted for BUCS Team of the Year Award
Last month, our Men’s Cross Country Club won the National Team of the Year at our Sports Awards event. It’s great to see the club’s success and culture acknowledged at a national level in the BUCS Awards 2024.
Headed by Dean Miller, the combined Athletics and Cross Country endurance club has expanded to a record 150 members and an additional 50+ alumni and associates who maintain strong connections with the University.
It has been an incredible 12 months for the club, let’s recap some of the highlight achievements:
A record four athletes competed in the World University Cross Country Championships in Oman in February 2024, all of whom brought home team silverware. Dean was the GB Team Leader for this trip – which is once again the first time a UoB coach has held such a role.
The Men’s team this year completed their first ever clean sheet on the podium with Will Barnicoat taking GOLD, Tomer Tarragano Silver and Ollie Smart Bronze achieving Team GOLD in the BUCS Cross Country Long race.
The Cross Country Short Team did not disappoint either with Elliot Morgan winning Silver, Sam Burkitt securing Bronze with overall Team Gold. Nine current students have also been selected to compete for GB at European level.
Dean describes the culture of the Men’s Cross Country Club:
‘We are immensely proud of the depth and breadth of performance across the year. The highlight being a record breaking and dominant BUCS Cross-Country victory, the energy and culture of the 80 strong group, led by Captain Michael Stevens has been paramount to these achievements..’
About the Coach
Dean has taken the Athletics and Cross Country Club from strength to strength, winning Coach of the Year at the Sports Awards. In ParaAthletics, Dean led in school outreach and development of a para programme at the University alongside the Birmingham Athletics Academy which caters for 8-16 year old beginners in the sport.
