Supporting a uK SucceSS Story: The impacT of - Research Councils ...

Tennis
Tennis is another sport which
has made good use of a student
workforce to increase participation.
The University Tennis Coordinator
programme was established in
2009 with the aim of growing the game and
encouraging university students to become
more involved in tennis. The programme also
creates a ‘first step’ into the tennis industry
for the coordinators who have an ideal base
from which to become a future part of the
workforce for British Tennis. Each coordinator
is in position for two years, working to grow
tennis at their university, while also studying for
a part-time post-graduate degree. Receiving
an annual salary of up to £10,000 they work
to increase the number of students attending,
tennis taster sessions, organised play, coaching
and competition. They also work to increase the
number of students training to be competition
organisers, coaches and referees.
Over the last three years Durham University
Tennis Club has grown from a student run
competitive club into one of the largest and
most successful sports clubs in Durham through
the work of a University Tennis Coordinator.
Last year the club has its most successful year
to date with five BUCS league titles, a cup win
and finalists in BUCS individuals. The University
of Exeter has also achieved fantastic things
through the programme. The first academic term
of 2011/12 was incredibly successful in regards
to the number of members and the amount of
those that have a British Tennis Membership.
Currently 88 per cent of the club are British
Tennis Members. These successes are the result
of the University Tennis Coordinator.
Judo
British Judo has also worked with
a large number of universities
in the last year, but has taken a
slightly different approach to the
initiatives mentioned previously.
For the second year British Judo has introduced
their Student Voucher Scheme to universities
across the country. The idea behind the scheme
is to increase the number of new participants
in the sport within current higher education
judo clubs and to support the development of
new judo clubs at universities. The programme
aims to break down the financial barrier to
starting judo, with various vouchers offering
everything needed to take up the sport.
Through the programme various university
judo clubs, in partnership with their Regional
Development Officer, managed to recruit over
300 new participants to the sport. The second
year of the scheme saw British Judo expanded
the programme to target 65 universities,
with an emphasis to expand the sport further
and establish new clubs. Currently over 400
new students have taken up the Student
Voucher Scheme nationally. The University of
Warwick has seen a huge growth in Judo club
membership as a result of the scheme. In the
2010/2011 academic year the club managed
to increase membership by about 50 per
cent. Andrew Wilesmith, Eastern Regional
Development Officer and higher education lead
for the programme said: “This programme offers
so much too so many. It breaks down the initial
financial barriers for students, and offers them a
chance to progress to their 6th Kyu and because
of this we give them an incentive to stay in the
sport. We also have something to take to the
universities. It’s a difficult sport to amend, unlike
a number of other sports so we are showing
our commitment to the sector and our Higher
Education partners with this project. We come to
the table with something tangible and beneficial
to both the student and the university”.
SECTION FOUR : sport development and participation 51