Welookatwhat’shappenedinOctoberand what’scomingupinNovember Insidewe lookat:
StudentsCompeteatSSSBocciaFestival InternationalExperienceProgramme
StudentSpotlight
StaffSuccess(again)
SSSWoman’s&GirlsCoaching ProgrammeRecruits
Aswellassomeinformationofeventsand activitiesaroundthecampus.
SeehowourInternational Experiencestudentsare contributingtosustainability onp3andp4inanarticleby
The preparations for the International Experience continue with students now focusing on raising some additional funds to ensure that they can get as much out of the trip as possible. The programme of delivery continues to be developed by our partners- Hosting Experiences Tenerife
During November, 3 group challenges aimed to raise funds for the trip as well as individual challenges. CJ Lynn continued to work towards walking 100km in a month. Lewis Sutherland and Harvey Mitchell kept up their challenge of doing 100 push ups a day whilst our Downhill Mountain Bike group carried out a 12 hour challenge around the Walkerburn Pump Track.
The group rowing for 12 hours at the College reception included Stroma Beukes, Corran Ferry, Oliver Hood, Cameron Docherty and Markus Beston. Over in Walkerburn the group included Corran Ferry, Lacey Holmes, Oliver Hood, Thomas Westgate, Thomas Kirk and Fraser Paterson. They rode a total of 292 miles as well as raising over £1,000.
All of the students fundraising events are still open and can be found below should you wish to donate. Other events will be coming up in the near future.
To date the group have raised over £2,500. As well as this the group have contributed to offsetting their carbon footprint of their flights by volunteering for tree-planting in the local area.
You can read about this in the article from Ross Cadzow on the following page.
Donate by clicking to: CJ Lynn Lewis & Harvey Rowers MTB
By Ross Cadzow
In 2025, a group of Borders College HN Sports Coaching and Development students are set to travel to Tenerife, for 16 days in which they will look to develop their coaching skills, help local communities, and also enjoy some sunshine. However, both ways, the nautical journey (flights to and from Tenerife) will surpass 4000 miles (6400 kilometres). In an initiative to support the environment, and promote sustainability through sporting programs, the students have been teaming up with Borders Forest Trust in an attempt to offset their carbon emissions.
The Borders Forest Trust are a charity dedicated to the conservation, restoration, management and promotion of the beautiful nature and woodlands within southern Scotland. Since the Trust was founded in 1996, they have completed some truly remarkable work. Over 2 million trees have been planted thanks to the great work of the charity, whilst enriching the biodiversity of around 31,000 square kilometres in the Southern Uplands.
Sport, whether played at an amateur or professional level, has an undeniable impact on the environment. It has been estimated that, as a sector, sports can contribute around 350 millions tonnes of CO2 emissions per year (David Goldblatt, Stanford, 2023). However, it is not all doom and gloom. Sport understands the impact it can have on global footprint, and through projects and initiatives, such as the collaboration between Borders College students and Borders Forest Trust, sport can lead the charge in environmental sustainability.
By Ross Cadzow
For example, the recent Olympic Games, held in Paris (2024), were recorded as being one of the most eco-friendly Olympic Games in recent memory, with emissions being cut by 50% in comparison the Games in London (2012), and Rio (2016). This demonstrates that sport has the power to not just be a force for good on the field, but also for the planet. By embracing sustainability and leading by example, the sports sector can inspire millions to act against climate change. Whether through small projects in the Scottish Borders, or global efforts as seen in the Olympics, it is clear to see that sport can have a massively positive effect on our planet.
Small actions, big changes.
As the group prepares to set off to Tenerife, there is a clear message: sports and sustainability go hand in hand. By taking the steps to offset their emissions, the Borders College students are setting an example that we can all follow. This exciting trip serves a reminder that what may appear as a small action, such as planting trees on a cold, wet, Wednesday afternoon in the Scottish Borders, can lead to big changes which benefit us all. Here`s wishing all embarking to Tenerife in the New Year a successful trip, and thank you for your work in promoting sustainability through sport!
04/14
To see some footage from the day click here
On Wednesday 13th November 2024 Borders College took 3 teams of Boccia players to play in Scottish Student Sport’s first Boccia Festival at Stirling University. An early departure from the College saw the group arrive at Stirling just ahead of their first game and the students were straight into their pool games. Also competing on the day were Stirling University, Dundee and Angus College, Dunfries and Galloway and North Ayrshire, among others.
Each team played 3 or 4 other teams in their pool match before the knockout stages where one Borders College team progressed to the Quarter-Final stage. Despite them not progressing everyone had an excellent day out and each player performed really well against some strong opposition including a players who was ranked number 4 in the UK and was competing Nationally that weekend.
We hope to have further exciting news coming up around our Boccia players in the New Year, so keep your eyes peeled for that. 05/14
Article by Thomas Mynott
Luke Forshaw - a current student at Borders College - and one of Luke's friends Harvey Game recently completed a monumental 135km run in support of the ‘Not Forgotten’ charity, showcasing not only his physical endurance but also his dedication to a cause close to his heart. Luke explained, "I’ve had family friends in the forces who struggled to find purpose and adjust to civilian life Seeing the impact of organisations like the ‘Not Forgotten Association’ made me keen to help."
With only two months to prepare, Luke focused on high-volume training, running a marathon weekly and swapping longer runs with shorter more intense runs to simulate the difficulty of long distances. “I believe any longdistance run tests your resolve,” he said, recognising the mental strength required for such a feat. The route stretched from Newcastle to 21km West of Carlisle, with half of it off-road. Having even less time than anticipated due to weather conditions worsening they battled snow and windy conditions on rugged terrain, they pushed through with short food stops every 10-20km and a few brief naps for recovery.
Motivation came from their commitment to the cause and the generosity of supporters who donated to his ‘Go Fund Me’ for the charity. “Knowing people donated kept me accountable,” Luke said Music also played a role, lifting Harvey's and Luke's spirits during tough stretches, kept them both motivated and gave them strength to finish. Supported by Luke's parents, who provided aid along the route he managed to stay hydrated, refuel, and travel lighter. Reflecting on the achievement, Luke expressed gratitude for completing the run and raising funds to support veterans. “Military personnel make huge sacrifices. Helping them live a better life is one of the best causes to support.” His inspiring journey highlights the power of determination and the impact of collective generosity.
I’d like to emphasise my respect for Luke and Harvey for completing their run for charity. To donate to the ‘Not Forgotten’ charity, click here.
Borders College student raises money for good cause in photos.
07/14
“Between 7th and 16th November 2024, Borders College Sports Lecturer, Janet Jack was once again competing on the International Stage. After successfully coaching the National over 35 Women’s team in South Africa last month, Janet took to the pitch to compete for the Women’s Over 60 team in the Masters World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.
On Day 1 Scotland beat Australia 1-0 in the opening game. They followed this up on Day 3 of the competition with a 2-0 win over Wales in their second pool match. After a rest day on Day 4, Day 5 saw the Scotland team beat an England side 5-0 (not the side they were to face later in the tournament).
The Quarter-Final stage saw Scotland once again play Wales and this time they were in a tighter match where they scraped through 1-0. Progressing through to the Semi-Final saw the Scotland team drawn against their other pool hosts- Australia. This match remained 0-0 at the end of regular time. Scotland eventually coming through 4-3 on penalties. This meant that the team would face England in the Final.
The match was a tight affair with Scotland starting really well and dominating possession and territory, but not able to make the pressure count. As the end of the 2nd quarter drew closer, England started to take more of a foothold in the game, but like Scotland, could not make their pressure tell. It wasn’t until late on the game England won a dubious penalty stroke which they scored from. This proved to be the only goal of the match and meant Scotland would have to settle for silver However, the W60 squad should be delighted with their performance- being the only Scotland team featuring in the Gold Medal match across 16 age groups (male and female). Massive well done to Janet and her team mates.
Through our membership with Scottish Student Sport this year, a number of opportunities for Borders College students have opened up. 2 of which are Scarlett Crossan and Ellie ForsythGeddes. Both Scarlett and Ellie have been selected as a group of 33 students to be the first cohort of the ‘Coach Like A Girl’ initiative.
For more details on the launch of the programme, click here
This month we’re providing a short interview with Scarlett and Ellie looking at their sporting background and aspirations for the course.
Scarlett:
What's your sporting background?
I've played rugby for the past 9 years for various teams around the East Region and I've coached for the past 6 years for Langholm, Gala and now as a Community Coach
What interested you in coaching?
I started coaching to stay a part of rugby as my team didn't have a girls team and I had it as a back up for if I was injured and couldn't have a career playing and have loved it since.
What coaching experiences have you had and are there any highlights?
My coaching highlights have been with coaching young girls from minis in Langholm and giving them opportunity to play that I didn't have by creating a girls team. Another highlight was winning Scottish Rugby’s Young Person Award at the Community Recognition Awards last year.
How did this opportunity come around?
The opportunity came through my Colleges’ Active Campus Coordinator.
What excites you about the project?
This project will allow me to learn more about other sports techniques for coaching
How do you think it will help with your course?
I think this will allow me to expand my knowledge and allow me to learn various coaching skills.
Ellie:
What's your sporting background?
I began playing football when I was 4 years old but I didn’t join a competitive club till I was 13 years old and between those ages I participated in many different sports and getting my black belt in Tae-kwon-do
What interested you in coaching?
I started coaching because I was given the opportunity to help at a Easter football camp through my old team and I enjoyed it and I wanted to continue and I could still continue being involved in football when my season had ended.
What coaching experiences have you had and are there any highlights?
I have had previous coaching experience at Bonnyrigg rose 2011, Eastside rapids and Newtongrange star u10s girls. My highlights would be coaching at my first Easter football camp when I began coaching.
How did this opportunity come around?
The opportunity came around from my Colleges’ Active Campus Coordinator
What excites you about the project?
The thing that most excites me about this project is getting to learn more about others coaching methods and their approaches to coaching.
How do you think it will help with your course?
I think this project will help me expand my knowledge and teach me new things about coaching.
Borders College students can take up the excellent opportunity at our partner gym, Tri-Fitness Located next to the College, students can pay the following membership prices for the student membership:
September - January £40 00
January - April £30.00
April - July £20.00
This means that students can get the whole year for £90.
Borders College staff can get a Full Membership, including all normal benefitsswimming pool etc, for £33 per month.
Students and staff just need to take their College Identification to the desk at Tri Fitness.
Boccia returns for a 4 week block on Mondays and Tuesdays from 13301400 in the Large Lecture Theatre
