Action Plan 2011/12
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
RGU’s Greatest Athlete The purpose of the programme This initiative has several purposes including increasing grass root participation in sport, improving performance of athletes, leaving a legacy of engagement is sport and physical activity and raising the profile of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The programme will be launched in November and run through until the Games in the summer. The strategic aim of the project will continue over the coming years. The programme will engages students and the community of Aberdeen within many aspect of sport; participation, competition, spectating and volunteering.
RGU are carrying out work on cultural awareness and health and wellbeing. Sport plays an integral role in society and within the University. Sport is an area where people from many different background come together to share a common passion. The programme received great enthusiasm from Inspired Mark and we are waiting to hear if it was accredited.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
RGU’s Greatest Athlete The programme structure Timeline
Competition- every heat will see 25 athletes challenge each other in Olympic sports.
Participation- leaving a legacy of physical activity through grass root participation in sport.
November
Heat 1- swimming, cycling, rowing
Swimming Festival- the swimming pool will be opened up for a free swim for students.
December
Heat 2- basketball, table tennis,
Disabled Basketball Festival- engages disabled students and raise awareness of Paralympics Games.
February
Heat 3- badminton, rock climbing
Dance Festival- students from across the University take workshops to showcase traditional dance from countries around the world.
March
Heat 4- football, 5k
Football Festival- 5-a-side football festival supported by Mars.
April
Final- the top 12 compete
May
Olympic Pre Party- sports day with races, obstacle courses, dodgeball etc
June
Torch Parade through Aberdeen RGU’s Greatest Athlete
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
Participation in the initiative The programme aims to have around 100 athletes fighting to be crowned RGU’s Greatest Athlete with 25 taking part in each heat and the top 12 completing in the final. Around 150 students will participate in the festival events; Swimming Festival 50, Disabled Basketball Festival 25, Dance Festival 70 and Football Festival 50. The success of the programme is dependent on volunteers. Each event will have approximately 10 volunteers to support running it and publicity of it.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
Competition “Gold medals don’t make champions...hard work does.” Students may enter multiple heats There are 4 heats in total with each heat having challenges in Olympic sports. Each athlete will be scored on their performance in each sport. The scores will be totalled from each heat. If an athlete enters multiple heats their top scoring heat will be counted. Scholars are not allowed to enter Scholars and identified elite athletes are not permitted to compete but can input into the delivery of the event or input into pre training and nutrition. Athletes must be fit for competing Athletes must be physically able to compete and under no circumstances be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. “Accept challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.”
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Volunteering engagement RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
Event management As work experience the students will, assisted by the Sport and Physical Activity Team and the Scholars, in organising and running the events. PR and communications A Facebook page has been set up to publicise the heats and festivals. There will be interviews with the athletes and photos uploaded throughout the programme. The 25 athletes will be selected after submitting an application form with is available online. Local media will be contacted in advance of every event to promote the activities being carried out at the University. Sports coaching RGU: SPORT scholars will be invited to engage with the initiative to input their expertise and knowledge within the elite sport field in areas such as strength and conditioning, nutrition and training programmes. Lead 2014 Student volunteers run a workshop for school pupils who with the skills gained go back into their schools to run sports festival. Lead 2014 raises awareness of the Glasgow 2014 Games and a legacy of sport.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Cultural integration and awareness
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
RGU: SPORT is currently negotiating in regards to hosting a West African training camp within our facilities. One RGU, Many Cultures is a campaign that the Union are hoping to run to see change on campus in terms of integration across many cultures. In the lead up to the Games we will be highlighting the countries competing. In February we will hold a Dance Festival with a whole range of countries being represented. The Union are also looking into running a Food Festival and a Flag Day. “No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.” Gandhi
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Health and wellbeing awareness
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
Students face many health issues and we are continually working on promoting positive mental wellbeing as well as improving levels of physical activity. In 2010/11 RGU won the silver and creativity award in the pilot scheme ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Minds’ and the Action Plan for the Mental Health Committee this year is attached in Appendix 1. The RGU’s Greatest Athlete Facebook will post health, nutrition, exercise and sports update to educate and encourage students to take up physical activity.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Values of the Games
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
RESPECT
The values of the Olympic Games and the Paralympics will be highlighted in a student photographic competition.
EXCELLENCE FRIENDSHIP COURAGE DETERMINATION
The competition will be run throughout February and will be launched during Refreshers Week. Student can submit as many photos into the competition. A gold, silver and bronze award will be awarded by a panel consisting of a RGU: Union representative, lecturer from the Grays School of Art and a student.
INSPIRATION EQUALITY
The winning images will be used on promotional material for the RGU’s Greatest Athlete final and the Olympic Pre Party. All entries will be collated into a collage and displayed within RGU: Union.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Strategic direction of the initiative In the long term we hope the work carried out in 2011/12 will leave a legacy of sport and physical activity
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
amongst the student community. Over the last couple of years we have had the opportunity to offer a wider range of activities and this year will see it expand. This year there is an established Sport and Physical Activity Team with 10 students, the Vice President of Sport and the President of Sport and Physical Activity who work to promote, facilitate and deliver sport and physical activity for students.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete Appendix 1
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
Mental Health Committee Action Plan 2011/12 Action Point Month Campaigning on Campus- raise awareness October
Tube man printed on a pop up Give out information Sign RGU pledge Interactive ‘Who’s had it’ quiz See Me posters sent to RA’s Clicker to gauge footfall
Signing the See Me pledge- tackling stigma November
18th - heat 1 Contact AFC about joint signing the pledge Contact See Me to arrange signing Communication/media strategy
Stressercise Dodgeball tournament- December increasing physical activity
Calum Cruickshank to run dodgeball tournament Publicise to non sports student
Campus walks launch- promoting physical January activity and raising awareness of health promotion
Refreshers Week Gatehouse about maps Estates about route Consult with Health and social about route 10min, 15min, 20mins walk Doctor and nurses dress up Ambulance on site Hand out bandages and plasters
Launch Stressercise referral pilot scheme February
4 week block of activities tailored to an individual prescribed from Student Services
Stressercise week
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12
April
Stressercise awareness week
Collect evidence and complete documentation- evidencing the work carried out
Classes, walk and swim sessions offered every day Input from everyone to collect data and evidence Report deadline April
Ongoing work throughout 2011/12 Pilot stressercise referral Supporting students with mental health issues and facilitating recovery. Work with a qualified individual from RGU: programme SPORT to tailor specific exercise on referral from Student Services. Raise awareness through Stressercise facebook page which is linked to RGU Sports Clubs, RGU: SPORT and RGU: Union. Produce videos and social media podcasts. Applying for funding Securing funding to allow us to run events, produce a student friendly publications etc. SMHFA courses Run courses for both staff and students. Get 2 staff members put through the trainer courses so we can then deliver internal training. Opportunity to deliver courses to community and corporate to generate income. Mental Health Committee Meeting monthly to update and carry out action plan. Healthy Universities Working towards a healthier active University for both staff and student with work being carried out all of the following: sexual health, drugs and alcohol, obesity, smoking, mental health.
RGU’s Greatest Athlete 2011/12