St Mary’s Shortlisted for National Award

St Mary’s University, Twickenham has been shortlisted for the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Workforce Programme of the Year for the second year running.

The nomination recognises Sport St Mary’s and the Students’ Union’s joint sport strategy More Than a Game, which has expanded the volunteering and coaching opportunities offered to students and enabled them to improve their employability skills.

This year the initiative has seen more than 80 students benefit from bursaries that have helped them develop their skills through coaching, umpiring or earning first aid qualifications.

This year, exactly 300 students have been involved in some form of sports leadership role through the University’s sports programmes, gaining more than 13,100 hours of experience in the process.

Director of Sport at St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith, said, “The volunteering and coaching our students undertake helps their personal development and is invaluable in supporting many local young people to get involved in sport.  This is about students fulfilling their potential and benefiting others and it’s wonderful that their efforts have been reflected, in being shortlisted for this prestigious BUCS award.”

St Mary’s is one of three Universities shortlisted for the award and the winner will be announced at the BUCS Awards on Thursday 12 July at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol.