Sport England has underlined its commitment to strengthening its partnership with the higher education sector following the official launch of British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS).
The new national body to enhance the university experience through sport was unveiled by Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and David Lammy MP, Minister for Higher Education, at a parliamentary reception.
The creation of BUCS, and Sport England’s new strategy, provides an opportunity to get more people playing and enjoying sport.
BUCS was formed through a merger of the British Universities Sports Association and University College Sport and has 153 member higher education institutions. Its remit is to improve sport and physical activity opportunities.
Sport England and BUCS have just released a Higher Education and Community Sport booklet to raise awareness of their partnership and prompt further discussion to make it even stronger. The report can be downloaded by clicking here.
The two organisations are working to produce an action plan by April 2009 which will give greater detail about the role higher education can play in bringing more people into sport.
Mike Diaper, Sport England’s Executive Director for Children and Young People, said:
“The higher education sector already plays a major role in community sport but this can be enhanced even further.
“With the establishment of BUCS, there is one voice for higher education sport and this will help both Sport England and BUCS to achieve their strategic aims.
“Sport England will work with BUCS to develop partnerships between the higher education sector and national governing bodies of sport. We will also seek greater recognition from vice chancellors of the role that sport can play to achieve institutions’ outcomes as well as increase participation.”
Ed Smith, BUCS Chair, said:
“This is a new and exciting development for sport in higher education. As the only UK-wide, multi-sport organisation for students we are committed to getting more people involved in sport and physical activity as well as promoting how sport can be used to engage students, staff and local communities in coaching and volunteering activities.
“These are not goals we can achieve alone. We already talking with our members and partners across the education, health and sport sectors to ensure we offer inclusive activities and take a professional approach to sports development. In doing so, we are keen to stress the importance of making the ‘business case’ for sport in its widest sense to university leaders, national governing bodies and other stakeholders, including, of course, the Government.”
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