This Scottish Women & Girls in Sport Week, the new iteration of our Coach Like a Girl Programme has opened for applications from current and aspiring female student coaches.

This year, the model will provide funding opportunities for students to gain access to coaching programmes and qualifications in a way that works for them. In turn, it is hoped that we will be able to help support the development of a female student coaching community.

Through the revised model, students will apply directly to SSS for financial support towards qualifications, courses and training opportunities. Rather than being tied to centralised events, students can identify their own development opportunities relevant to their sport, experience and ambitions.

We hope this will provide added flexibility for more students to benefit from our support, while also helping us better understand the sorts of opportunities students seek in following their coaching pathway.

Further information on the application process and eligibility requirements are available on the Coach Like a Girl webpage.

Why the Change?

Historically, Coach Like a Girl has brought students together for dedicated coaching events, led by SSS staff and external partners. While these events were well-received, their continued offering has presented numerous challenges surrounding accessibility, travel, and competing commitments for both participants and organisers.

The new system allows students to access more than just qualification courses, ensuring that those coaches already active in their sports can gain in their development. We encourage all those considering applying to look at the opportunities available, and not be afraid in being creative with their funding suggestions!

Commenting on the relaunch of Coach Like a Girl, Head of Development Jordan Dawson said:

“Our Coach Like A Girl programme remains committed to addressing barriers to coaching and supporting greater representation across the coaching workforce. There remains a largely untapped potential of female students as coaches in Scotland and we want to address this both for ourselves but the equally the wider sector.

“We recognise our role in developing the next generation of coaches and our remit in addressing these barriers. We hope that these changes can be another small yet significant step to closing a significant gap.”

Get Involved

Applications for Coach Like a Girl funding are now open. Please visit our dedicated webpage for more information.

Access the application form here – but please check the eligibility criteria first.

Registration is now live for the 2026 SSS Festive Gathering, taking place on Thursday 3rd December at Dundee & Angus College.

A condensed single day conference, Festive Gathering brings our members and partners together for some informative sessions, breakout rooms and networking; sprinkled with a touch of festive cheer.

Dundee and Angus return as hosts of Festive Gathering having previously welcomed us on campus in 2018.

Following feedback, we have made the decision to move the annual event to a Thursday to remove any conflicts with Wednesday afternoon student sport. We hope this will free up more staff to attend – and for those in attendance not to feel chained to their phone all day!

Tickets

Tickets are available at the following price points:

• Members: £25
• Non-Members, Partners & SGBs: £30
• Externals: £35

You can purchase your tickets here.

Agenda

How much can you fit into a single day event? Our agenda is taking shape nicely.

Joining us in Dundee will be Liz Carlin from UWS. This summer, Liz was instrumental in UWS hosting a groundbreaking GAPS camp for para athletes competing at Glasgow 2026. Alongside preparing international para athletes for a major Games, the camp created opportunities for students to support delivery across the week.

On the Commonwealth Games theme, we’ll also be hearing more from members of our network who were involved this summer. Names to follow soon!

Another session is due to be announced soon but we hope it will get you moving.

Finally, expect plenty of brilliant best practice from our members in our breakout rooms.

Questions & Queries

Please direct any questions regarding event booking, external attendance or to Julia Stenhouse-Walton. Comments and suggestions related to the day’s content should go to Jordan Dawson.

Scottish Student Sport are thrilled to have been named as one of the Founding Champion Organisations of the On Your Side Toolkit, a suicide prevention programme, led by The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The first-of-its-kind toolkit, launched today (10th September) on World Suicide Prevention Day has been developed in partnership with the British Standards Institution and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma.

In a first, the Prince and Princess of Wales have brought together a range of sports organisations from across the UK, from grassroots to elite levels, encouraging everyone to consider suicide prevention as an urgent priority.

Organisations including the FA, Premier League and British Cycling are also involved with the toolkit officially unveiled at an event at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon.

As one of the first Champion Organisations, SSS have committed to embedding the principles of the toolkit; building awareness and understanding of how athletes, coaches, and staff can support those who need it.

SSS have long advocated for the role that sport and physical activity plays in the lives of students, particularly when it comes to their health. Recent data from the Thrive Learners survey (2021) suggests that 1 in 5 students in Scotland reported either suicide ideation or had attempted suicide in the previous 6 months.

Further afield, evidence from the NCAA suggests that 1 in 10 deaths amongst collegiate athletes were, sadly, as a result of suicide. This is a timely and much needed toolkit that raises awareness and provides valuable resource for raising awareness to support meaningful change.

Our Commitment

Our commitment going forward is to work with our membership, partners, and student communities to support the implementation and embedding of the toolkit across Scotland’s tertiary education institutions. We will promote and raise awareness of the toolkit, develop and share key resources for staff, coaches and athletes, and seek to engage widely to raise awareness on a national level.

This isn’t just the launch of another toolkit that then goes quiet. The campaign will be ongoing and our work will only build as we implement the toolkit alongside our members and partners.

Commenting, SSS Head of Development Jordan Dawson said:

“We’re honoured to have been asked to become a Founding Champion Organisation of the On Your Side campaign.

“Sadly, suicide continues to impact college and university campuses across the country. With this toolkit, it is hoped we can provide clear, understandable guidance that ensures every one of us can be comfortable opening a conversation that may prevent suicide.

“Over time we look forward to working with our members, and the other Scottish Champion Organisations to increase the reach and impact of this vital toolkit.”

Access the toolkit here.

Applications are being sought to host upcoming SSS Conference and Festive Gathering events in 2027-29.

Bringing together staff, elected student officers, partners and sponsors from across our Network, both events are highlights of the SSS calendar and have continued to grow year on year.

With Dundee and Angus already confirmed as being hosts of Festive Gathering 2026, and Conference 2027 already booked in, the tender process covers the following events:

• Festive Gathering 2027
• Conference 2028
• Festive Gathering 2028
• Conference 2029

Our Conference is a two day event and includes our annual Awards Dinner. Traditionally this takes place in the first two weeks of June. Festive Gathering is a one day event which we anticipate holding in the first week of December.

All SSS member universities and colleges are welcome to apply, and expressions of interest can be lodged for both events. There is an opportunity to register for a specific year, or be open to either date option.

With over 30 institutions now members of Scottish Student Sport, we’d love to see a range of applicants across the tender process.

Each tender document (linked at the bottom of this article) set out clear requirements for the event, and invite you to detail what your institution could bring as hosts of our Conference or Festive Gathering. Please note that approximate costs can be provided on request.

The deadline for both tenders is Monday 19th October 2026. All completed applications should be sent to the SSS Business Manager, Julia Stenhouse-Walton.

View our Conference Tender

View our Festive Gathering Tender

We’ve been busy recruiting over the summer and are delighted to welcome Zoe Lai into the new role of Admin & Events Assistant.

Zoe started with us this week and is already getting stuck into the action as we make the final preparations for the new season. In amongst her busy schedule she found the time to sit down and tell us a little more about her…

Welcome to the team Zoe! What excites you most about joining the SSS team?

“Thank you! From my experience at uni, community and physical activity were two key things that really enhanced my time as a student.

“As someone who had experience starting and running a student society during my time at university, I’m really excited to continue applying and honing my skills in building community in a student sports context.”

Take us back to your student days. Where did you study and were you involved in student sport?

“I studied Psychology and Business at the University of Edinburgh, graduating last summer. While there I causally dabbled in the Muay Thai club. Outside of my studies, I started and ran Culinary Society where we bonded over our love for food!”

What have you been doing since your studies wrapped up?

“Before starting here I was working with the University of Edinburgh in the Student Accommodation team.”

Do you have a standout sporting memory?

“I was so proud when I hit a personal goal of being able to deadlift 110kg – twice my bodyweight!”

What is your ideal holiday destination?

Anywhere warm with great food and beaches. My favourites so far are Greece and Thailand and I’d love to go back someday.”

And finally, as a founding member of Edinburgh Uni’s Culinary Society you may be the most credible of voices we’ve asked… pineapple on pizza – yes or no?

“I’m normally a massive fan of the sweet and savoury combo, but fruit on pizza… absolutely not.”

We’d encourage our network to reach out to Zoe to introduce themselves as we get ready for the new season. You can contact Zoe at zoe@scottishstudentsport.com.

Scottish Student Sport is proud to launch its new Equality Action Plan, setting out our renewed commitment to creating a sector where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute and belong.

Developed through extensive engagement with our members, partners, students and volunteers, the plan marks an important step forward in how SSS will champion equality across the Scottish tertiary education sport sector. Rather than viewing equality as a standalone piece of work, the Action Plan embeds inclusion across everything we do – from leadership and governance to participation, workforce development, events and partnerships.

Built around the principles of the Moving to Inclusion framework, the plan focuses on creating meaningful, measurable change through collaboration, accountability and continual learning. It recognises that while progress has been made, there remains more to do to ensure that every student can experience the benefits of sport and physical activity without barriers. The wider sport sector is increasingly emphasising measurable inclusion outcomes and accountability, reflecting a broader shift towards action rather than intention.

Commenting, Head of Development Jordan Dawson said:

“Our new Equality Action Plan has been about listening, learning and being honest with ourselves about where we can do better to create actionable difference. Our Equality Action Group has led the way on challenging our thinking and contributing their own intentions for change.

“This plan is all about turning those good intentions into action and working together with our members and partners to make student sport a place where everyone feels they belong, can take part and has the opportunity to thrive.”

The Action Plan is underpinned by four priority areas:

• Women and Girls
• Disability
• LGBTQ+
• Race and Ethnicity

These themes provide focus for our work while recognising that equality is intersectional and that creating inclusive environments benefits everyone involved in student sport.

A New Equality Action Group

Alongside the launch of the Action Plan, SSS has established a refreshed Equality Action Group, bringing together, practitioners and sector experts to help guide, challenge and support the delivery of the plan. The Group will play a key role in ensuring that the voices and experiences of our membership continue to shape the direction of this work.

The Group will continue to be chaired by Wayin Hatton, who said:

“This Equality Action Plan represents an important step forward. It brings together our ambition with clear areas of focus and accountability, and sets out how we will continue to embed equality, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our work.

“I look forward to the progress we will make together, and to the impact this will have across our community and the wider sector.”

The publication of the Action Plan is not the end of a process – it is the beginning of one.

Throughout the lifetime of the plan we will regularly review our progress, publish updates on actions, celebrate successes and be open about the challenges we encounter. We recognise that meaningful change takes time, partnership and a willingness to learn, and we are committed to ensuring this remains a living document rather than one that sits on a shelf.

We invite all members, partners and students to engage with the Action Plan, contribute to its delivery and work with us to build a student sport sector where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

View our Equality Action Plan

Our work and progress will be tracked on our dedicated Equality Action Group webpage – launched as part of a refresh of our website’s Development section to better reflect the work we do.

Updated 15/09/26

The Scottish Student Sport network came together for our Annual General Meeting, which took place virtually on Wednesday 19th August.

Alongside business and financial updates from the organisation, voting took place for vacant positions on our three committees: Executive, Competitions and Development.

On our Executive Council, Jonny Pearson (Edinburgh College) has been elected for a second term as SSS Chair. Chris Sellar (Heriot-Watt University) and Mark Munro (University of Edinburgh) fill the two contested staff member roles. Taking up the one year student positions are sabbatical officers Tilly Galvin (University of Strathclyde), Eilidh McQuillan (University of Glasgow), and Hamza Siddiqi (Glasgow Caledonian University).

Moving to our Competitions Committee, and Johnathan MacLeod (UWS) was reelected as as a Staff Member. Aonghus Sellar (SS Football) will have a third year as Sports Chair Representative, while Toni Woods (UWS) was named as Student Member.

On our Development Committee, Anna Edvaldsson (University of Stirling), Amber Main (University of Edinburgh) and Craig Stephen (Edinburgh Napier University) were elected as Staff Members, with one further vacancy available. Connie Chen (University of Edinburgh) and Aidan Horsburgh (University of St. Andrews), battled through the AGM’s most-contested election to be named Student Members.

Finally, Paul McPate (University of Dundee) was nominated as an SSS Honorary Life Vice President following his retirement as Co-Director Sport & Active Health before the summer break. His endorsement was unanimously approved by members, making him the latest individual to receive SSS’s highest honour.

Thank you to all those who attended our AGM and best of luck to our new elected representatives over the coming year!

Committees in Full

Executive Council 2026/27