Thursday 26th October 2023

We are thrilled to unveil the National Squad Programme for the 23/24 season, and it’s packed with exciting opportunities for students across the nation.

We are thrilled to unveil the National Squad Programme for the 23/24 season, and it’s packed with exciting opportunities for students across the nation. Read on below for the key highlights:

1. Returning Champions: We’re delighted to announce the return of the six sports that brought us stellar action last season. Basketball, Cricket, Cross-Country, Netball, Sailing, and Volleyball are all back with their representative squads, ready to once again display their talent and determination.

2. New Horizons: This season, we’re adding two exciting sports to our lineup – Football and Shinty. Football’s return is particularly noteworthy, marking a triumphant comeback after a hiatus due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We can’t wait to see the new energy and skill these sports bring to our program.

3. A Dedicated Team: It’s not just about the athletes; it’s also about the dedicated individuals who make it all possible. We’re thrilled to see numerous familiar faces within our network taking on the important roles of Volunteer Support Staff. These incredible individuals are the backbone of our program, and you can catch updates about them on our SSS social media channels every week. Keep your eyes peeled; you might just recognize some outstanding contributors!

4. Fostering Student Development: We’re committed to the continual growth and development of our program. One of our overarching objectives is to recognize the tremendous opportunity this program provides to students. It’s a chance to be part of a performance pathway while pursuing their academic endeavors at college or university. We believe in nurturing the potential of our young athletes and supporting their journey towards excellence.

5. An Action-Packed Season Ahead: As we look ahead to the 23/24 season, we’re filled with anticipation. This season promises to be action-packed, with athletes from various sports disciplines coming together to showcase their skills, dedication, and teamwork. Get ready for a season of incredible sportspersonship and memorable moments.

We invite all sports enthusiasts, students, and supporters to join us in this exciting journey. The National Squad Programme 23/24 is not just about sports; it’s about passion, growth, and community. Let’s come together to make this season unforgettable!

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Thursday 12th October 2023

We are absolutely thrilled to share some exciting news: the successful acquisition of brand new trampolines through the SSS Special Projects Fund.

We are absolutely thrilled to share the exciting news of our recent achievement: the successful acquisition of brand new trampolines through the SSS Special Projects Fund.

The SSS Special Projects Fund is a vital initiative that channels its resources into projects with a sustainable impact on the student sporting community. It focuses on funding projects of up to £5000 that align with the core values of SSS, ultimately promoting growth and development in the student sports realm.

We were able to secure two state-of-the-art trampolines, along with two end decks and a middle mat, all procured this year. What makes this even more remarkable is that we obtained these high-quality items at a significant discount, thanks to the generous support from the Sparta Trampoline Club. Their unwavering dedication to the student trampoline community has made our funds go further than we could have ever imagined, and for that, we extend our heartfelt gratitude.

To ensure that these new trampolines and equipment are accessible and can be effectively utilized, they will be housed at Glasgow Caledonian University’s ARC facility. This strategic move serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it will support the club’s growth, providing members with top-notch equipment for training and competition. Additionally, this arrangement ensures that the venue can host SSS competitions and activities for many years to come, enhancing the overall student sports experience.

Students from all across Scotland will soon have the opportunity to make use of this equipment during the upcoming Scottish Student Trampoline Training Weekend, scheduled for the 20th and 21st of October. This event will serve as a fantastic opportunity for students to come together, hone their skills, and foster a sense camaraderie within the student trampoline community.

 

“I am so incredibly pleased that our SSS special project funding application has been successful in securing £4000 to purchase two trampolines, two end decks, two end deck mats and a middle mat from Sparta Trampoline Club for GCU.
This will have an amazingly beneficial impact on the GCU team. Not only will it literally double their training time, but they will also now be able to have a safer parallel set-up, which makes learning new skills much less scary! They are also now able to regularly train synchronised trampoline which the team excel in. Although GCU is a small team, they have so much potential and lots of up-and-coming gymnasts who we’ll have to keep an eye on at SSTO! We hope these additional trampolines really empower them to achieve their full potential in the sport and attract lots of new members.
Alongside this, the whole Scottish Student Trampoline community benefits from GCU now being able to hold league events and open training sessions!
We are so grateful to Sparta Trampoline Club SCIO for their continued support and close ties to the student trampoline community. This transaction will result in their ability to buy more amazing equipment for their venue as well, promoting a sustainable circular economy!” Hollie Fullerton, Scottish Student Trampoline Chair

 

During the periods that fall between our various competitive events and tournaments, the members of the GCU Trampoline Club will be afforded the invaluable opportunity to utilize these tables for their own training sessions.

 

“GCU Students’ Association is absolutely delighted to hear about the two trampolines and end decks that have arrived at GCU Arc and are funded by Scottish Student Sport Special Project Funds. This equipment will help our own trampoline club to grow and develop as well as offering opportunities to the wider Scottish student trampoline community to use the Arc as a place to train and compete. Thanks to Scottish Student Trampoline Development Group, GCU Arc staff and GCU Trampolining for collaborating, organising and supporting this initiative”. Solomon Ajala (Vice President GSBS, GCU Students’ Association)

 

The team at SSS is absolutely thrilled to witness the tangible and positive impact that our Special Projects funding has had on the development of student trampolining in Scotland. The success stories that have emerged from the projects we’ve supported have been nothing short of inspiring. Whether it’s through new equipment, enhanced facilities, or innovative initiatives, the Special Projects fund has played a pivotal role in fostering sustainable growth and positive change within the student sporting community. The continued evolution of student trampolining in Scotland is a testament to the power of strategic investment and shared ambition.

Are you excited about the prospect of bringing your own innovative project to life? If so, we encourage you to consider applying for a Special Project grant. The SSS team is here to support and collaborate with you in turning your vision into reality. To kickstart the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated Business Manager, Julia Stenhouse.

 

 

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Thursday 3rd August 2023

Police Scotland aims to provide you with important safety advice to help prevent you becoming a victim of crime.

Police Scotland aims to provide you with important safety advice to help prevent you becoming a victim of crime.

Common frauds that students are experiencing today can range from the more recognisable face to- face fraud to those carried out by someone anonymously online.

Advances in technology enable you to carry out daily tasks more easily, but can be frequently exploited by fraudsters interested in your personal information and money.

This guide will equip you with information and advice to increase your awareness, prepare you to identify potential frauds and prevent the loss of your valuable data to those intent on stealing it.

See the full safety guide here.

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Wednesday 12th July 2023

SSS Sport and Active Health Coordinator Ben recently embarked on an exciting trip to the Technogym factory in Bologna.

SSS Sport and Active Health Coordinator Ben recently embarked on an exciting trip to the Technogym factory in Bologna. On Wednesday 5th July, Ben flew to Italy with the Technogym team to explore the latest developments within the Technogym range and discuss how SSS can utilize this knowledge to better support their partners on their Active Health journey.

The invitation extended to SSS was a result of the exciting news that Technogym had become a key commercial partner moving forward. This partnership opened up the opportunity for SSS staff to visit the Technogym headquarters and interact with the product and digital development teams, gaining insight into the upcoming projects and initiatives that Technogym has in the pipeline. This collaboration between SSS and Technogym ensures that SSS can provide the best possible support to partners utilizing Technogym products, ultimately enhancing the student experience and promoting Active Health opportunities.

During the visit, Ben had the chance to witness the wide range of products utilized by SSS partners in their establishments, as well as the newly developed Technogym App. Engaging with the developers, Ben was able to delve into the Active Health aspects of the products. Discussions revolved around areas such as tracking, solo and group challenges, and mindfulness and mental wellbeing. This firsthand experience allowed SSS to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Technogym products align with their Active Health approach.

Additionally, the visit included meetings with the corporate team at Technogym. These discussions focused on Technogym’s Active Workplace model, providing valuable insights that could be translated from the business context to higher education settings. This exchange of ideas further enriched the partnership between SSS and Technogym, fostering innovation and collaboration.

When asked to describe the visit in three words, Ben chose “active, exciting, and engaging.” The visit to the Technogym factory proved to be a dynamic experience, brimming with energy and the promise of advancements in the realm of Active Health.

SSS’s partnership with Technogym sets the stage for a fruitful collaboration, enabling SSS to leverage the latest developments in fitness technology to support their partners in promoting Active Health and providing exceptional student experiences.

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Tuesday 27th June 2023

Scottish Student Sport is delighted to welcome Ben Rowlings to the team. Ben brings with him a range of perspectives on sport and will be filling the role of Sport and Active Health Co-ordinator.

Scottish Student Sport is delighted to welcome Ben Rowlings to the team. Ben brings with him a range of perspectives on sport and will be filling the role of Sport and Active Health Co-ordinator.

We caught up with Ben before his appointment to find out a wee bit more about him:

Can you tell us a wee bit about yourself and your new role?

My name is Ben and I have joined SSS as the new Sport and Active Health Co-ordinator. My background is in performance sport and disability sport and I have a real passion for getting people involved in sport and physical activity. My role at SSS is to work alongside our members and partners to get as many people active as possible.

Brilliant, can you fill us in on your sporting background?

My sporting background is based mainly in performance sport. I have been lucky to represent Great Britain at two Paralympic Games and multiple World and European Championships.

What has been your favourite live sporting moment that you’ve been a part of?

I have two that come to mind the first being a personal one, my first race at a Paralympic Games. Coming out of the call room underneath the Stadium in Rio and seeing the Paralympic Stadium open up in front of me.

The second being the 2004 Champions League Final in Istanbul. I have always been a massive Liverpool fan and that was the first football match I can remember being nervous watching (the last 45 minutes anyway).

 

Ben started this week and can be found via email at Ben@scottishstudentsport.com

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Monday 26th June 2023

Scottish Student Trampoline champion disability sport through fundraising and new disability inclusive competition categories!

The Scottish Student Trampoline development group have championed disability sport within trampoline and beyond this year, raising money for Beeslack All Stars Disability Sports Club and striving to ensure everyone had a place at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open.

Jordan, Lynne, Hollie and Cait pictured from left to right a the Scottish Student Trampoline Open

Jordan, Lynne, Hollie and, Cait pictured from left to right

Through a number of fundraising events throughout the year the Trampoline development group raised funds to support Beeslack All Stars and the incredible work they do in providing young people with opportunities to participate in sport. Beeslack All Stars DSC are a grass-roots multi-ability, multi-sports, club linked with Scottish Disability Sport. They provide sporting opportunities for children and young adults with additional support needs and their siblings. At All Stars, everyone can try out new sports together, promoting improved physical and mental health, whilst developing their social and emotional skills, communication and confidence. All Stars also guide their members to pathways into SDS competitions, the Special Olympics, and have even had members go onto the Paralympics!

SST also worked hard to make their own events more inclusive, adding a disability category at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open for the first time ever!

Hollie Fullerton, SS Trampoline Chair said:

Representatives from Beeslack All Stars at the SS trampoline open handing out medals

Representatives from Beeslack All Stars presenting medals at the Scottish Student Trampoline Open

“Our donations will allow them to fund their staffing, take on new members, and purchase specialist equipment. They are also local to SSTO, training just outside of Edinburgh. The work they are doing is a total lifeline for the families they support and they are heavily involved in their local and wider community.

We selected All Stars as our partner charity this year to celebrate and champion inclusion in sport which is especially prominent since it is our first year offering a disability category within SST.”

The SST development group raised money through their social bands, donating the profits back to All Stars. Through the generosity of the Scottish Student Sport Trampoline Community, £975 has been donated to Beeslack All Stars.

Every club that attended the Scottish Student Trampoline Open purchased social bands so they are all to thank for this generous donation.

If you would like to learn more about Scottish Student Sports’ wider inclusion and diversity work then please get in contact with Inclusion & Culture Coordinator Eilidh Paterson.

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Thursday 8th June 2023

The prestigious Annual Scottish Student Sport Awards dinner took place at Queen Margaret University last night, Wednesday the 7th of June, as part of the SSS Conference.

SSS AWARDS 2023 | Celebrating Super Staff, Students and Volunteers!

The prestigious Annual Scottish Student Sport Awards dinner took place at Queen Margaret University last night, Wednesday the 7th of June, as part of the SSS Conference. This highly anticipated event brought together the finest staff, volunteers, coaches, and athletes within the Scottish Student Sport (SSS) network, honoring their exceptional contributions to student sport.

The event serves as a platform to recognize outstanding contributions across various categories, including Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, Club of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Honorary Presidents Medal, and the Dr. Rob Macpherson Award.

Coach of the Year – Chris Geddes

The Coach of the Year award acknowledges the remarkable efforts of coaches who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship, and skill development within the SSS network. This year the award goes to the University of Stirling’s Mens High-Performance Football Coach Chris Geddes.

Club of the Year – University of St. Andrews Cheerleading Club

The Club of the Year award honors a student club that has shown exceptional commitment to fostering inclusivity, participation, and success in their sport. This year the award goes to the University of St. Andrews Cheerleading Club.

Team of the Year – University of Stirling Mens Football 1s

The Team of the Year award celebrates the collective achievements of a student team that has excelled in their respective sport. This accolade recognizes their outstanding performance, teamwork, and determination in representing their institution. Congratulations to the University of Stirling Mens Football 1s for taking home this award.

Male Athlete of the Year – Charlie Aldridge

The Male Athlete of the Year award acknowledges an outstanding male student athlete who has consistently demonstrated remarkable talent, dedication, and exceptional performance throughout the year. The 2023 Male athlete of the year is the University of Edinburgh’s Charlie Aldridge.

Female Athlete of the Year – Grace Reid

The Female Athlete of the Year award celebrates an exceptional female student athlete who has consistently exhibited remarkable talent, dedication, and extraordinary performance throughout the year. The 2023 Female athlete of the year is Grace Reid from the University of Edinburgh.

Unfortunately, neither Grace of Charlie could make it to the awards dinner, so their awards were collected by incoming and outgoing Sports Union presidents Peter Sawkins and Heather Lowden.

Volunteer of the Year – James Falls

The Volunteer of the Year award recognizes an individual who has selflessly devoted their time, energy, and expertise to support the development and growth of student sport within the SSS network. This year the award goes to James Falls from the University of Stirling.

Honorary Presidents Medal – Derek Docherty

The Honorary Presidents Medal is a prestigious award presented to an individual who has shown exemplary dedication and service to Scottish student sport over an extended period. This year’s medal was presented to the University of Edinburgh’s Derek Docherty.

Dr. Rob Macpherson Award – Paul Grady

The Rob MacPherson Volunteering award was inaugurated in 2016 following the death of Dr. Robin (Rob) Macpherson. No individual in our history has better embodied the positive culture of volunteering than Rob himself.  He was a tireless, wise, and extremely capable figure who dedicated much of his spare time to student golf, striving to develop opportunities for students and encouraged participation across the board. In Rob’s honour we’d like to recognise SSS Judo Chair Paul Grady, for his exemplary commitment to student Judo.

 

Congratulations to all of our award winners, please see our Facebook album for photos from the evening.

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Monday 5th June 2023

The final SSS Medal Table of the 2022/23 season is here!

The SSS Medal Table is a method for institutions to see how successful their student-athletes have been over the course of the SSS season.

The table includes all events in which SSS medals* have been awarded during the 2022/23 season.

All semester 1 and 2 events which took place have been added.

The table defaults to alphabetical but can be sorted by any of the column headings.

 

[table id=97 /]

 

Last Updated: June 2023

*Also includes BUCS medals won at Scottish Conference Finals

Compare how your instution got on against the 2021-22 Medal Tracker!

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Thursday 27th April 2023

Over 220 athletes from 15 universities and colleges descended on Grangemouth Sports Stadium on 22nd April to compete in the pinnacle of the Scottish Student Athletics season – the Outdoor Championships.

Over 220 athletes from 15 universities and colleges descended on Grangemouth Sports Stadium on 22nd April to compete in the pinnacle of the Scottish Student Athletics season – the Outdoor Championships. Despite the strong winds the students gave it their all, determined to win points for their club in the John Innes Memorial team competition.

We saw a blistering Men’s 5000m where the previous student record for that event was broken not once – but twice! Peter Bradshaw (University of Edinburgh) pipped his team mate Finlay Ross-Davie to 1st place in 14:54.64 but both broke the 5-year record.

Women’s discus also saw a record-breaking performance as Kiera Maxwell (University of Glasgow) hit 44.03m – over a metre further than the record set last year in the same event.

The Outdoor Championships also included Seated Throw para-adaptive events for the first time, with University of Stirling’s Adam Donnachie furthering his PB in the discus and maintaining his top UK ranking in shot putt too.

University of Glasgow stormed to victory in the John Innes Memorial Trophy, bagging the most number of team points in the team event. Full results can be found on our website and check out our photo album here. Well done to all athletes and thank you to the officials who made it all possible.

Let us know how you found it! Please complete our and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a Decathlon voucher in our prize draw

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Tuesday 25th April 2023

It’s Awards Season again!! We are now accepting nominations for the 2022/23 SSS Awards! Read on for more information on the different award categories, the nomination process and where the winners will be crowned.

We are delighted to announce that the SSS 2022/23 Awards are officially open!

The Awards 

We are accepting individual nominations in the following five categories:

  • Female Athlete of the Year- Aimed at high-performance female student-athletes, whether or not they compete for their college or university. This will be awarded to a female individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022 – April 2023) while making a tangible contribution to the institution.
  • Male Athlete of the Year- Aimed at high-performance male student-athletes, whether or not they compete for their college or university. This will be awarded to a male individual for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022- April 2023) while making a tangible contribution to the institution.
  • Volunteer of the Year- Aimed at students and non-students who volunteer at a local level. This is not aimed at volunteers primarily in a SSS role (please see Dr Rob MacPherson Award); coaches (see Coach of the Year); paid staff going the extra mile (see Honorary President’s Medal). This will be awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport at a local level during the 2022-23 year. The contribution may be in many forms such as exceptional active or administrative services to a club, college, or university; as a faithful club servant, committee member, leader; official; or purely down to their love of sport. Volunteers purely in a coaching capacity should be nominated for the Coach of the Year award.
  • Coach of the Year- Aimed at those who coach student sport/student-athletes at any level of performance. They may be either volunteer coaches or paid coaches. Not aimed at professional coaches based in Higher Education for whom student-athletes are not the main focus. This award will be given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to student sport by coaching during the 2022-23 season. Good quality coaching; innovative ideas; dedication to the sport; and a drive to continually improve their own skills are features of an outstanding coach.
  • Honorary President’s Medal- Aimed at any individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to/lasting impact on student sport at a local, regional or national level. Nominees should be regarded as wonderful examples/ advocates of student sport and their behaviour should resonate with the above SSS values.

We are accepting group nominations in the following two categories:

  • Club of the Year- Aimed at the all-round best performing Club, on and off the field of play. Not aimed at clubs that have had a successful competition year only. This will be awarded to a club that can demonstrate impact in the 2022-23 season. Increasing memberships, upping participation, innovative projects, developing volunteers, promoting the role of officials; fundraising, community links and involvement in institutional activity are just certain elements that would demonstrate excellence.
  • Team of the Year- Aimed at the most successful, high-performing student teams in the country, whether within SSS/BUCS competition or further afield. Not aimed at a team that performs to the fullest of its potential in the lower levels of competition e.g. a third team that has a 100% season is still unlikely to win this award. This will be awarded to a team for outstanding sporting achievement at the highest level during the 2022-23 season (April 2022-April 2023). This can include international performances.
  • The final award is the Dr Rob MacPherson Award. This award differs slightly from the rest of our awards – there are no nominations, instead, the winner is selected by the SSS staff team as opposed to the Executive Committee. The award is aimed at any individual who has made an outstanding contribution to volunteering with Scottish Student Sport.

The Details

  • Nominations for each category should be a maximum of 250 words, in bullet point format listing out key achievements.
  • Institutions can nominate in as many categories as they wish, but may only put forward one entry per category.
  • Past winners can receive the same award again.
  • Only member institutions can nominate. All member institutions have been sent login details to the online portal where nominations should be submitted.
  • Nominations close on FRIDAY 5th MAY at 18:00 and the Executive Council will then decide on the winners.
  • Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner on Wednesday 7th June, as part of the SSS Conference.
  • Please contact Totty with any queries.
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