University first for Get on Track
One of the final Get on Track for Wellbeing programmes funded by Sport England was a first for Dame Kelly Holmes Track. It was the first time we have run one of our programmes in a university and over 60 students attended across four programmes delivered by Olympic swimmer Adam Whitehead and former England badminton player Jenny Wallwork.
The programme started during a period of lockdown and a number of the students were feeling isolated and there was a lot of anxiety due to COVID. The weekly sessions offered an opportunity for the students to focus on their wellbeing and operated as a support mechanism for them as well. Hull is an area of high deprivation and the students on this programme wanted to leave a legacy for other young people in the area as a result of Get on Track.
Gemma, who took part in the programme said:
“They were very open and transparent and that gave us the trust in them. They understand mental health issues and everything else, so it’s nice to have somebody that you can talk to and that can support you through it.
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As on all of the Get on Track for Wellbeing programmes, getting people active was important, especially so as most people were at home and not attending uni when this programme started. The students looked forward to the sessions and even saw them as a bit of a lifeline when they were restricted to home and couldn’t socialise. Once they were able to get back into college, the social action projects and the plan to leave a legacy started in earnest. As you see in the film, one of the groups starting working with Platform Provision, a charity which promotes independence through life skills & inclusion at a school next door to the university. Using some of the skills gained on Get on Track they helped the young people there to become more active and introduced activities to help with wellbeing.
Carl Duck, university tutor said:
“COVID created a lot of anxiety and this programme has given them the energy and the spirit to go ahead and do new things.”
Alongside this, the students have developed plans for a Forest School, to be built next on the university grounds which will be used by young people in the city for years to come. Guided by their athlete mentors, the group have created a resource that will be available for local young people to learn about the environment in an outdoors setting.
Students from the University of Hull attended the Get on Track for Wellbeing programme virtually. Thanks to funding from Sport England, we are working with 700 young people in coastal communities all across England to help them become more active and improve their mental health.