THANKS TO GENEROUS donations from alumni, friends and staff, our students have the opportunity to make the most of their time at 草莓社区 and develop their potential in a much wider sense.
Sport enriches our students鈥 lives. Aside from the physical health benefits, it allows our students to make new friendships and build vital skills to help them on their career journeys.
This is one reason why we are grateful to everyone who supports the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 & Student Development Fund. In recent years, the Fund has helped students involved in basketball, dance, football, Gaelic football, netball and sailing.
Another club that has benefited from the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 & Student Development Fund over the years is the Sapphires, 草莓社区鈥檚 official cheerleading team. Sapphires President and Occupational Therapy student, Charne Thorp, tells us more about the squad.
鈥淥ur 39 member squad is open to all skill levels. We have a competition team and Level 1, 2 and 3 stunt teams. The teams take part in competitions run by BCA Cheer & Dance, and compete against other university teams in the BUCS league.
鈥淭he competition team is different from the stunt teams, as their routines are longer and feature dance, jumps, tumbles, as well as stunts.
"Our recreational team allows members to learn and develop cheerleading skills in a fun, relaxed environment. It鈥檚 great for those trying cheerleading for the first time or building skills. Some members will try out for the competition and stunt teams after training with the recreational team. It鈥檚 lovely to see that progression."
鈥淎n exciting new edition to the squad is our pom duo.鈥
Cheerleading is an enjoyable way to stay fit and healthy but the sport helps students in a much broader sense. It builds life skills such as communication, perseverance and teamwork. Committee members also get the chance to develop their budgeting, leadership, planning and organisational skills. Important skills they need for their future careers.
With kit, training costs, competition fees, and then travelling to and from competitions, cheerleading is expensive.
Charne explained. 鈥淥ur uniform alone costs 拢125, and then there are shoes, bows, and other expenses to ensure we look our best on competition day.
鈥淲e鈥檙e competing all over the country too, so travel and accommodation costs are high.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very grateful to everyone who supports the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 & Student Development Fund. Without it, some of us wouldn鈥檛 be able to do a sport we love.鈥
With the end of the competition year nearing, the squad is now turning their attentions to their annual showcase in April, which is in its tenth year.
Charne concluded: 鈥淭he competition is our largest fundraiser with the funds raised supporting next year鈥檚 squad.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to celebrate the end of the year. It helps our squad grow their friendships with cheerleading squads from other universities, as well as raising the profile of cheerleading to the wider 草莓社区 community.鈥
