Meet our new Active Campus Coordinator

Making sure that our students, staff, and local community have access to sport and physical activity on campus is really important to us at UHI Perth. The Academy of Sport and Wellbeing (ASW) provides an outstanding learning environment for our students and is an excellent facility for the community. It is equipped with a multifunctional sports hall, gyms, strength and conditioning suite, fitness studio, and Climbing Centre.

To help promote and facilitate the delivery of sport and physical activity on campus, a new Active Campus Coordinator has not long started at UHI Perth. Lindsey’s role will encourage and empower the student population to be more active, more often whilst in education. ⛹️⚽

Hi Lindsey, you have just started as the new Active Campus Coordinator at UHI Perth, can you tell us what were you doing prior to this role?

Before starting my role at UHI Perth, I worked at Dundee United Football Club with their Academy and Community Trust as Assistant Nutritionist and Community Development Officer. I gained a lot of great transferrable skills from both roles that I’m looking forward to applying here.

How are you settling into your new job at UHI Perth?

I have found my first few weeks at UHI Perth unbelievably positive! All of the students and staff are extremely friendly, and I’ve really enjoyed interacting with everyone. The facilities at the Academy of Sport and Wellbeing (ASW) are brilliant too which is already making my role easier.

In this role, which is funded by Sport Scotland, you have two ambitions 👇

➕ To promote and facilitate the delivery of sport and physical activity on campus, contributing to the health and well-being of students, staff, and the community.
➕ To have in place a simple clear mechanism for high quality and effective work-based placements for sports students.

Can you tell us what your plans are for achieving both of these ambitions?

To help achieve my first aim, I’ve spent lots of time speaking to staff and students about what sport and physical activity they want to see on campus, and I’ve received a great mix of suggestions. Some have included archery, dance, football, and large chess! It’s been really important gaining this feedback as it is the staff and students, I want to benefit from these projects the most. Any other suggestions are also welcomed if anyone would like to get in touch with me at: lindsey.brown.perth@uhi.ac.uk

For achieving high quality and effective work-based placements, it’s vital that I have good connections with local institutes and companies. I’ve already networked with amazing individuals from Live Active, Perthshire Rugby, Sport Scotland, The Camanachd Association, and many more. I’m really looking forward to connecting students with these groups to further their skills development and gain confidence within the working world.

What does sport mean to you and how important has it been in your life?

Sport has played a massive part in my life since I was really young, with athletics and highland dancing playing the largest roles. Sport has given me employment, friendships I wouldn’t have gained elsewhere, and massively helps my mental health. I even feel these benefits from simple physical activities such as walking my dog. We don’t have to be breaking a sweat to feel a positive impact on our welfare! All movement has its place in improving our health and wellbeing from reducing blood pressure to improving sleep and concentration. It brings us new social circles and different avenues to have fun which I believe will be the most rewarding part of my role.

And finally, what advice would you give to someone that is nervous about taking part in sport, but would like to try and get involved?

Feeling nervous before you start anything new is perfectly normal and I can guarantee many people are feeling the same. Our current teams are made up of a big mix of individuals from different backgrounds, courses, and interests but the thing all of them have in common is they are really friendly and love the sport they are playing. There’s also lots we can do if turning up to a session for the first time is too intimidating - from meeting myself/captains individually or having a practise before you go! Please don’t let your nerves stop you because the positives on the other side are unlimited.

📍 Join Lindsey on campus this Friday 17 November for the Children in Need ‘Bearpees Challenge’ 🐻

You will find her at the following locations throughout the day 👇

• Goodlyburn Reception ⌚ 8.30-10am

• Websters Starbucks ⌚ 10am-12pm

• Outside Brahan Refectory ⌚ 12-2pm

• ASW Reception ⌚ 2-4pm