At BUCS, we hold a unique privilege: supporting students during a pivotal chapter of their lives to inspire lifelong habits of movement and drive lasting, meaningful change.

It is essential that all students have access to an excellent offer. Those currently underrepresented in our programme are often the same groups most marginalised by society and therefore have an even greater need for opportunities that support their mental and physical wellbeing. Sport and active participation should open doors not just for those already positioned to thrive, but for every student with the potential to benefit from its physical, mental and long-term career advantages.

Our participant and stakeholder data reveals clear gaps in sports access and participation. The development of the Belonging Strategy is our direct response to those findings; a roadmap designed to close these gaps and ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate, lead, and thrive.

Our vision is bold: to create sports environments that are genuinely safe, trusted and inclusive for students from underrepresented groups not simply improving participation but by putting belonging at the heart of our operations. By 2030, we aim to make measurable, meaningful progress toward a programme that reflects the full breadth and diversity of the student population, recognising the potential for demographic shift over this time and the need to be responsive to that.