Thursday

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

1. Boosting student engagement through Intramural Sport: Real strategies that work

Description: Looking to elevate your intramural sport offer? This session will share tried-and-tested approaches from universities successfully engaging students through inclusive, well-run programmes. Learn how to deliver impactful social and competitive leagues with smart systems for fixture management, marketing, eligibility, and promotion/relegation. Walk away with fresh ideas, real examples, and the tools to make your intramural sport offer thrive. 

Session facilitator(s): Charlie Mascall - Participation and Competition Manager, University of Surrey, Molly Catlin - Sport Participation Officer, University of Surrey and Matthew Craven - Sport Development Officer, University of Hull

Suggested audience: Participation staff 

Session format: Presentation 

Location: Breakout room 1; Lecture room B - Larkin

2. The Future of Student Travel: Why it matters, and why we're leading it

Description: Join Outgoing, industry experts, as they guide you through the intricacies of organising international trips for student teams and clubs. Discover how to ensure students have the best possible experience, what to look for in a travel company, and how to successfully run a student trip abroad. Additionally, learn about the valuable benefits international group travel adds to the student experience.

Session facilitator(s): 

Ian Boulger - Managing Director (MD), Outgoing and Matt Wildridge, Charlotte Tattersall, Alice Hill - Outgoing team

Suggested audience: Open to all

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 2: Lecture room C - Larkin

3. Student Officers - Supporting you to drive positive behavioural change

Description: The Student Officer Network has highlighted behavioural challenges in higher education sport, stressing the need for better education, clearer support, and consistent follow-up. Transitioning from club member to student officer presents difficulties, especially in enforcing club standards while maintaining community ties. This session will examine support structures for officers managing both disciplinary and welfare responsibilities, share best practices, and explore future initiatives to improve student behaviour and student officer experiences.

Session facilitator: Alex Duggan - Student Director, BUCS

Suggested audience: Sabbatical Officers and Institution Administrators

Session format: Network session

Location: Breakout room 3: Lecture room D - Larkin

4. Life as a trans+ student: How to support trans+ students 

Description: Research indicates that trans people are more likely to experience poor mental health, especially depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, with rates higher than the general population norms. This session will explore how we can support the trans+ students who participate in sport and physical activity.

Session facilitator: Dominic Smithies - Head of Influencing and Communications, Student Minds

Suggested audience: All members

Session format: Workshop 

Location: Breakout room 4: Basil Reckett

5. Team tactics: Coordinating events like a championship squad

Description: Open to all, this session will showcase real-world examples of delivering high-quality events with sustainability at their core, led by an industry expert. Through storytelling and best practice sharing, attendees will gain practical insights into how to deliver exceptional event experiences while embedding sustainable thinking throughout, helping to create lasting, positive impact.

Session facilitator(s): Alice Wilkie - Head of Events (Operations), BUCS and Paige Nuttall - Event Coordinator, Loughborough Sport

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Workshop

Location: Breakout room 5: Leslie Downs

6. Senior Managers Network

Description: To be sent directly to SMN members.

Session facilitator(s): Cathy Gallagher - Chair of BUCS Senior Managers Executive/Network

Suggested audience: SMN

Session format: TBC

Location: Breakout room 6: Austen & Blake - Canham Turner

This year’s panel will include:
Will Roberts – BUCS Chief Executive Officer 
Alex Duggan - BUCS student director 
Cathy Gallagher - BUCS Senior Managers Executive and Network Chair and BUCS Board trustee
Kath Russ - BUCS Board trustee - EDI lead 

The session will be hosted by Steve Curtis - Director of Sport, University of Hull, and members will have the opportunity to ask the panel questions directly in the session, so there will be no need to submit any questions in advance.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

1. Social media best practice for students

Description: A best practice session looking at ways students can use the power of social media to amplify the BUCS sporting experience. From recruitment and live scoring, to brand consistency and storytelling, the session will act as a toolkit for student-athletes and media.

Session facilitator: Rhys Hayward - Director of Marketing and Commercial, BUCS

Suggested audience: Sabbatical Officers  

Session format: Interactive workshop

Location: Breakout room 1; Lecture room B - Larkin

2. Developing People Through Sport: A Case Study of Loughborough’s Coach & Volunteer Academy Pathways

Description: During this session we will share the CVA’s approach to training, developing, and the deployment of student volunteers to support the Loughborough Sport ecosystem and to achieve the ambitious vision of the CVA ‘to develop the sporting workforce of the future.

Session facilitator: Natalia Marshall - Coaching, Officiating and Outreach Manager, Loughborough University

Suggested audience: Workforce Leads

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 2: Lecture room C - Larkin

3. From BUCS to the IOC: Sport, leadership & purpose

Description: My journey from competing in BUCS championships to becoming one of just 25 global IOC Young Leaders. Learn how university sport shaped his leadership, opened international doors, and sparked his drive to launch a community sport project in Aberdeen - and how sport can be a powerful force for change.

Session facilitator: Murhad Hussain - former BUCS athlete and International Olympic Committee Young Leader

Suggested audience: All members  

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 3: Lecture room D - Larkin

4. Wellbeing Programmes

Description: Now more than ever, prioritising wellbeing is essential. This workshop is part of a wider initiative to enhance student and staff engagement across King’s College London, with a strong focus on promoting a healthy work-life balance and creating a supportive environment where all students and staff can thrive. You’ll learn about the range of support, resources, and wellbeing initiatives available through King’s, including transformative opportunities offered by the King’s Sport & Wellness Academy.

Session facilitator: Laura Edwards - Engagement and Wellness Manager, Kings College London

Suggested audience: All members  

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 4: Basil Reckett

5. Culture, behaviour and driving positive change

Description: What experience do we want for the students taking part in BUCS competition. This session will start to explore the behaviours that contribute to an exceptional student sporting experience. We will also hear from a member on how they have approached club culture and driven positive change.

Session facilitator: Amy Preston - Club Development Manager, University of Birmingham

Suggested audience: All members  

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 5: Leslie Downs

Location: Middleton Hall Foyer

We are delighted to have the history making duo of Orrin Carson and Robyn Munro - gold medallists in the first ever Mixed Doubles Curling event at the World University Games in Torino, join us for this year’s In Conversation session at Conference. The pair will be joined by veteran Chef de Mission, Chris Purdie, and the session will be hosted by the familiar face of former BUCS Student Officer Peter Sawkins.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

Closing comments 

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

Further details for the Extraordinary General Meeting can be found here. 

Location: Basil Reckett, Ferens building 

Location: Hull University Students' Union

Following the end of the Awards, guests can head to the SU Wetherspoons for evening drinks and socialising. The afterparty will take place at the Asylum club at Hull University Students' Union.