Wednesday

The walk is open to anyone wishing to build their network across the sector. It will provide an opportunity to meet new people informally, discuss how we can grow and build the network across the year and provide a great start to the day in the fresh air. We will be joined by BUCS Board members Katy Storie and Kathe Russ, so if you are keen to join - whether to learn from others, provide support and guidance to others or just come along and listen, you are more than welcome! 

Location: Meet at Rosa’s pizzeria in front of Westfield Court. The walk will finish at Canham Turner so members can head straight to breakfast.

Hustings: This year we have a number of positions within BUCS governance structures up for election. Hustings will be an opportunity to hear from our nominees for the positions of: Student Officer, Student Director, Chair or Advisory Group and Board Trustee, Chair of Senior Managers Executive/Network and Board Trustee and Chair of Competitions Group. Through hearing their manifestos and responses through an interactive Q+A, you should leave feeling informed about who you will vote for in the election.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

1. Ask BUCS panel - Competitions and events team

Description: In this session we sit down to discuss hot topics, sector trends and the dynamic landscape from the BUCS Competitions and Events Teams. This session will give the opportunity for delegates to ask questions in relation to Leagues, Knockouts and Events, to ensure we are striving forward as a sector in this space. BUCS staff present will include Sam Bell-Minogue (BUCS Deputy CEO & Director of Sport), Neal Kington (BUCS Head of Competitions) and Alice Wilkie (BUCS Head of Event Operations).

Session facilitator(s): TBC 

Suggested audience: All members

Session format: Open discussion, Q&A

Location: Breakout room 1; Lecture room B - Larkin

2. Building a sustainable volunteer and coach community beyond the student body

Description: How can universities create a sense of community among volunteers and coaches who differ in experience, commitment, and background? This session will explore strategies for developing and sustaining a non-student network within a club-led model. Learn how to foster connection, support, and shared purpose among diverse people - helping to strengthen programme quality, retention, and the overall club environment.

Session facilitator(s): Stephanie Mallender - Buddle Lead, Sport England

Suggested audience: Workforce leads

Session format: TBC 

Location: Breakout room 2: Lecture room C - Larkin

3. BUCS Articles of Association: Supporting you to make an informed vote

Description: BUCS recognises that for a number of Student Officers, the vote to reform the Articles of Association is at the start of your journey as a SABB. We therefore want to support you to ensure you are fully informed on what the changes are, why we are making them, and provide you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have ahead of the vote. 

Session facilitator: Jessica Melling - Head of Governance, BUCS 

Suggested audience: Sabbatical Officers 

Session format: Presentation 

Location: Breakout room 3: Lecture room D - Larkin

4. Mind over muscle: the mental gains of physical games

Description: How does participation in sport support mental health, and why is it especially impactful for neurodivergent students? This session unpacks the neuroscience behind the mental health benefits of physical activity, focusing on how exercise drives changes in the brain that support wellbeing. Using data from the BUCS Active Wellbeing Survey and lived experience, we’ll explore how these effects particularly benefit students with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia - and how to apply this insight in practice.

Session facilitator: Megan Bassett - Sport Sabbatical Officer, University of Manchester

Suggested audience: All members

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 4: Basil Reckett

5. Creating an active campus programme to engage inactive students

Description: How can you evaluate your club sport offer to design a physical activity programme that engages a wider population of students? This session will explain how we boosted our overall engagement by providing a physical activity programme that differentiated from our club sport offer. We explain our data-driven approach, wins and losses, how we will ensure the programme remains sustainable, and novel ideas to continue engaging a more diverse demographic.

Session facilitator(s): Scott Dale - Assistant Manager (Sport), Canterbury Christ Church University and Jack Crittenden - Assistant Manager (Physical Activity and Wellbeing), Canterbury Christ Church University

Suggested audience: Participation staff

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 5: Leslie Downs

6. ROI Unlocked: What Your Leisure Management System Should Be Delivering

Description: Can your leisure management system really help to improve operational efficiencies? Does it allow your department to be a leaner and more sustainable department of the university. This session will aim to answer these questions and will also focus on examples of how LMS reporting can help prove the value of physical activity.

Session facilitators: Alan Louden (Legend by Xplor Commercial Director), David Reid (Legend by Xplor BDM), Jennie Dunham (University of Hull Sport Engagement Manager) 

Suggested audience: Workforce leads

Session format: TBC 

Location: Breakout room 6: Austen - Canham Turner

Location: Middleton Hall Foyer

One of the most capped England rugby players of all time, Rocky Clark MBE joins us at Conference to share her incredible experiences of university sport, her time as a BUCS Coach and her career on the international stage. Rocky will shed light on the role that university sport has played in her life, including her sense of belonging, purpose and her exceptional career.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

Location: Middleton Hall Foyer

Episode title: The Student Take-Over

SportH.E is back for another edition of the podcast! Join us as for a panel session, where we will hear directly from students on their lived experience of H.E sport. We’ll explore the views and opinions of the sectors potential future workforce and seek to find out what they would change if they were BUCS CEO or a Director of Sport for a day.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

1. Enhancing student life through inclusive participation programmes

Description: This workshop will explore the significant role of non-competitive physical activity in enriching the student experience. Highlighting successful university-led initiatives - such as one-off participation events and challenge series - it will demonstrate how inclusive programming can promote wellbeing, foster community engagement, and support a more active student population. Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies and practical approaches to implementing and scaling participation programmes across campus.

Session facilitator(s): Andy Barton - Sport Development Manager, Northumbria University and Lucy Smith - Active Lives Lead, University of Edinburgh

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 1; Lecture room B - Larkin

2. IA Hub: Building Networks and Sharing Best Practice

Description: A dedicated and interactive session for Institutional Administrators, facilitated by BUCS staff. This is a chance to connect with peers, share good practice, and explore common challenges across regions and nations. Through open discussion and guided activities focused on navigating the demands of the season, attendees will gain practical insight into how different universities operate and build stronger, more supportive relationships. 

Session facilitator(s): Neal Kington - Head of Competitions, BUCS and Maddi Cannell - Event Manager, BUCS

Suggested audience: Institution Administrators

Session format: Network session

Location: Breakout room 2: Lecture room C - Larkin

3. BUCS Governance and operations

Description: An informative session on BUCS current Governance structures. We will explore the current subcommittee structures and governance groups, look at the composition of these groups and the flow of information between groups. An ideal session for those looking to enhance their understanding of BUCS governance. 

Session facilitator(s): Jess Melling - Head of Governance, BUCS, Neal Kington - Head of Competitions, BUCS, Chris Rawlings - Governance Manager, BUCS and Carrie Stephenson - Independent Trustee (Legal and Governance), BUCS

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Presentation 

Location: Breakout room 3: Lecture room D - Larkin

4. Anti-racism in practice

Description: BUCS' Race Equality & Research Implementation Group (REIG) is exploring how HE institutions can embed anti-racism across these core areas: Education and Training, Gameday Management, Student Community and Voice, Policy and Practice. This will be a collaborative workshop where REIG will seek feedback from members and provide an opportunity to share best practice. Open to all institutions regardless of previous work or experience in this space

Session facilitator(s): BUCS Race equality implementation group

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Workshop

Location: Breakout room 4: Basil Reckett

5. Opportunities to grow participation and revenue

Description: A exploration session, with a focus on how Institutions can open up new, sustainable commercial opportunities while also offering new experiences for Gen Z students.

Session facilitator(s): Rhys Hayward, BUCS Director of Marketing and Commercial, Ivo Maciel, Soul Padel, TBC

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Workshop/Case Study

Location: Breakout room 5: Leslie Downs

6. The Climate Cup - How to get student engagement on Sport X Sustainability right

Description: Saving the planet - and the sports we love - shouldn’t be boring. Student athletes care deeply about sustainability, but internal comms and traditional engagement doesn't cut through. Join this session to learn how to engage your students on sport and sustainability properly as well as set them up for careers in the industry. You’ll hear first-hand how Loughborough University and Carbon Jacked have teamed up to get student athletes taking incredible action on climate, nature and wellbeing.

Session facilitator(s): Elliott Brown - Head of Sustainability, Loughborough University

Suggested audience: All members 

Session format: Presentation

Location: Breakout room 6: Austen - Canham Turner

Location: Middleton Hall Foyer

Our CEO will share insights into BUCS performance over the 2024-25 season, and on the BUCS ambitions to 2030.

Location: Middleton Hall Lecture Theatre

Sessions will take place as listed below, for the Regions and Nations that have confirmed they would like to have a meeting. Where possible a member of BUCS staff will also be present at each meeting.