|
Accommodation plans progress
Confirming its commitment to building on-campus accommodation, the
University this year submitted a planning application to the local
authority for the provision of 1,300 student bedrooms – a
development welcomed by both the local community and Students’ Union.
The multi-million pound project, which will provide three new halls
for undergraduates and accommodation for postgraduate students,
will be the largest single investment ever made by the University.
Building work is anticipated to begin on site in early 2007.
Accreditation scheme brings peace of mind
A property accreditation scheme, launched by the University this
year, is helping landlords ensure their student properties are
up to standard, bringing peace of mind to students, their parents
and the local community. Student Accommodation Services, which
coordinates the University’s accommodation services, has operated a voluntary
accreditation service for private rented accommodation for several
years. This new scheme, however, requires all University-registered
landlords to meet the minimum standard required to provide a safe
living environment. Landlords can also apply for a star rating, designed
to give additional guidance for prospective tenants – a three-star
property would, for example, be very well decorated and have good
quality modern furniture and equipment. The new scheme, which is
being run in association with Charnwood Borough Council, will be
phased in over the next year.
 |
Following in Freddie’s footsteps
Scores of local youngsters, with dreams of becoming the next ‘Freddie’ Flintoff,
descended on the campus-based ECB National Cricket Centre early in the year
to take part in a University cricketing scheme. Run for the
first time this year, an eight-week series of cricket clinics
offered boys and girls aged 8 to 14 the chance to learn the
basics of the game and improve their batting, bowling and
fielding techniques. |
Record-breaking Rag
Loughborough
Rag had a phenomenal year, smashing its own national
record and the half million pound barrier for the first time ever
by raising a staggering £626,147. The number of students
involved in Rag activities increased dramatically, with record
numbers taking part in activities such as skydiving and the London
Marathon to raise mone y for local and national charities. One
of the most memorable events was The Tortoise and the Hare which
saw Students’ Union president Gab Stone – ‘the
hare’,
who could only run – and Rag chair Jock Wright – ‘the
tortoise’, who could only walk – on an epic 120-mile
journey from London to Loughborough. The event raised £500
for local charity Glebe House, which offers day care activities
and respite care for people with conditions such as autism and
Downs Syndrome.
Public lecture series launched
In June former MP Tony Benn shared his views on Engineering, Science
and Society with a capacity crowd in the first lecture of a new
series. The lecture programme will see renowned academics and household
names give entertaining and informative talks on a range of subjects
to the general public. Scheduled for later in the series are Bafta
award-winning TV presenter Johnny Ball – who has helped millions of school
children to understand maths and science through programmes such
as ‘Think of a Number’ – and Lord Martin Rees – Astronomer
Royal, president of the Royal Society and professor of Cosmology
and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.
A sporting alliance
A new regional sports alliance that aims to encourage people to
be more active was launched at the University in May. The Charnwood
Sport and Active Recreation Alliance (CSARA) comprises several
stakeholders, including Charnwood Borough Council, North West
Leicestershire Primary Care Trust and Charnwood Sports Council,
as well as the University. It aims to provide a strategic coordinated
approach to sport and recreation provision across the borough
that meets the needs of the local community and improves the
quality of life of everyone living in the region through participation
in physical activity.
Arts programme flourishes
Another programme of outstanding arts events on campus continued
to draw capacity crowds from across the region this year. Musical
and dramatic performances were in abundance, with audiences enjoying
a performance from poet, novelist and playwright Benjamin Zephania,
and music from the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, the City of London
Sinfonia, and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, to name just
a few.
Volunteering goes from strength to strength
The Students’ Union’s Community Action group this year
recruited around 400 student volunteers to work within and with the
local community. Over a hundred of these, plus a number of University
staff, took part in the Right to Read scheme, helping Loughborough’s
children to develop their reading skills.
Recognising community
commitment
Two students who showed real commitment to their community
were recognised with awards in the summer. The TS Shipman Prize – which is
given to those considered to have contributed most to the development
of cooperation and aid between the University or College and the
local community – was this year presented to Ed Sayer, in
recognition of his extensive community work, most notably as Young
Persons Coordinator on the Students’ Union’s Community
Action Management Committee.
The second award, the Hannah Community Prize, went to Emily Cole,
for her work with the National Autistic Society’s befriending
scheme. The good neighbourliness of three other student households
was also acknowledged with special certificates – Elizabeth
McCrea, Alexandria Howe and Emma Hare for their care and assistance
to an elderly neighbour; Laura Joynson, Victoria Shepherd, Rhia Jaiswal,
Hannah Jefferies, Rosalind Reason and Joanne Edden for their caring
and helpful attitude; and Alison Gilmour, Kathryn Willan, Richard
Allen, Melanie Knight and Ju Chen for their respect for the community
in which they live and their care and consideration towards their
elderly neighbours.
A summer of sporting fun
Ancient Greece was the inspiration for the first of two sports
camps held at the University over the summer. More than 300 local
children took part, split into three age groups – ‘Team Nike’ for
the 5 to 7 year olds, ‘Team Hercules’ for those aged
8 to 10, and ‘Team Zeus’ for the 11 to 14 year olds.
Sports on offer ranged from dodgeball and ‘duck duck goose’ to
table tennis and trampolining.
Three single sport camps were also run in association with Charnwood
Borough Council, with girls and boys aged 5 to 14 able to enjoy
cricket, rugby and a special World Cup-themed football camp.
Raising the region’s profile
Charnwood Promotions, a partnership organisation which aims to
develop tourism in the area, was launched this year, with the
University as a key member. The organisation – which is led by Leicester
Shire Promotions and supported by the local authority and Leicester
Shire Economic Partnership – aims to attract more visitors
to the district by positioning it as a centre for leisure activities.
Budding badminton players gather on campus
Over 120 children from all over the region gathered at the
University in March to take part in the area’s biggest badminton festival.
Sixteen teams of children from years Five and Six qualified for the
Badminton Into Schools Initiative (BISI) Festival, which was developed
by Badminton England to introduce children to the sport. The festival
was organised locally by the Charnwood School Sport Partnership.
|