Sport & Active, your new regular health and wellbeing update

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In his inaugural newsletter, Mark Munro, Director of Sport and Active Health at the University, celebrates the opening of the new Eric Liddell Gym and shares some upcoming opportunities for staff to get active.

Staff Active Wellbeing Survey

Staff members are invited to participate in the new Staff Active Wellbeing Survey. The information gathered will help inform the future Active Health programme and service provision at the University. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and as a thank you for your time, you can opt-in to enter a prize draw to win one of three £100 Amazon vouchers.

Staff Active Wellbeing Survey 2023

Image by Andy Lamont

Edinburgh Winter Run

Building on the success of the 2023 event, the Edinburgh Winter Run returns on 20 January 2024 and University of Edinburgh students and staff can benefit from an exclusive discounted early-bird entry of £15. This includes a branded University of Edinburgh buff for all University participants.

Edinburgh Winter Run 2024

Self-catering at Firbush

Escape to Firbush this winter and enjoy stunning views of the Loch in one of the University’s new self-catering lodges or pods.

Firbush outdoor centre 

Eric Liddell Refurbishment

University students and staff were joined by Sue Caton, Eric Liddell’s niece, and 2014 University of Edinburgh Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Eilidh Child, to cut the ribbon and officially open the refurbished Eric Liddell Gym.

Eric Liddell Gym refurbishment officially crosses the line

Success for swim programme

The University’s Performance Swimming Programme is celebrating 15 years of success as it continues to develop world-class student athletes.

The programme, which started with coach Chris Jones and 15 talented swimmers, has now grown to support more than 70 elite swimmers and is led by four coaching staff. The team of Chris Jones, Mat Trodden, Ross Douglas and Danny Kirkham, along with previous coaches Shannon Rollason, John Szaranek, Mark Jaggs, Jen Davis and Andrew Wicks have created a legacy of athlete success, including breaking 100 National Records, and placing athletes on Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Games teams and being named the top National Scottish Club 10 times in 15 years.

Ross Simpson, Head of Sports & Assistant Director at the University, said: “We are so proud of the programme and what it has achieved to date, but also excited about the future. Where can you go and get a world class degree, coupled with a world class sporting offer? The team have built something truly special here.”

Sport Scholars

The University is proud to support 22 talented athletes, across a wide range of sports, through the Sport Scholar programme.

The University of Edinburgh Sport Scholar programme has a commitment to the development of Performance Sport and offers essential sporting and academic support for student athletes who are committed to succeeding on the international stage.

The 2023/24 cohort features athletes from all three Colleges, who compete across 14 different sports at international standard.

Find out more

Sport & Active newsletter 

Opportunities to get active

Staff gym memberships