Dinner date set to be a real prized occasion for Harper
NORTHUMBRIA University Sport could top another fantastic year with a brace of prizes at the 2017 BUCS Awards Dinner.
The annual celebration of student sport brings together the best athletes, staff and volunteers from across Britain’s universities.
Following a record 246 nominations across nine categories, Northumbria are in the mix for two leading awards.
July’s star-studded dinner at the University of Hertfordshire will see Claire Harper contest the BUCS Student Volunteer of the Year award.
Northumbria’s student development programme is also one of three schemes nominated in the BUCS Workforce Programme of the Year category.
Student and Staff Development Manager Kate Hansbury said: “Almost 250 students are engaged internally through Northumbria Sport supporting 27 unique roles including at our charity the Northumbria Sport Foundation.
“In addition 51 students are engaged externally through 11 roles within our community outreach programmes, schools and national governing bodies.
“Students have contributed 8,884 hours overall.
“This year we launched the Northumbria Sport Leadership Bursary and awarded £2,323 to support 24 students to gain qualifications, with an additional 102 club volunteers gaining core training related to their roles.
“In partnership with the Northmbria Careers Service we developed a workshop programme to enhance students’ employability skills.
“These workshops have enabled 12 previous volunteers to gain employment within Northumbria University.”
Harper set up a wheelchair basketball programme at Northumbria in 2016.
She has also contributed more than 200 volunteer hours this year and Hansbury added: “At this year’s Northumbria Sports Ball Claire was awarded the prestigious Commitment to Sport Award and she was the unanimous choice of staff and students.
“Claire is a true credit to Northumbria University and we believe she deserves to be nationally recognised as the BUCS Student Volunteer of the Year. on July 13.”