Tuesday 07-05-2024 - 15:41

The Students’ Association was successful in being awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund to run the Give it a Go (GIAG) Programme during 2023/24. The overall aim of the programme was to bring GCU students together to build strong relationships in and across communities, with the goal that participation in the Give it a Go Programme would result in students feeling less isolated and develop a sense of belonging at Glasgow Caledonian University, linked to improved student mental health and wellbeing.

The delivery of the Give it a Go Programme is linked to the objectives within our Strategic Plan 2025 (supporting physical health, mental health and wellbeing and developing leaders and volunteers to bring positive change in our communities).

We recruited an Events Intern and ran the Give it a Go Programme during the academic year 2023/24 where students could participate in a free one-off activity that they can then continue with a local community organisation or within the Students’ Association (sports clubs, society, media groups or representation networks). In total 29 activities were organised with 26 activities taking place between 13th November and 15th December 2023 (Trimester A) and 29th January and 22nd March 2024 (Trimester B). A total of 11 activities were organised with external organisations. The external organisations included St. Andrew’s First Aid, Wing Tsjun Scotland, Mind and Draw, Pinkston Watersports, Braehead Ice Centre, Cancer Research UK, Glasgow Roller Derby, Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Therapets, Yorkhill Green Spaces and North Glasgow Community Food Initiative. There were 15 internal activities with our sports clubs, societies and representation networks.

Overall, there were 320 attendees in the Give it a Go Programme during 2023/24, with 212 students attending at least one activity, 36 students attending at least two activities and 7 students attending three or more activities. 58% of participants were UK students and 42% were international, 61% were female and 39% male, 54% were Level 1 students and 54% were aged 18-21.

From those who completed the survey for Give it a Go Programme 2023/24:

• 75% of participants expressed interest in continuing with the local community organisation or Students' Association club, society or network after the Give it a Go activity
• 89% said participating in a Give it a Go activity has brought people together in our local communities
• 84% of participants felt participating in the Give it a Go Programme improved their sense of belonging at Glasgow Caledonian University