Find out what our students have been up to in February - from Pride Week and a swimming challenge, to BUCS action and more, and find out what’s coming in March.
Hi!
We’ve packed a lot into the shortest month of the year. The rain continued to pour, BUCS had our teams travelling all over the country, Eating Disorder Awareness Week sparked important conversations, and Pride Week brought colour, celebration, and community to Team UOP. The sun even managed a fly-in visit to round things off.
Also, in case you’ve missed it, Varsity tickets are now on sale!
In this month's edition, you’ll find:
- Event highlights
- Pride week
- We Care About Not Caring
- ED awareness week
- BUCS action
- What’s coming up?
Whether it’s celebrating competitive success, championing inclusion, or creating space for meaningful conversations, February has shown once again that Team UOP is about more than just sport.
Emma Loe
Team UOP Widening Access Officer
Event highlights
Destroyers Take On… Football
The Destroyers take on is back, and they have kicked things off with football! While they’re not off to the best start (with football taking the win this time), we’re excited to see how the competition unfolds over the coming months.
Swim the Channel
Swimming and Water Polo made a splash this month, taking on their impressive “Swim the Channel” challenge in support of Age UK.
Their goal was to swim 34,000 metres, the equivalent of the English Channel, which totalled 1,360 lengths of the pool.
Not only did they complete it, but they smashed it, swimming an extra 32 lengths on top! A huge well done to everyone who took part, and a special shoutout to Athletics, who came second with the most lengths swum.
Pride week
February began with Pride Week, reminding us that sport should always be an inclusive and welcoming space for all.
It was fantastic to see our clubs sharing messages of support and turning up to training in a flurry of colour. Moments like this show that Team UOP stands together. It’s vital that we continue to challenge discrimination in all its forms and ensure everyone feels they belong in sport.
ED awareness week
During the last week of February, Team UOP came together to support Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Eating Disorders are complex mental illnesses which may lead to physical health deterioration if not treated. Sport and University can become a triggering and difficult environment for someone suffering from an eating disorder, so it is important to avoid negative conversations or promoting disordered behaviour around food. Instead, we can use sports and clubs as spaces to look out for one another and create opportunities to manage mental health positively.
Our Team UOP campaign, led by the Team UOP Exec Performance Officer Kate Robertson, raised awareness of eating disorders throughout the week, including signs to look for, how to help someone with an eating disorder, and a video from Kate sharing her own story. Check out this blog article for more information on eating disorders:
BUCS action
It’s been another busy month of BUCS action, with Nationals taking place alongside our usual fixtures.
Climbing, Swimming, Athletics, Karate and Badminton all made the journey to Sheffield to compete for Team UOP, a fantastic achievement in itself. Special congratulations to Karate, who returned home with a medal!
Gym & Tramp have also been on the road this month, competing in both Kettering and Leicester - well done to all our gymnasts for representing the university so brilliantly.
Back to league action, congratulations to Squash Men’s 1s and Badminton, who are through to their finals, and a massive well done to Netball 3s for winning their league!
Let’s hope we can round off this BUCS season on a high.
What’s coming up?
Red Week
Red Week, in support of the British Heart Foundation, is taking place from 2 - 8 March. The week will focus on education, encouraging us all to think about how we can live healthier lives while learning more about heart health. Keep an eye out for activities and ways to get involved!
Pompey Compey
Dance will be hosting their biggest competition of the year, Pompey Compey, at the Guildhall this March! It’s always an incredible event, full of energy, talent and plenty of support from across our clubs and the visiting universities!
International Women’s Day
March also brings International Women’s Day, a chance to celebrate the incredible women across Team UOP who lead, compete, coach and inspire. From our athletes and committee members to volunteers and staff, we’ll be spotlighting the people who make our sporting community stronger every day. Keep an eye on our channels as we recognise achievements, share stories and continue pushing for equality in sport.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an opportunity to recognise and value the different ways people think, learn and experience the world. Throughout the week, look out for posts exploring how we can make Team UOP an even more inclusive space, from raising awareness to sharing practical steps our clubs can take. Inclusion in sport means creating environments where everyone feels understood, supported and able to thrive.
One World Festival
One World Festival is a month-long celebration of the diversity that makes Portsmouth such a vibrant and welcoming city. With a wide range of events taking place across campus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, connect and celebrate cultures from around the world. There will be plenty of events to get involved in, so keep an eye out and make the most of what’s on offer.