Between now and 16th May 2021 (the last day of Mental Health Awareness Week), universities, colleges and student unions will be registering for our BRIT 2021 Challenge and uniting in support of young adult mental health. Teams have until the 1st July 2021* to complete their BRIT 2021 Challenge
*(we have extended the challenge due to COVID-19 restrictions and at the request of UK universities and colleges).
Universities and colleges have shared advice on some of the best ways to embrace the BRIT 2021 Challenge and bring their whole university or college together to fundraise, engaging their students, and staff, and raise positive awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
Two of our BRIT Challenges enabled us to tour the UK over a combined 18 month period and visit over 400
universities, colleges and institutions. We gained valuable knowledge and experience from students and staff of the many ways that universities, colleges and student unions support charities and embrace challenges.
We saw that each university, college and student union has a wealth of energy and determination when fundraising for charities and their alumni, philanthropic networks and professional resources often compliment the great ideas, activities, enthusiasm and team-spirit of their student bodies. Our BRIT Challenges are designed to unite the goodwill of every UK university, college and student union and invite them to have a collectively powerful impact.
Advice from universities and colleges has enabled us to design the BRIT 2021 Challenge and ensure it is flexible for every university, college and student union so they can make their unique contribution as successful as possible in supporting young adult mental health.
A whole university or college approach to mental health has been the most successful way to increase participation and raise funds.
TEAM SUCCESSES
The BRIT 2021 Challenge will finish on the 1st July 2021 (we have extended the challenge due to COVID-19 restrictions and at the request of UK universities and colleges). This gives every university, college and student union time to register, promote their event, set their fundraising target and decide how their team(s) will complete their 2,021 miles.
Here are three tips when taking on your BRIT 2021 Challenge;
TIPS FOR TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE
TAKING ON THE
CHALLENGE
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, we know universities, colleges and student unions are finding creative ways to engage students and staff who are working remotely. We have designed the BRIT 2021 Challenge for organisations and teams to participate in their own unique way and unite in support of young adult mental health.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge is designed to be completed by individuals working as a team to cover the 2021 mile distance by either hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).
Our aspiration is for as many students, and staff, as possible to be encouraged to join their university or college team. The bigger the team, the more funds will be raised for our partner mental health charities.
Bringing together a BRIT 2021 Challenge Coordination Group was an approach used by many universities and colleges on our previous, UK-wide, BRIT 2020 Row Britannia Challenge to ensure that students and staff were integral to organising their event and there was engagement across the whole institution to promote student and staff participation.
Here are the Brand Assets to enable you to set up your BRIT 2021 Challenge campaign.
UNITE AS A TEAM
1
Team Participation - One team or multiple teams
Some universities and colleges will adopt a one team approach to taking on the BRIT 2021 Challenge, whereas others may wish to enter multiple teams. This flexibility and choice enables different campuses, colleges and departments or student union sport teams, clubs, societies and groups to enter their own teams.
2
Reaching your
2,021 mile
target
Our aspiration is for as many students, and staff, as possible to be encouraged to take part as a team to improve their mental health and fitness. Students and staff can complete as many miles as they want to, on campus or at home, and send images of their activity, and distance reached, on social media or by the university, college or SU offering an App or website page.
3
Reaching your fundraising
target
Every university and college has the flexibility to set its own fundraising target. If every UK university and college raised £2,021, together they would raise almost £1million for young adult mental heath. The more students, and staff, taking part, the greater awareness and funds will be raised. We hope students and staff will raise as much as they can.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge encourages as many students, and staff, to take part and unite in support of young adult mental health.
Larger universities and colleges may wish to enter more than one team to involve as many students, and staff, as possible. Smaller universities and colleges may wish to enter just one team to complete their 2,021 mile target.
Examples of how universities and colleges plan to reach their distance targets are;
-
One student or staff member completing one mile each for their team - encouraging 2,021 students and staff to take part
-
The SU challenging their university or college staff to reach their own 2,021 mile target
-
Dividing the 2,021 miles between campuses, colleges or departments
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Student Sports Clubs or Societies sharing the miles to encourage wide participation (swimming club taking 100 miles, netball team taking 100 miles etc.)
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Promoting Inclusivity and Adaptive Sports (hand-cycling, adaptive rowing and wheelchair accessibility)
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Encouraging students and staff to send images of their hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding) activity and miles completed on Instagram or Twitter to raise awareness
Each university and college can decide on a how many teams take part, however if all 450 HE and FE institutions encouraged 2,021 students and staff to take part, raised a minimum of £2,021 each throughout the UK, together we would raise almost £1millon for young adult mental health.
REACHING YOUR 2,021 MILE TARGET
Any number of teams can take part in the BRIT 2021 Challenge and the bigger the team, the more funds are likely to be raised for our partner mental health charities.
From experience, we know that some universities and colleges will decide to enter one team for the whole organisation, whereas others may decide to enter multiple teams for each campus, department or SU sports team, club or society.
Universities and colleges have advised us that if more than one team takes part, it is less confusing if everyone uses one central Virgin Money Giving Page for fundraising (so the same link is used on websites & social media).
TEAM PARTICIPATION
All funds raised through Virgin Money Giving pages will be shared equally between;
-
Nightline
-
PAPYRUS - Prevention of Young Suicide
-
Student Minds
-
The British Inspiration Trust
-
The Charlie Waller Trust
Here are some examples of how universities and colleges plan to reach their fundraising targets;
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Every student and staff member completes one mile and raises £1
-
Approaching their varsity competitors to challenge them to see who can raise the most
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Engaging their alumni to donate and support their fundraising target
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Asking local businesses and corporations to match what they raise
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The SU challenging the university/college staff and they raise £2,021 together or £2,021 separately (£4,042)
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Asking their VC or College Principal to encourage business partners or sponsors to donate or match fund
Each university and college can decide on a fundraising target, however if all 450 HE and FE institutions raised a minimum of £2021 each throughout the UK, together we would raise almost £1m for young adult mental health.
Once your university, college or student union has registered and Virgin Money Giving has emailed your Team Coordinator with your Team's Fundraising Page, the link can be shared as part of your fundraising campaign;
REACH YOUR FUNDRAISING TARGET
Below are a few examples of BRIT Challenge successes;