The next BRIT Challenge will start on
25th January 2025 & finish on 25th March 2025
SCOTLAND
STEERING GROUP
By respecting and embracing existing mental health support and services, BRIT will work closely with universities, colleges, Students’ Unions, governing bodies and charities throughout the UK to facilitate a collaborative and proactive student, and staff, network.
Together, we will share best practice, provide opportunities to champion innovative mental health strategies and discuss ways to improve mental health provision both regionally and nationally.
The BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group will;
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Provide a forum for students and staff to share both their activity and fundraising successes when taking on the BRIT Challenge
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Enable the annual BRIT Challenge to act as a catalyst to involve the student body in meaningful mental health promotion throughout our feel-good fundraiser and the year ahead
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Establish a student network that can share best practice of university and college mental health provision and support
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Facilitate a collaborative fellowship of students and staff that can direct a cohesive approach to supporting and improving young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK.
A SCOTLAND-WIDE NETWORK OF STUDENTS & STAFF
BRIT have established a BRIT Scotland
Regional Steering Group.
BRIT Regional Steering Groups enable student, and staff, volunteers to represent every UK university and college, be integral to our vision, and both steer and guide our charity.
We want to ensure students, and staff, are at the heart of BRIT and will provide opportunities to join our BRIT Trustees’ Board and Chair, Co-Chair and Deputy Chair our 10 BRIT Regional Steering Groups.
“The University of St Andrews has supported British Inspiration Trust events and campaigns since 2012 and we are proud to partner with an organisation that espouses increased awareness of young adult mental health.
Saints Sport are pleased to be supporting BRIT to establish a Scotland Regional Steering Group for 2022/23 and I am delighted to be representing the University as Co-Chair.
Through the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group we hope to bring together Student and Staff Representatives from universities and colleges across Scotland. Together, we will have the opportunity to share successful ways institutions have taken on the annual inclusive BRIT Challenge, whilst using the group as a platform for exploring ways of destigmatising mental health and sharing best practice for championing equality, diversity, and inclusion."
Duncan Caithness
Assistant Director (Sports Developement)
Saints Sport
University of St Andrews
Interim Chair of the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group
AIMS
The aims of the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group are to;
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Promote the annual BRIT Challenge to ensure that every university, college and Students’ Union have the opportunity to enter teams each year and encourage student and staff participation
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Encourage every university and college team to choose a second charity to fundraise for, alongside BRIT, in order to support local, regional and national charities
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Champion disability inclusion and invite students and staff of all abilities to take part
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Embrace the BRIT Challenge as a catalyst for promoting student services, mental health charities and support available to students and staff
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Reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by welcoming BRIT Ambassadors who will share their lived experience in order to encourage, enthuse, inspire and thank students and staff who participate in the BRIT Challenge
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Ask universities in each region to use their regional network to encourage and invite colleges to enter teams in the annual BRIT Challenge
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Encourage universities and colleges in each region to use their regional network to invite independent colleges and institutions who support students with disabilities and Special Needs to enter teams in the annual BRIT Challenge
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Conduct meaningful discussion in order to identify and proactively champion innovative and successful mental health strategies that can be shared across Scotland and feed into an annual BRIT national forum to promote positive action around young adult and student mental health and fitness.
COORDINATION
A university and college have been asked to Chair and Co-Chair the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group that will comprise of;
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Chair – Member of staff from a university (a 3-year tenure)
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Co-Chair - Member of staff from a college (a 3-year tenure)
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Deputy Chair - Student Opportunity (a 1, 2 or 3-year tenure)
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Representatives from every university and college in Scotland (minimum of a 1-year tenure).
COMPOSITION
The BRIT Founder and Non-Paid CEO will work closely with the Chair and Co-Chair on a strategy to promote the invitation for students and staff from every university and college to join the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group.
In addition to BRIT Ambassadors being invited to deliver inspirational talks, we hope to secure long-term support from;
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Regional university and college (staff or student) mental health, wellbeing or sport networks.
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BRIT’s existing network of university or college staff (and students).
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Universities Scotland (Universities UK).
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Colleges Scotland.
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Scottish Student Sport.
CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR
We are delighted that The University of St Andrews and
West Highland College UHI have kindly agreed to Chair and Co-Chair the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group
Duncan Caithness, Assistant Director (Sports Development) at the University of St Andrews is Interim Chair of the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group and Fiona Grant, Director of Academic Affairs, at West Highland College UHI is the Co-Chair.
“Having supported the work of BRIT, and embraced the BRIT Challenge at UHI West Highland, for a number of years now, I am looking forward to reaching further with this great initiative. I am delighted to Co-Chair the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group to support and improve young adult, student and staff mental health, wellbeing and fitness throughout Scotland.
There has been a deeply concerning increase in students and staff living with mental health and wellbeing challenges throughout Scotland. This was apparent pre-pandemic, however it is clear that over recent years existing mental health difficulties have been compounded by long periods of isolation, loneliness and the inability to socialise, participate in team activities and enjoy the positive experiences of school, college and university life.
The BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group will provide an exciting and innovative opportunity for students and staff to come together across Scotland and share exciting ways that our institutions are taking on the annual BRIT Challenge, explore how we can engage students and staff of all abilities, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion.
With the support from Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland and Scottish Student Sport, I look forward to encouraging student and staff representatives from every Scottish university and college to join our Regional Steering Group and build a collaborative network to ensure the annual BRIT Challenge is embraced at every institution to improve and support our students and staff”.
Fiona Grant
Director of Academic Affairs
West Highland College UHI
Co-Chair of the BRIT Scotland Regional Steering Group
“What a great opportunity for us, Edinburgh Napier, to show our support for the BRIT Challenge. BRIT works with young people, looking after their mental health and wellbeing and when you are leading an organisation, it is so crucial for our staff and for our students to feel healthy, to feel positive, to have good mental health because that’s the way we do our best work.
We’ve got 19 teams who are taking part in the BRIT Challenge and it’s a great opportunity for us to go out and walk, cycle, swim – whatever it is the exercise that you do. We’ve got a tremendously ambitious target of achieving 23,000 miles, collectively, over eight weeks so I’ll be out their every evening because I normally am walking and hoping that colleagues across the University and all our students are out there doing the same.”
Professor Andrea Nolan OBE FRSE MRCVS
Principal
Edinburgh Napier University
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Edinburgh Napier for this year’s BRIT Challenge. The BRIT Challenge is a national challenge and our sports clubs and societies are participating in it. The whole idea behind our involvement with the BRIT Challenge it to really ensure that people can look after themselves, especially considering that mental wellbeing is a critical conversation ongoing around the world. We think it is very advisable for students to participate in outdoor activities, participate in physical activities and exercises to help your mind and thinking and your wellbeing.
We’d love for students to come along and be a part of this.”
Olumuyiwa Opaleye
Edinburgh University Students' Association (ENSA) President for Societies and Communities
“Ayrshire College is delighted to be supporting BRIT and will continue to promote the healthy minds of our staff and students through a range of inclusive activities in 2023.”
Angela Cox
Principal and Chief Executive
Ayrshire College
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“We are thrilled to be taking part this year in BRIT Challenge. As a Students’ Association that represents students across Scotland, we know that it’s important to work with organisations that want to improve mental health and fitness in Students and Young People.
Given the unique geographical context of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association, our students face a challenge with regards to isolation, lack of resources, and the sense of belonging. By taking part in BRIT Challenge, we hope to bring the issues affecting our students’ wellbeing to light while also engaging our students in activities that help to decrease stress and loneliness.
Our BRIT Challenge asks students to complete activities and share those moments with us and others through social media. We are taking a holistic approach to wellbeing by offering activities for the body, the mind, and the community. Activities include going on a nature walk, joining our student officers for a litter pick-up, helping a neighbour, and many more to suit our varied student body. HISA encourages students and staff to take a moment to focus on their wellbeing and share how these activities improve their mental health.
By sharing the aims of BRIT Challenge, we hope to open up a wider conversation about student mental health, community support, and the issues affecting a very diverse and unique student population. The shared purpose of the BRIT Challenge helps our students connect to a larger community. That’s why we’re taking part."
Dr. Emma Rose Miller
Community Engagement Manager (She/Her)
Highlands and Islands Students' Association (HISA)
Comann Oileanaich na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean
"The sport community at Edinburgh is delighted to be taking part in the BRIT Challenge again this year. It's a fantastic chance for us to unite and support young adult and student mental health."
Heather Gault
Edinburgh University Sports Union President 2022/23
Example of a University BRIT Challenge Briefing Sheet
We are sincerely grateful to Steven Guthrie, Head of Communications, Marketing and Membership at the University of Edinburgh Sport & Exercise, for kindly sharing their University Briefing Sheet as an example of how the University of Edinburgh are taking on the BRIT Challenge and running a "Challenge 23" campaign.
The University of Edinburgh message to their students and staff is;
Unite with your University Community in aid of the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and SAMH, Scotland's national mental health charity.
On Thursday 9th March (University Mental Health Day), we're inviting students, staff and the wider community to join us and take part in our "Challenge 23".
You could be active for 23 minutes, complete 23 exercises, be active for 23 minutes past the hour, be active with 23 friends, be active 23 times in one day, the possibilities are endless.
To find out more about their Challenge 23 activity, the University of Edinburgh built a dedicated landing page.
“The whole of the University of Edinburgh Community are united in our support for the BRIT Challenge. We are thrilled to be taking part again this to help and encourage our student, staff and wider community to stay active”.
Steven Guthrie
Head of Communications, Marketing and Membership
University of Edinburgh Sport & Exercise
In 2023, UHI West Highland College, UHI North Highland College and UHI Outer Hebrides College united to take on the BRIT Challenge. 26 teams took part and, over 306 hours, they completed 6163 miles and 85 Acts of Kindness within the Highlands and Islands Community.
“I loved being involved in the BRIT challenge again, it’s inspiring to see us come together to work on a common goal for such a good cause…hopefully a sign of things to come once merger’s finalised.
From my experience, the BRIT Challenge has not just encouraged me to keep up with what I’m doing but it also made me try new things. I spend a lot more time outdoors than I would usually do in those last cold dark winter months! It was also great to see everyone coming together as a team working towards one goal, motivating each other.”
Fiona Grant
Director of Academic Affairs
West Highland College UHI
