The next BRIT Challenge will start on
25th January 2025 & finish on 25th March 2025
SOUTH WEST
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 South West 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 SOUTH WEST REGION-WIDE NETWORK OF STUDENTS & STAFF
BRIT have established a BRIT South West
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.
“I’m happy to support BRIT and look forward to working with university and college student and staff representatives throughout the South West on The BRIT South West Regional Steering Group. BRIT’s objectives are broader than the challenge and we hope to support and improve young adult, student and staff mental health, fitness and wellbeing, destigmatise mental health and share best practice for championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
The steering group is an opportunity to share best practice with other FE and HE institutions in the area.
I hope every university and college in the South West of England will share the opportunity for their staff and students to represent them on our BRIT Steering Group.”
Alex Issac
Head of Sport
The University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol
Chair of the BRIT South West Regional Steering Group
AIMS
The aims of the BRIT South West 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 FE 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 their region 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 South West 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 that region (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 South West 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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Association of Colleges (AoC) Area Directors.
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AMOSSHE.
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NAMSS.
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Natspec.
CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR
We are delighted that The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Cirencester College have kindly agreed to Chair and Co-Chair the BRIT South West Regional Steering Group
Alex Isaac, Head of Sport, at The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is Chair of the
BRIT South West Regional Steering Group and Jess Smith, Enrichment Lead, at Cirencester College
is the Co-Chair.
"The BRIT South West Regional Steering Group will bring together Student and Staff Representatives from every university and college in our region. Together, we will have the opportunity to share successful methods that institutions have used in the annual inclusive BRIT Challenge. By doing so, our ambition is for more teams to take part, discuss ways of engaging students and staff of all abilities throughout the South West. We want to explore ways of destigmatising mental health and share best practice for championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
BRIT Challenge are taking a proactive step forward to support young adults leading a holistic lifestyle which is imperative for everyone to gain easy access on support and guidance around mental and physical health.
It is a pleasure to support BRIT, as the Co-Chair of the BRIT South West Regional Steering Group. I look forward to working with university and college student and staff representatives throughout the South West. Our shared ambition is to grow our Steering Group and providing opportunities for students and staff to be integral to the success of the BRIT Challenge."
Jess Smith
Enrichment Lead
Cirencester College
Co-Chair of the BRIT South West Regional Steering Group
“Plymouth Marjon University are excited to support the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and Improving Lives Plymouth in March 2023. We hope that this will be the first of many years supporting BRIT and raising awareness for improving student and staff mental health, physical activity, and wellbeing.
We are looking forward to taking on the BRIT Challenge and our Senior Management, Students’ Union and BRIT steering group are all embracing the opportunity to participate and engage our staff and students in this inclusive and exciting fundraiser”.
Laurence Gully
Director of Sport & Physical Activity
Plymouth Marjon University
"Marjon Student Union are delighted to be working in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University in delivering the BRIT Challenge during March 2023, focusing on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our staff and students.
The entire SU team is ready to take part and are excited to see people from all areas of the university participate and contribute to a great cause. Hopefully March 2023 is the first of many Marjon BRIT Challenges!'
Will Mintram
President
Marjon Student Union
