Post by Freya McNicol

This year, as co-President of Collingwood College Cheerleading Club at Durham University, I had the opportunity to establish and lead an award-winning cheerleading outreach programme aimed at opening up the sport to the local community. The ambition was simple: to make a sport that is often inaccessible, due to high costs and specialist coaching, equipment and facilities, available to more young people. Drawing on my experience and qualifications gained through 7 years of gymnastics coaching, running my local gymnastics club this past year and coaching cheerleading both at Durham and Aix-Marseille University, the programme was designed to be inclusive, engaging and development-focused. Through weekly after-school sessions, the programme has allowed many students to try something new, develop skills and confidence, and become part of a supportive team environment. Over the course of the year, it has been particularly rewarding to see progress not just in athletic ability, but in teamwork, communication and self-belief. Cheer club has become a positive space where individuals feel comfortable to grow and express themselves. The initiative has also created opportunities for older students to get involved, supporting sessions and developing their own leadership and coaching skills, working alongside the school’s sports leadership programme. I could not be more proud of all the students involved and their growth that I have witnessed over this past year. There have been some great moments along the way, from a Christmas showcase for family, friends and staff, to performing at the Collingwood C5 football tournament in front of a much larger audience. For many of the students, these experiences marked a real step forward in confidence and performance, while also giving them a chance to engage with the university environment and think about future education pathways. The programme was recognised this year by both Collingwood College and Durham University. I’m proud to say that I received Collingwood College, Durham University Outreach Award and Durham University Volunteering and Outreach New Initiative of the Year Award for the creation and running of this project! While this recognition is fantastic, the real impact is reflected in the confidence, enthusiasm and sense of belonging that has grown among the students involved. A big thank you to Flora Kanan, Comfort Wallis and Rose O'Brien for their support in delivering sessions throughout the year, and to Sudhamshu Patrayani for his unwavering support in all of my crazy outreach ideas and making the programme possible. With strong foundations now in place, I leave safe in the knowledge that there is a framework in place for others to continue building and extending the reach of the programme in years ahead, which I sincerely hope they do.