Joining a sport or group is a fantastic way to make the most of your time at university. If you aren’t already thinking about joining a society at Cumbria, here are five reasons why you should!
It’s good for your wellbeing
If you’ll be living away from home for the first time, this new freedom can mean healthy eating and exercise go out of the window, even if it’s only for a short time while you settle in. Joining an active society or sports team is a great way to stay fit and focus on your wellbeing. At Cumbria, we have everything from badminton and bushcraft to netball, rugby and more. For more information, view the groups at UCSU.
You’ll enjoy a sense of belonging
If you are moving away from home and living in halls, it’s natural to experience some homesickness at the start. But go easy on yourself – you’re in a new place with new people, so it’s going to take time to get used to your surroundings. Joining a sport, group or society can help you find people with the same passions, beliefs or cultural background as you, making you feel more at home.
Having a shared interest can be a good conversation starter too, especially if you find talking to new people a little nerve-wracking.
There are benefits for your mental health
There’s nothing wrong with being dedicated to your studies, but to protect your mental health, you need to have some downtime too! One of the best ways to give your mind a rest is to do an activity that you enjoy in your spare time.
Don’t worry if you’re not into sports – it doesn't have to mean training every day at the gym or running marathons. Something as simple as walking to campus each day or meeting up with friends in the park is a great alternative.
You have the chance to develop key skills
University is the perfect time to try out something new, so if there is a society, sport or group that interests you, there’s no harm in going along to a taster session. Even if you decide it’s not the right fit, at least you can say you gave it a go!
Practising and striving to improve teaches you about perseverance too, an invaluable skill to have when you graduate. There are more benefits to learning a new skill or hobby, including boosting your concentration and improving your mood.
At Cumbria, you have access to a wide range of sports facilities and clubs across our campuses, providing you with lots of opportunities beyond your course.
It could boost your career prospects
One of the less obvious benefits to being a member of a group or society is the impact it can have on your career and job prospects.
Interviewers are usually looking for you to demonstrate key skills like organisation and time management, so if you can tell them that you participated in a society alongside your course, this could help you stand out among other candidates.
But the benefits go further than this – each society or group will have a team of people running it, and you can usually apply to join the committee in your second or third year. Taking on the role of president, social secretary or treasurer can help you develop skills in areas like leadership and teamwork.
Can’t find a sport, club or society at Cumbria that interests you?
Then the good news is that we can support you in setting up your own student group, providing training in areas like finance and risk management to ensure you have all the skills you need to run your own society or sports team.
There are also volunteering opportunities that you can explore, which can help you make new friends, apply the learning from your course and enhance your professional profile.
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