Alumni donations supporting accessible sports equipment for students

For ten years, the Alumni Impact Fund has played a pivotal role in funding inspiring and innovative projects that have a positive impact across the student experience and wider community.

This year, as part of the University’s 125^th anniversary, the Fund received a record-breaking 125 applications, of which 59 were funded, ranging from sports club initiatives, medical outreach activities and even the production of a 125 year commemorative film by the UoB Filmmaking Society.

With help from this fund, the University of Birmingham Archery Club (UBAC) has been able to expand their equipment and purchased entry-level accessible equipment to accommodate new, novice members as well as equipment that would enable disabled students to take part. This included new lightweight bows and compounds, release aids, sit stools and all the bits and pieces needed to get started in archery.

Tamara, UBAC Inclusion Officer shares how the funding has made a difference:

‘As a club, it has allowed us to be more accommodating with our intake, as we're now better equipped to provide for different levels of ability. We hope to continue branching out into this as we look into more ways to provide an inclusive atmosphere. We want to empower all archers to shoot with confidence at UBAC, regardless of any disability.

'Not only has the equipment allowed us to expand our cohort of archers, but we are also able to support our current archers when faced with unforeseen injuries, such as broken bones or back problems. Earlier this year, a few of our performance archers suffered injuries that otherwise would have set them back in their training by weeks or months. However, thanks to our new release aids and sit stools, we were able to accommodate their injuries and rehabilitate them through the sport without discouraging their performance.

‘From my own personal experience starting with UBAC this academic year, I had some reservations about how I could progress or even enjoy shooting while suffering from chronic illness (fibromyalgia), which leaves my muscles more fatigued and can cause big gaps in my energy levels. This means that each day is different from the last, and something I may have been able to do one week, I may no longer manage to do the week after.

‘However, after expressing my fears to the UBAC committee, I was delighted to hear that these issues could be accommodated and I need not worry. I was kitted out with one of our new carbon fiber bows upon arrival and the ability to lower my poundage at my own discretion (to make the bow lighter and easier to handle) filled me with confidence for my progression, knowing that there was no immediate need to buy my own equipment out of fear of not being accommodated.

‘In addition to this, I was given the opportunity to train with a sit stool, on days when my legs are weaker and I would have otherwise missed out on training. This was brilliant as it made me more confident in branching out and joining our performance team, as I knew that come competition day, if I were to have a fibromyalgia flare-up, I could rely on this equipment to continue to shoot as normal.

‘This level of accommodation provided by UBAC is what eventually pushed me to apply for the role of Inclusion Officer in December last year, as I wanted to give back to the club as well as help others who might struggle like me. I have big plans for UBAC's future in helping create more happy stories like mine, and it's all thanks to the difference the alumni funding has made!’

We are grateful to all our alumni and friends who have supported students through the Alumni Impact Fund.

Read about more of the projects being supported by alumni donations.