UoM Sport response to national lockdown measures

06 Jan 2021

Update on how new measures will affect UoM Sport programmes

As of Tuesday, 5 January, with the exception of pre-defined elite athlete support, all face-to-face sport activities and facilities will be closed. The below details what this means for each programme as well as highlighting ways you can remain active over this period.

The health and wellbeing of students and staff is our highest priority at UoM Sport and we will again be doing everything we can to provide a range of virtual activities, individual and team challenges as well as ways to inspire you to keep active over during this period. A dedicated webpage with information on how you can stay #ActiveAnywhere is available here and please keep an eye out on our @UoMSport social media channels for more information as its released.

Gym and facilities

The Armitage, Sugden and Manchester Aquatics Centres will all be closed from Tuesday, 5 January and will only reopen when government guidance allows. Throughout the closure we will be providing virtual fitness classes and sessions, please visit our website to views these and book your place. All memberships will be extended for the period of closure (Armitage Sports Centre). Further enquires can be directed via email to armitagecentre@manchester.ac.uk 

AU Sport Clubs

All AU sport club activity will be paused including training and competition. This is applicable for all clubs whether they train on UoM facilities or externally. Online virtual club activity can continue and we will be looking to provide some compliant challenges and other opportunities for clubs to engage with virtually in the weeks ahead.

Sporticipate

Face-to-face Sporticipate sessions will continue to be paused. However there are a range of online sessions already planned that you can take part in throughout the year. To view these and book please visits the Sporticipate section of our website.

Running Groups

Running groups unfortunately will be paused but UMRUN will be operating remotely during lock down. the running groups will be connecting online for a chat and run together via the wonder of zoom. These sessions are hosted by one of our LiRF trained leaders and are suitable for all abilities – you should book if you want to join a session.
Additionally Rundezvous is now going virtual – from Thursday, 28 January and on the last Thursday of each month we will be meeting on Zoom to chat and also have a running-related piece from an inspirational person / professional. Sign up to get the link to these sessions.

Campus Leagues

All campus league activity will be stopped and we will be reviewing plans on whether fixtures can be facilitated later in the year depending on guidance. Online virtual activity can continue and we will be looking to provide some challenges and other opportunities for teams to engage with virtually in the weeks ahead.

Be Active

The eight week face-to-face Be Active classes at the Wellbeing rooms, Simon Building will no longer be able to take place this term. In the interim we still have plenty of Zoom Fitness classes running.

Volunteering and Workforce Development

Unfortunately, we are now not able to offer any in person volunteering as part of the Sports Volunteer Scheme (SVS) until further notice.
For those who are registered as Sport Leaders (AU Committee members, Sporticipate leaders etc), we are using this time to support you through any qualifications where courses and training can be completed online. See the ‘online NGB training’ section under ‘Volunteering’ on our website to see what’s currently available. New courses are being made available in the New Year so feel free to search your sport if it is not included here.

If you would like to complete some virtual volunteering during this time there are opportunities available through the UoM Volunteer Hub which we encourage you to consider.

Also, please make sure on your SVS profile that you have chosen ‘OPT IN’ to receive information and also sign up to our Facebook page (SVS Manchester) to keep up to date with developments and opportunities.

Physio Clinic

Sport Physiotherapy bookings will still be available to treat those with a medical need although booking times will be reduced. The opening times for the clinic will be promoted in due course.

If you have any questions, or suggestions with regards to what you would like us to provide please email sport@manchester.ac.uk.

We look forward to keeping you active online and welcoming you back later in the year. #PurpleAndProud