Eildh Doyle is a University of Edinburgh alumna and Global Ambassador for Sport. She is also Scotland’s most decorated athlete.
In this message to alumni, she explains the transformational effect that participating in sport can have on our students, and why supporting sports clubs is crucial in ensuring they continue to play an important role in university life.
What did you love about the University of Edinburgh? Perhaps it was feeling of being part of a world-renowned, ancient university. Or living and experiencing everything the city of Edinburgh has to offer.
I bet being part of a sports team comes fairly high on your list.
The friendships you made with your teammates, the opportunities you had to travel and compete against other top universities, the anticipation and excitement of the matches, the games, the meets. And of course, the socials!
Your university runs the largest intramural sports programme in Scotland and has 71 sports clubs made up of more than 200 teams. Sport is within the lifeblood of the University. Many of our sports clubs are founding members of the national governing bodies of sport, and we boast a long, proud and distinguished heritage of medal success at the highest level, including Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.
Will you consider making a gift to our sports clubs today? Your generosity and support will help give the opportunity to experience all the rewards of student sport for current students and future generations.
Students like Lauren. Lauren has a bright future ahead of her. She is currently a member of the Sports Union Executive Committee in Partnerships and Alumni, studying Law in her final year. She plays shinty, and has been playing in the University squad since her first year. Her involvement with the sport started on a cold and windy day in St Andrews. Despite conceding an early goal, the team went on to win 7-1 and this paved the way for a very positive first year at university.
Growing up in New Zealand, Lauren had the opportunity to try lots of sports at school. She tried competitive sport on the ski slopes and found this clashed with almost every other sport she tried. Towards the end of secondary school, she tried Dragon Boating. This experience of ‘doing something for fun’ has shaped her attitude to sport for the rest of her life.
Playing for the shinty team during COVID exposed her to the administrative side of sport. She wanted to support ‘this very lovely team of people who support you unconditionally’ to succeed. In her second year she was appointed as Secretary of the club as well as well as President. Having a female President and Secretary was transformative for the sport .
Lauren is thriving at university. Alongside playing for the university team and a local shinty team, she also works with a charity called Active Schools to help develop Edinburgh’s first youth women’s club.
The impact of volunteering is not lost on Lauren. In fact, it is because of her volunteering at the Sports Union, Lauren is able to hear so many great stories about sport at the University of Edinburgh.
“In my alumni capacity I’m collecting testimonials for club anniversaries. It’s so uplifting to see emails that say ‘I took up volleyball at university because I wanted to try something new’ and I can feel the impact 40 or even 50 years later.”
One of the things that surprised Lauren the most when collecting testimonials was the range of sporting backgrounds. Edinburgh has a well-established and highly successful performance sport programme. She’d expected those involved at this higher level to be the majority or testimonials. That was not the case. Most were from those who just wanted to try something new.
Trying something new is important to Lauren and our alumni. But we’ve seen time and time again that giving the opportunity to try something new is also important to our current students.
Since COVID restrictions were lifted a few years ago, the Intramural sporting programme has grown continuously. Students realised the impact that sport had on their health and well-being. Demand for sports has soared. Nearly 2,000 students are now involved in Intramural sport and this having an impact on your Sports Clubs.
“BUCs fees have gone up 13% this year just to compete…green fees for the Golf Club went up astronomically midway through the year…transport to games is becoming more challenging for clubs to fund through membership fees…the last thing you want to do is pass those costs on to students and deter them from getting involved in sport”
Thankfully, in her role in the executive committee, Lauren has been working hard with the Alumni Association 1866 Fund so that sports clubs can access funding that can help subsidise these increasing costs.
The Alumni Association 1866 Fund also aims to empower clubs with resources to kickstart transformative projects like buying essential equipment, upgrading facilities, and providing specialized training.
Additionally, the Alumni Association 1866 Fund pays extra attention to how well clubs engage alumni, manage their funds fairly and enhance their online presence. This approach not only elevates the sporting life at the university but also strengthens bonds within the alumni community, creating a vibrant legacy for future generations.
Will you help your club succeed? Even a small donation can make a huge difference for your club.
Take wakeboarding, for example. Wakeboard is a small club at the university that were able to take their entire membership to a week-long specialised training session at Hillend. They were able to do so thanks to one donor who gives £5 each month.
I’m grateful that we have dedicated and hard-working students like Lauren, continuously looking to improve the experience for her fellow students in sport. But Lauren, and the University of Edinburgh, can only do this with your support. Will you help with a donation today to <club>?
When asked about a moment that encapsulated her time involved with sport at Edinburgh, Lauren reminisced.
“Seeing my name on the Blues and Colours gallery was a special moment for me in 2023. It was very nice to see that most of the people in those walls are people who engage because they care about it and want to make an impact…it’s nice to be part of a big cohort that share the same values as you.”
I know first-hand how important accessing an education and having the opportunity to participate in sport at the University of Edinburgh is. I look back on my years at Edinburgh as some of the best of my life, and the most formative.
To succeed at the highest level in sport, you need a support network around you. Family who are there every step of the way. Coaches who are dedicated to your continuing development. Friends who will stand by you, no matter how many parties you miss for your matches, games or meets.
You also need a group of alumni cheering you on from across the world. Alumni who have invested in you, your club and your future.
Will you join fellow alumni and cheer students like Lauren on? Will you help more students by donating to the 1866 Fund today? A gift will help students realise their dream of continuing on their sporting path while studying at a world-class university.
Sport continues to play a large and important role in the lives of our students here in Edinburgh. I hope today you will invest in your club and their future.
You can make a gift today by clicking the button below to go to our online donation portal (excluding USA).
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