For many students, sport is far more than physical activity or competition. It is a place where they find their people, build friendships and a sense of belonging. This is especially important in a university setting, where many students are living away from home and their usual support networks for the first time. At a time when loneliness and social disconnection are growing concerns for students, sport remains a powerful way to bring people together. Sport doesn’t just create better people for the present but for the future work.
BUCS, the national body for competitive university sport, found that an impressive 93.5% of students, who participated in their leagues and competitions in the 2023-24 season, agreed that being involved in sport gave them a sense of belonging within their university and its community. Not only this 85% of students reported that sport had contributed positively to their higher education experience. It is clear from not only the student testimony but also the data that sport is key to belonging in university sport. Universities are increasingly recognising that students are more likely to thrive academically when they feel connected to their peers and institution. Sport creates these connections naturally, bringing together students from different courses, backgrounds and year groups around a shared purpose and identity.
The benefits of sport, and the sense of belonging it can create, are not experienced universally. Many students from underrepresented groups continue to face systemic barriers that limit both access and their ability to fully participate in sporting communities. These barriers can be practical, such as cost, confidence, time pressures or a lack of representation, but they are also cultural. Students can encounter environments where stereotypes, exclusionary traditions, unconscious bias, or a "this is how we've always done it" mentality make them feel like outsiders rather than valued members of the community.
Every September, media coverage of university initiations, excessive drinking, hazing and poor behaviour by sports clubs serves as a reminder that sport's culture can sometimes undermine its potential as a vehicle for belonging. Stories of students being pressured into humiliating initiation ceremonies or feeling uncomfortable with club social expectations often dominate headlines across the UK, often before term even starts, creating a perception that participation in sport comes with conditions attached. For students who are already unsure whether they will fit in, these narratives can act as a powerful deterrent before they even step through the door.
This is particularly significant because student belonging relies on psychological safety as much as participation. If a student believes they will be judged, pressured to conform, or expected to engage in behaviours that conflict with their values, they are less likely to join. For students from minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled students, religious students, mature students, LGBTQ+ students, commuters, or those who simply do not identify with traditional sporting cultures, negative perceptions of club environments can reinforce existing barriers and deepen feelings of exclusion. Research behind the BUCS Anti-Racist Charter has shown that exclusion is often reproduced through culture and systems, rather than access alone.
This presents a challenge for universities and students' unions. While sport remains one of the strongest drivers of belonging on campus, it cannot be assumed that opportunity automatically translates into inclusion. The same environments that create lifelong friendships, confidence and community for some students can deter others when poor behaviours go unchecked. Building belonging therefore requires more than increasing participation numbers; it requires actively shaping club cultures that are welcoming, inclusive and reflective of the diverse student populations they serve.
We are committed at Bath to driving positive change in sporting culture, creating environments where every student feels welcome, respected and able to thrive. This means challenging behaviours and traditions that can act as barriers to participation, while actively promoting inclusivity, belonging and psychological safety across all levels of sport. We believe sport should be a place where students build confidence, find community and develop lifelong friendships, regardless of their background, identity or previous sporting experience.
By fostering positive and inclusive club cultures, we can ensure that sport remains one of the most powerful tools for connection and belonging on campus. Our ambition is not simply to increase participation, but to create sporting environments where every student feels they have a place and where diversity is recognised as a strength that enriches the experience for everyone.
We are committed at Bath to changing the narrative around university sport. Together with the University Sport Department and BUCS, we are creating cultures where inclusion is expected, respect is non-negotiable and every student feels they belong. We have seen some of the brilliant initiatives throughout our clubs over the years. Sport should be a gateway to friendship, confidence and community, not something students avoid because of concerns around culture or behaviour.
This work starts with action. As one of our first steps, we have committed to the BUCS Anti-Racist Charter, recognising that creating truly inclusive sporting environments requires us to listen, learn and challenge the barriers that prevent some students from feeling they belong. But meaningful cultural change cannot be delivered through a single campaign, policy or academic year. It is long-term work that requires commitment, accountability and collective effort across our sporting community.
Our student club committees will play a vital role in driving this change. As leaders, role models and culture-setters within their clubs, they have the power to shape the experiences of current and future students. Whether through challenging inappropriate behaviour, creating welcoming environments for new members or championing inclusive practices, our committees will be central to building the positive cultures we want to see.
Our ambition is to leave a lasting legacy of inclusive, welcoming and representative sporting communities. The culture we create today will shape whether future students see sport as a place they can truly belong. Working together, we can ensure that sport at Bath is known not just for excellence, but for the community, respect and belonging it provides to every student.
If you want to be a part of the work ongoing to improve sport culture please email me (susport@bath.ac.uk).
