Thursday 03-04-2025 - 15:23

The majority of students’ unions (SUs) and some universities in the UK facilitate a variety of outdoor pursuits activities through student groups (sports clubs and societies). It is likely that 1000+ student led outdoor pursuits groups operate across the UK. 

In our experience, Students’ Unions are committed to H&S and practice is largely consistent and generally ‘good’, however:

• Students will be exposed to avoidable harms if safe practice is not delivered
• There isn’t a sector wide  understanding or definition of what ‘good’ practice actually is and whether this aligns with standards set by NGBs
• There isn’t sector wide recording of accidents and near misses, meaning we may not recognise areas of concern
• Lack of sufficient research or guidance makes it hard to know if practice is incidentally or intentionally good across SUs. Staff may find it difficult to know their blindspots. Conversely Some SUs may excessively limit activity or overly control through fear of health and safety issues
• The breadth of activity types is large and new activities emerge regularly. SU staff report that they would value additional guidance when dealing with high risk activity
• Different activities will have different specific requirements, but a common approach can underpin good practice
• Students’ unions are facing similar issues and concerns but largely work individually, rather than collectively. This inefficient practice could be avoided through a collective approach 
• The benefits of outdoor activity and student groups are widely recognised.  Proactive work will protect the ability of  SUs to continue supporting diverse, exciting opportunities with their students 

Proposal 

A sector-wide consultancy programme sponsored by NUS Charity and Howden in collaboration with students’ unions and delivered by Organised Fun. 

We will: 

• Form and administrate a Steering Group to bring experts and interested parties together 
• Understand how many outdoor pursuits incidents (near misses and actuals) occur in SUs annually and identify themes and common challenges 
• Identify risks and liability implications for SUs and for student group leaders relating to student-led outdoor pursuits 
• Conduct research with student leaders and student members to consider student understanding of risk management for their groups 
• Review existing practice within SUs regarding management of health and safety of outdoor pursuits. Compare this with standards set by NGBs/relevant bodies 
• Create a minimum standards guide for outdoor pursuits in students’ unions based on findings from the current practice review and understanding of safe practice from NGBs and outdoor pursuits experts 

 

Potential subsequent activities: 

• Create a review mechanism tool for SUs to evaluate their systems against the minimum standards 
• Create training for SUs to better understand the standards
• Embed the minimum standards approach within NUS Quality Students’ Unions accreditation scheme, or scope a stand alone accreditation scheme

 

Key benefits for SU steering group members

1. Leading and shaping a collective approach to SU health and safety, recognising the nuances and approaches for your SU  
2. Working with consultants and specialists to develop safer practice for student group activity, developing your team’s understanding of requirements. Learning from other SUs that could help identify risks earlier.
3. Greater confidence for SU staff team. Assurance and guidance for SU Trustees.

 

Timeline

April - May

• Agree programme outline (all involved organisations and Dawn’s representatives) 
• Engage a core group of funding SUs in the programme
• Identify potential outdoor pursuits ‘expert’ to join the project or the group
• Map relevant NGBs/bodies
• Steering Group 1 (SG1)
• Terms of reference and Chair
• Membership
• Scope and objectives 

 

June - July 

• Complete programme planning based on SG1
• Reporting on risks and liabilities - NGBs/bodies guidance, SU current practice 
• Steering Group 2 

 

August - September 

• Collate incident data from SUs 
• Interview SUs to understand approaches to risk management 
• Membership Services conference session to engage more SUs and a workshop to explore SU practice vs emerging minimum standards
• Steering Group 3

 

October - November

• Design student engagement surveys 
• Evaluate NGB standards against current SU practice 
• Strategic Conversation conference session - findings, risks and laying the ground work for roll out
• Steering Group 4 

 

December - January 

• Write up findings 
• Steering Group 5 
• Presentation and discussion of findings 
• Agree next steps to support sector roll out and take up
• Scope options for ongoing NUS hosted community of practice around H&S including,  options for ongoing sector incident reporting

 

Investment

Participating SUs are asked for a contribution of £3,000 (+VAT) to engage with the programme. 

 

How to get involved

If this sounds like something your SU could benefit from and you want to be part of an important project to standardise safety procedures for outdoor pursuits across the UK, you can come along to one of our upcoming calls to talk about the programme and how to get involved. 

• Join call on Thursday 10 April, 9am
• Join call on Tuesday 15 April, 4pm
• Contact Rosie from Organised Fun with any questions.