MDX project helping struggling students explore great outdoors wins top award

22 November 2024

Around 150 students have enjoyed trips to places such as the Brecon Beacons and many conquered the ultimate Three Peaks Challenge

A Middlesex University initiative which gives students struggling to integrate at university the chance to explore the UK’s great outdoors with exciting recreational activities has won a prestigious industry award.

MDX’s Sport & Recreation Service won the ‘Project of the Year’ at the European Network of Academic Sports (ENAS) ceremony hosted by Ulster University at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast, amid stiff competition from 6 universities from across Europe.

So far around 150 students have enjoyed various fantastic trips through the adventure series including mountain biking at the Bike Park Wales in the Brecon Beacons, a visit to the surfing centre called the Wave in Bristol and expeditions to scenic places in the British countryside such as Chiltern Hills, Box Hill and Seven Sisters. Many students also took part in the ultimate Three Peaks Challenge, scaling Britain’s three highest mountains namely Scaffell Peak, Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

(Presenter, MDX Fitness Pod staff member Kessi Rowlands) The Sports and Recreation Service at Middlesex University works closely through partnerships with our counsellor and accommodation teams to identify students who may be struggling with university life. Students who may be finding it hard to socialise who may be struggling with their mental health or other issues which may be impacting their life or preventing them from experiencing the possibilities that university life has to offer for expansion and growth.

Through our adventure series, these students get to explore the UK’s great outdoors – an opportunity that many wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see.

These activities work with small groups of like minded students who may be facing similar issues, bringing them together and enabling them to form bonds and friendships.

These activities contribute to one’s own overwhelming sense of accomplishment and achievement through pushing their own personal boundaries and through conquering something like the Three Peaks Challenge., climbing the three highest peaks in the UK within three days.

We have found that many of the students have formed lasting friendships engaging in social activities, and have gone onto to tackle more adventures in the adventure series, opening their eyes to the possibilities that uni life has to offer from a program of outdoor adventures.

Through building these relationships and being part of a thriving community we hope to enable students to complete their degrees, reduce withdrawals from study programmes and graduating with far more than just their qualification. So here are a few examples of what our students have to say.

Hi I’m Charles Barakat and study photography at Middlesex University. And I recently attended then mountain biking and surfing trip. Mountain biking is something new to me, I’ve never done it.

In all honesty, I haven’t ridden a bike in maybe a year. But honestly it was probably one of the more exciting experiences I’ve ever had.

Surfing, as well, I’ve never done surfing. It was really fun to learn. I had a great time.

Besides from the trip being mountain biking and surfing, I met an array of amazing people with similar interests and I had experiences with them that you don’t usually get in any normal circumstances or special situations.

I’m not a particularly social person but this trip really brought me out my shell and I’m looking forward to experiencing more trips that Middlesex has to offer.

Hello my name is Dipika Nallathambi, I’m a visually impaired student from India. When I say visually impaired, I am completely blind so I love to run, I love sports but unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity back home or either after coming here, to go on activities like treks or hiking, and other stuff. But then one of the staff at Middlesex found me running in the car park at my accommodation, took me to the gym, and I was offered the chance to go on the Seven Sisters hike which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were some bits where it was challenging, but two of the staff from the fitness pods combined to ensure I got over those challenging tricky bits. And I finished the trek along with the rest of the team. I am thoroughly grateful to the team at the fitness pod for making it possible.

And I’m looking forward to other adventures as they come along. This has done wonders to both my physical and mental wellbeing. As a research student, research can be quite isolating but fitness activities are keeping me ground as a sound body and sound mind go hand in hand.

Hi my name is Leem Abdelrhman. I am originally from Sudan, doing biomedical science, second year. I have signed in for the mountain bike trip and surfing in my university. It was a very good activity as I am a very quiet person and anti-sociable or anti-social person who never talks and goes around people and stuff. So this trip made me have confidence and pride and made me very strong, I have made a friendship with many different people from different backgrounds.

And surfing, it was one of the best activities I have done in my life. I was able to stand up in the surfing, it was really nice. And I made a new friendship. I’m very grateful for the adventure series and the experience and the friendship I have made. For sure I’m going to do it again.

(Voiceover) At Middlesex University, we endeavour to offer students and staff opportunities to push themselves to new limits. We recently launched our adventure series offering a variety of outdoor pursuits, exploring the UK. We encourage you to join us whether it’s taking part in our organised hikes, downhill mountain biking in the Brecon Beacons, or scaling the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, we have so many opportunities for you to explore.

MDX Adventure Series

Through these outdoor adventures, the students are connecting and building friendships with like-minded peers and breaking down barriers while improving their confidence in social situations.

Charles Barakat, who attended the mountain biking and surfing trip, said: “It was one of the most exciting experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve met an array of amazing people with similar interests. I’m not always a particularly social person but this trip really brought me out of my shell.”

Dipika Nallathambi, who is visually impaired and went on the hiking trip to Seven Sisters in Sussex, said: “This was done wonders for both my mental and physical wellbeing. As a research student, research can be isolating but these activities keep me grounded and a sound body equals a sound mind.”

This initiative has been led by the Sport and Recreation Service at MDX and staff such as Toni Hannan, Design, Marketing and Comms Manager, Mel Parker, former Head of Sport, and Ben Underwood, Senior Operations Manager.

Speaking about the awards ceremony and presentation, Toni said they had faced tough competition from the top universities University College London and Trinity College Dublin.

“I felt if people could only see the real impact these activities had and the difference that they had made to the students, then that would speak volumes over statistics and pie charts,” said Toni. “We had witnessed first-hand students who were lonely, isolated or on the outer fringes of university life and struggling, take a leap of faith to spend a weekend hiking or surfing and making new friends and building those bonds. I knew the deep impact that our project was having in real terms, it was just getting the gravity of that impact across to a room full of people in a 10-minute presentation.”

Picture shows left to right Bergona Lopes, ENAS EC Member Director of Sport Services Universidad de la Laguna Spain, Toni Hannan Design, Marketing and Comms Manager MDX Uni, Mel Parker Retired Head of Sport MDX Uni, Ben Underwood Senior Operations Manager MDX Uni

After the presentation, Toni said she had an amazing response from other university staff: “Peers from European universities were not only extending their congratulations but also asking how they can roll similar projects out at their institutions. One lady asked for a hug, because one of the student testimonials touched her so deeply that she too resonated with the story when she was a student and wanted to extend her admiration for our project and the work we were doing. It is amazing to think our project will go on to positively influence more institutions and students beyond Middlesex.”