Despite an increase in qualifications for national competitions, financial support has decreased from covering 80 per cent to only 50 per cent of the costs. Additionally, the provision of a broad range of funding percentages, rather than a specific amount, resulted in uncertainty when budgeting for expenses and planning for future competitions.
Moreover, there have been administrative challenges associated with the Sports Union. On the day of departure, instead of the promised nine-seater van, they were provided with an eight-seater, forcing the team to contemplate dropping a player. Although this issue was not the fault of the union, the booking was arranged through them.
Frederik Dalgaard, the club’s president, stated: “Given the fact that we book our transport through them, we are fully reliant on everything going smoothly and are largely helpless to make any changes without the union’s support.”
This captures the vulnerability of smaller clubs, whose performance hinges delicately on the effectiveness of union-administered services.
Blaze expressed gratitude for the help provided, acknowledging that the Sports Union “do help as best they can”, exemplified by their prompt response to the van issue. Nonetheless, this mishap still caused preventable stress before a big tournament.
Consistency is key for communication with Sports Union
Furthermore, contacting the Sports Union has proven to be difficult, with direct communication described as sporadic and varying in responsiveness. Urgent matters sometimes required multiple reminders, impacting not only the team’s activities but also inter-university collaborations.
Dalgaard expressed that for the future there is a need for greater consistency in the Sports Union’s communication, which would benefit all clubs.
Sports Union President Murray Bushell stated that they “take a consistent approach in ensuring support for all clubs”, striving to help in their growth and development and naming handball as an example, which was shortlisted for club of the year in their second year.
Bushell expressed that: “all clubs receive funding and can apply for our development and equipment fund”, with smaller clubs benefiting from a focus on overall funding.
Furthermore, he launched initiatives such as the club mark, which recognises success outside of BUCS and the club focus social media campaign, gaining visibility to different sports. How much these efforts really improve the daily sports activities of athletes is to be evaluated in the future.
Ultimately, this analysis underscores the need for consistent and tailored support for smaller clubs, ensuring their ability to thrive and contribute to Stirling’s vibrant sporting community.
Featured Image Credit: Frederik Dalgaard
