The next BRIT Challenge will start on
25th January 2025 & finish on 25th March 2025
RESEARCH
WELSH INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, HEALTH AND SPORT (WIPAHS)
RESEARCH AND PILOT EVALUATION
The Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS) will be running a pilot evaluation looking at the impact of the BRIT Challenge across Higher and Further Education institutions spanning Wales with a focus upon physical activity and wellbeing.
We hope this will provide valuable information for every Welsh university, college and Students' Union, and Colleges Wales, Universities UK, the Association of Colleges (AoC) and Sport Wales.
WIPAHS - AN INTRODUCTION
WIPAHS, established in 2019, is a pan-Wales network of all eight Welsh Universities and Sport Wales. With members based across Wales, WIPAHS capitalises on the nation’s unique culture and its remarkable range of expertise and industry.
WIPAHS brings together world-leading academics, with representatives from Sport Wales and Welsh Government, who are driven to answer practice-based questions, identify fundamental research questions, and ensure that findings are reflected in Welsh policy and practice. More information about WIPAHS can be found here: The Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health & Sport - Swansea University
When WIPAHS was established, six primary value-driven actions were identified to support the population of Wales through consultation with key partners. Specifically, WIPAHS seeks to;
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Make a difference to the people of Wales
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Co-produce and collaborate with key stakeholders and the public
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Address health inequalities
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Provide actionable insights
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Share knowledge
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Promote accessibility of research and physical activity
Their aim is to create a healthier society. BRIT is determined to support and improve young adult, student, and staff, mental health, fitness and wellbeing throughout the UK. With so many Welsh universities, colleges and Students' Unions embracing the annual BRIT Challenge, the insight and knowledge from students and staff taking part in BRIT Challenges would undoubtedly be an integral source of information to assist WIPAHS. We also hope that this information will be valuable to every Welsh university, college, Students' Union, Colleges Wales, Universities UK, the Association of Colleges and Sport Wales.
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THE BRIT CHALLENGE IN WALES
We are delighted to be working closely with The Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS) to run a pilot evaluation to explore the impact of the annual BRIT Challenge. The pilot evaluation will be conducted across Wales, and it is hoped that the findings will be used to inform future BRIT Challenge surveys.
The evaluation will involve students and staff from across Wales being invited to participate in an online survey before and after completing the BRIT Challenge in an aim to:
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Explore the impact of the BRIT Challenge on student and staff physical activity and wellbeing.
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Investigate why and how students took part in the BRIT Challenge.
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Understand the types of activities that students and staff engaged in when taking on the BRIT Challenge.
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Gain participant insights to help support the BRIT Challenge in future years.
WHO IS LEADING THIS RESEARCH?
The lead for this evaluation is Paul Sellars. Amie Richards is the Research Assistant working on this project; whilst Professor Melitta McNarry, Professor Joanne Hudson and Professor Nicola Gray are all also working on the BRIT Challenge evaluation.
We would like to thank the following for all their support;
We are sincerely grateful to Professor Nicola Gray, Professor of Clinical & Forensic Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Science, at Swansea University for all her support to enable BRIT to forge a special relationship with WIPAHS.
Nicola is the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategic Theme Lead at WIPAHS. Nicola is a Professor of Forensic & Clinical Psychology. She works as a clinical-academic in both Swansea University and Swansea Bay University Health Board. Nicola’s expertise lies in mental health and how it impacts on behaviour, both positive and negative. This includes the prevention and intervention of risks to the self (e.g. via suicide prevention and self-harm), and risk to others (e.g. via violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and offending behaviour).
Professor Melitta McNarry
Professor of Health and Exercise Physiology
Research Director of WIPAHS
Postgraduate Research Director - A-STEM, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Swansea University
Melitta specialises in cardiorespiratory fitness across the health, fitness and lifespan with a particular interest in paediatric and clinical populations and the evaluation of interventions to promote physical activity and health. Her recent work has focused on the development of interventions such as the visualisation of physical activity using tangible objects, and inspiratory muscle and high intensity interval training for people with asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
Joanne Hudson PhD CPsychol AFBPS FBASES PGCE SFHEA HSPC Registered Psychologist
Professor of Exercise and Sports Psychology
Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Centre
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Swansea University
Joanne is a British Psychological Society Chartered and HCPC Registered Psychologist in Sport and Exercise Psychology, in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University. She is the sub-theme lead for Health and Well-being in the Awen Institute, which is a collaboration of researchers led by Swansea University, in partnership with the University of South Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Paul Sellars
Research Associate at the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR)
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Having Having graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a BSc in Sport Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University with a MSc in Applied Sport Psychology and Swansea University with a MSc by Research, Paul is currently a Research Associate in the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR) at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Paul is also a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist and WIPHAS theme lead for mental health and wellbeing. Paul’s research focuses upon wellbeing within different environments and has seen him work with partners such as the Welsh Rugby Union, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Platfform, Badminton Wales, and Disability Sport Wales.
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
Approval No. 2122_59
A Narrative Exploration of Experiences Post-Trauma
If you feel your life has been touched by trauma and that you have experienced negative and/or positive changes in its wake, we would love to hear from you.
The study here reflects a deep and open interest in the lived reality of people whose lives have been touched by trauma and seeks to explore their experiences after traumatic events.
If this is you, your thoughts and feelings will be unique, often complex, and incredibly valuable, and may help us better understand narratives post-trauma.
We are looking for people who are aged 18 or over, who feel they’ve experienced trauma (any type of trauma) during their lives, a minimum of six months ago.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
You will be asked for your consent and for some basic demographic information. You will be invited to engage in a supportive, conversational interview with a non-obligatory option for follow up interview(s) and/or the ability to contribute further self-reflection post-interview if you would like to.
Interviews will be offered in-person and online to cater for preference and practicalities. Interviews are entirely
confidential and anonymised. Except to the extent it is necessary to share identifying information to coordinate the interview, you need not share any identifying information such as your real name. Data resulting from the interview will be anonymised so that anything shared cannot be linked back to you.
You will be welcome to share as much or as little as you are happy to. Whilst the interview(s) will invite you to share the story of your experiences around and during the time since your trauma, there is no requirement to share specific details of the actual experience you have had.
WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKED TO DO?
HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART IN THIS RESEARCH?
Please email Alison Woodward - A.Woodward@chi.ac.uk
WHO CAN YOU CONTACT TO ASK ABOUT THIS RESEARCH?
Please contact Alison at the University of Chichester at A.Woodward@chi.ac.uk
Alison is currently studying for a PhD in Post-Traumatic Growth and will work closely with BRIT, offering an opportunity for our BRIT Ambassadors, and those who follow and support our work, to be involved in her research.
Alison has four children: Keris, Theo, Ozzie and Abe.
Alison has supported the Sussex Snowdrop Trust since the loss of her precious son, Miles. As a Snowdrop Mum, she shares her experience of how the Sussex Snowdrop Trust were with her family through every step of their journey. Her bravery to share her family’s moving and poignant story raises awareness of the Trust’s work, giving a greater appreciation of the difference fundraising makes to the lives of children who are coping with the day-to-day challenges of a life threatening or terminal illness.
ABOUT ALISON
After winning a scholarship to study music, in 2003, Alison graduated from the University of Chichester with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. She also won the Wiley Prize for Academic Excellence.
Since 2006, Alison has been a Senior Lecturer in Music and a Performance Development Coordinator at the University of Chichester.
In 2007, Alison graduated from the University of Chichester with a Master of Arts degree in Music Performance.
Since 2018, Alison has been Deputy Head of Department (Music) and Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) acting for Film and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Music degree courses at the University of Chichester.
In 2017, Alison was appointed Deputy Director of the University of Chichester Conservatoire.
The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) are working closely with the University of Chichester and supporting a Research Study: "A Narrative Exploration of Experiences Post-Trauma".
HOW WE HOPE OUR BRIT AMBASSADORS WILL FIND TAKING PART HELPFUL
POST-TRAUMA RESEARCH
A Narrative Exploration of Experiences Post-Trauma
Many of our BRIT Ambassadors have experienced adversity or trauma in their lives. They share their lived experience in the hope of inspiring young adults and students, encouraging participation in the annual BRIT Challenge to improve mental health and fitness, increasing fundraising efforts for charities, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging others to seek support if they are struggling to cope.
Our BRIT Ambassadors share their stories many times and, because of this, some have expressed that the sense
of intimate connection they with it can fade and grow distant over time.
Inspiring others requires a sustained depth of contact with our lived experience.
How BRIT Ambassadors have navigated their lived experience will be unique, often complex, and incredibly valuable, and may help us better understand the relationships between post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, and psychological flexibility.
We also hope involvement in the study will reconnect our BRIT Ambassadors to their extraordinary stories of overcoming trauma and adversity; the lived experiences that they are sharing with the young adults and students who we are striving to support.
WHO IS LEADING THIS RESEARCH?
This research is being conducted by Alison Woodward at the University of Chichester.
Amie Richards
PhD Student and WIPAHS Research Assistant
Swansea University
Having graduated from Swansea University with a BSc in Sport Science, The University of Gloucestershire with a MSc in Physical Activity, Exercise & Health Practice and Newman University with a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, Amie is now completing a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science at Swansea University and is a Research Assistant with WIPAHS.