Read: Levelling up our communities through partnership and participation

As we prepare for a summer of sport, with the UK hosting the UEFA Women’s Euros, Professor Karen Stanton, Vice-Chancellor at Solent University, Southampton looks at the role universities and civic partnerships can play in levelling up our communities. 

Our culturally rich and diverse communities are the starting point for our students, providing the environment which builds character, provides life experiences and sets the foundations for their aspiration and future working lives. These areas will often have good access to education, employment opportunities and a strong community infrastructure that enables people to achieve their full potential. However, we know this is not the case for all of our communities across the UK, with research highlighting the need to level up the UK and ensure everyone, regardless of their postcode, has access to equal opportunities.  

It is important that universities recognise that it is not just access to education and skills that can be viewed as the challenge for some neighbourhoods. There are often multiple challenges at a grass root level which impact upon engagement. It is therefore important that we take a holistic view, working with partners to make a sustained difference.  This is why universities, like Solent, who have developed Civic Agreements, must fulfil their responsibility to be an anchor institution and work with their communities to level up and address local challenges.  

Southampton is a culturally diverse, economic, maritime powerhouse on the south coast of England. For us it is a fantastic location to live, work and visit, with significant investment being made into the region’s infrastructure and cultural offering.  However, it is important to take stock and acknowledge that not everyone has equal opportunity, with some neighbourhoods being amongst the most deprived nationally. We therefore need a targeted approach to partnership working and levelling up to enable maximum impact.

One of our most recent initiatives, delivered by colleagues in our Faculty of Sport, Health and Social Sciences is Health 4 Her. The weight-loss programme is designed to provide an appropriate and safe exercise environment that facilitates an increase in physical activity participation amongst BAME women.  The sessions provide an all-female, non-intimidating environment which caters for cultural and religious restrictions and enables women to experience and enjoy a variety of sports and physical activity that they would otherwise not feel comfortable in accessing. 

As well as encouraging a healthier lifestyle the programme also boosts confidence and increases social cohesion. The programme, which was delivered and promoted through a multi-agency approach, also encourages healthy eating and weight loss, responding to the high risk of obesity development and comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, more prevalent in the BAME demographic. 

Not only has this helped in addressing a local challenge but it has also allowed Solent to open dialogue and welcome the local community on campus. Of course, individual activities will only ever achieve so much and on their own are often restricted by time, funding or sustained infrastructure. Ensuring a long-term, strategic approach is therefore critical to levelling up our communities.

It is also important to remember that businesses also have a role to play in this. As a future ready University, that supports students to develop the future skills required by industry, Solent has strong relationships with businesses of all scales and sectors.  

Football clubs by their nature are often deep rooted within their local communities and have a unique and powerful way of bringing people together, both on the pitch and through their various outreach activities. With these clear synergies one of Solent’s long standing business relationships has been with local Premier League - Southampton Football Club. 

In July 2021 Solent announced a strategic partnership with the club, building upon the strong foundations previously established. The partnership sees Solent and Southampton FC collaborating to attract, retain and develop future learners and sporting talent while growing Southampton’s reputation as a leading destination for sports coaching and development.

The participation of women and girls in sport is a key priority for us and aligns to Southampton FC’s vision to grow the game. This season Southampton FC’s Women’s team was promoted to the FA Women's Championship, with ambitious plans to build upon this. Our partnership is enabling us to develop and promote education and career pathways, offering exclusive opportunities and taster experiences that attract and retain leading talent, while inspiring our local communities to participate in the sport. 

Working at a grass roots level is key to this and in addition to our work with the women’s team our Sports Coaching students undertake a 10-week placement with the club’s charitable arm, the Saints Foundation. Students work with the club to undertake a range of projects that tackle issues, including wellbeing, isolation and education. As well as impacting upon the local community, providing vital services and activities, the projects directly benefit our students through gaining practical, real-world experience. 

Whether it’s growing participation in sport or providing access to services and programmes, Universities with their extensive facilities and knowledge base have a crucial role to play in levelling up our communities. 

Professor Karen Stanton, Vice-Chancellor, Solent University.