University of Westminster Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc students have gained hands-on experience as part of their work supporting Essex County Girls U18 squad in their successful unbeaten run in the English Rugby County championship.
The University support team, made up of Liam Carroll, Daisy Weston, Thomas Rees, Katherine Bonnar and Gareth Bowen, provided match-day snack support before, during and after each match, and worked with the County Rugby Management team to deliver nutrition advice at their youth rugby development evenings. They also had the chance to meet Marlie Packer and Rosie Galligan from the England Rugby Red Roses team.
Working with the girls rugby team provided students with an invaluable understanding of working with adolescents in grassroots sports. Through the experience they were able to gain key knowledge of how best to fuel for performance and learn the most effective ways of supporting recovery through food choices.
The initiative is led by Paul Hough, Sports and Exercise Nutrition MSc Course Leader in the School of Life Sciences, and is part of a student-led work experience programme supported by the Quintin Hogg Trust’s Small Projects initiative. As part of the programme the team are also supporting the Westminster Dragons’ Women’s Basketball and Volleyball teams, as well as providing nutrition support for the University’s Elite Athlete Programme.
Gareth Bowen, Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc student, said: “Having this opportunity to support sport teams both in the community and at the University has been fantastic. There is no substitute for practical experience, as it allows you to put into practice the knowledge gained from our Master’s programme. It’s been an absolute joy working with the Essex County and the Dragons sports teams this year.”
Andrea Church, Essex Rugby Team Manager, added: “The link between group presentations, individual consultations and then match day preparation and pitch-side support linked the relevance of nutrition to players across each group. The players’ understanding has grown not just from what they have learnt but also from what they have put in to practice. The season was enhanced by the support we received from the University of Westminster.”
This initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about studying Nutrition and Public Health courses at the University of Westminster.
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