Your feedback is helping shape sport and physical activity at The University of Manchester. From gyms and wellbeing to campus sport, events and volunteering, you told us what’s working, what could improve and what you’d like to see next.

Improving the places where you get active

At the Armitage Centre, you highlighted the clean facilities, friendly staff, classes and value for money. We’re responding with new gym equipment and improvements to space, storage and the overall customer experience.

At Sugden, we’re focused on maintaining the quality and variety you value. Our Wellbeing Rooms were also praised for their classes and instructors, with new equipment and further improvements planned.

“The classes are great and so too the instructors. Extremely well prepared!”

Creating a sense of belonging through sport

You described Campus League sport as fun, social and well organised. We’re improving guidance for student leaders, reporting routes and equipment and umpiring standards.

Our recreational clubs continue to offer friendly, accessible sessions for all abilities. Sporticipate was also praised as a free, welcoming way to try something new. In response to busy sessions, we’ve reduced numbers for swimming and badminton and introduced timed badminton rotations.

For Team Manchester, coaching and community stood out, alongside a need for clearer performance support and goal setting. We’re working with teams to identify their goals and support needs.

“Good coaching. Good community.”

Making events and volunteering better

You praised our participation events for their organisation, atmosphere and community, while highlighting the importance of accurate information and follow-up. Future events will include printed backup entrant lists to help resolve issues quickly.

For performance events, we’re also working on communication, scheduling, decision-making and venue logistics.

Volunteers value the range of opportunities available, and we’re improving induction and guidance while feedback on the volunteering portal has been shared with its developers.

“Many opportunities to choose from.”

Supporting our people and wellbeing

Student leaders told us that committee roles are rewarding, but asked for clearer information around key responsibilities. We’ve added a Team Manchester information session to Student Leaders Day to support new leaders and smoother handovers.

Wellbeing activities received particularly strong feedback for their instructors, atmosphere, yoga and sound baths. In response to feedback on capacity, comfort, signage, timing and value, we’ve limited numbers, improved signage and trialled a lower-priced evening format.

“The yoga sessions were excellent, and the sound bath was amazing.”