Since last academic year, Newcastle University Sports Centre’s membership prices have increased by 10% across all subscriptions. This has caught the eye of many students, who now look for opportunities to play sports outside of the university community.
The change could mean an increase in mental health problems for University students, as many use sports as a way of releasing the stress accumulated from their studies.
The Sport and Fitness membership saw the highest price increase of almost over £30 more than last year. This includes access to their hi-tech gym as well as a selection of Fitness classes, such as Spin, Yoga, and Pilates.
Fitness membership increased by £19, and Sport membership by £10, in relation to the price last year.
This has unsettled freshers who were excited to join a sports club and returning students, who were not shocked to see the price rise.
Studies from Sport England and MIND, the National Association for Mental Health, demonstrate that physical exercise has a positive direct impact on mental health.
Whether it is a way to clear their minds or just a fun hobby, sport is an essential part of most university students' lives, as it helps regulate mental health problems within the community.
When a non-student athlete was asked if they would stop playing sports due to rising costs, they answered: ‘I hesitated to buy the membership after it [...] People already don't know where our money is going, so I wouldn’t be surprised if people stop paying altogether.’
In an interview with a non-student athlete, they said:
“It’s already intimidating joining a new sport, let alone it costing you over £100 with additional club fees.”
Many students stated that they felt frustrated paying for their memberships. ‘I’d find myself sometimes considering the amount of money I have spent on sport as it does take up a considerable amount of my student loan.’
For non-student athletes, motivation to participate in recreational sports is something that they have to find themselves. Still, if there's an added value price students' interest in playing sports will likely decrease.
A volleyball non-student athlete told The Courier ‘being active is 100% important for the mental health of anyone. I think there will be an increase in mental health problems as well, especially because of the social aspect of being in a sports club.’
One student-athlete stated that if the club hadn’t paid for their membership, they would have still willingly paid for it, even though it could have complicated their financial situation. ‘Keeping our bodies active as students is crucial if we want to regulate mental stability.’
“If I wasn’t able to compete, I love sport too much to be able to stop altogether.”
Some students have looked at affordable alternatives, such as playing sports in a local club in Newcastle and surrounding areas. Some of them provide more accessible prices to university students, which is noticed by the latter. For example, Marden Volleyball Club, based in Whitley Bay, offers £55 memberships for University students.
Regarding the sports community within the university, some students said, ‘As a student-athlete who isn't on scholarship and joined as a walk-on, I don't always feel valued as there is a clear divide [...] There's a lot that could be improved.’
“I think many affordable sports communities in the Newcastle area offer just as much as the university sports communities do… They’re playing with members of the wider community of all ages that may make it harder to relate to them.”
But a question remains: If people can’t afford to play sports, are mental health problems going to increase?
Wellbeing officers of AU Sport Clubs agree: ‘Plenty of scientific studies prove that exercise is beneficial to mental health […] Combined with the social aspects of being in a club, it can be beneficial to anyone.’
Newcastle University has ‘seen a rise in mental health problems throughout the years, and due to this issue, more help systems have been put into place’, such as Wellbeing Support, that anyone can access and request.
Alex Duggan, Athletic Union Officer, is the representative on campus for student sports within the Union and is responsible for overseeing participation in sports and physical activity. Duggan states, ‘Sport provides an escapism from the pressures of uni life [...] It is just key for mental well-being, especially being a student.’
Talking about the different support systems in place for individuals who may struggle to afford sports memberships, she mentioned the Activities Access Fund, ‘It is open for any student who is facing financial barriers [...] The only thing about this fund is its limited capacity.’
A potential issue with these funds and bursaries is that they are not advertised sufficiently within the sports community. Most non-athlete students don't feel like they get what they pay for. ‘I love using the gym, but the sports membership feels like I'm paying £200 for the year for no improvement in facilities.’
Duggan said ‘there are a lot of things we've been doing this year with financial planning, so we're trying to keep it as affordable as we can.’
She also discussed other ways people can stay active. ‘Intramural clubs don’t require an entry fee to join. You do have to buy a sports membership, but you need to do that for every AU club anyway.’
When questioned on how AU Sports Clubs discuss mental health, The Boxing Club’s Welfare Officer states, ‘I consistently check in on my club. Overall, we promote our committee as a support system encouraging members to reach out to us for any help not just within the sport but in wider areas too.’
If sports membership costs rise in the future, students will be less likely to get involved in a sports community. We may see an increase in mental health struggles and additional pressure in Newcastle University’s Well-being services.
