The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Fund grant has supported the Students’ Union UNDEB ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Student Opportunities team in enhancing one of its key student spaces, transforming a previously underutilised meeting room within the Undeb ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Hub into a multipurpose facility. The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Fund is made up of alumni donations and administered by the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Originally configured as a conference and meeting room, the space now serves a dual function - retaining its capacity for formal gatherings while offering a dedicated environment for student-led performance and training. In January 2025, wall-mounted mirrors were installed, significantly increasing the room’s versatility and appeal. Since then, student clubs and societies including Karate, BJJ, Judo, Dance, Rowing and cheerleading POM have made full use of the upgraded facility, with evening bookings now running continuously from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Prior to the installation, the room was typically occupied just one or two evenings per week.
The impact has been immediate and far-reaching. The mirrors have enabled student clubs and societies to refine choreography, expand participation, and improve performance outcomes. Cheerleading Pom, for instance, attributed their enhanced training environment to a successful showing at Future Cheer, where they placed 5th overall.
One student reflected:
We were extremely lucky to receive an extra training session in the Hub after the mirrors were installed. It helped our team refine our choreography and smash our performance at Future Cheer. The mirrors made our practice more streamlined and effective.
Similarly, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club noted:
Using the Hub alongside our original booking in Room 2 has allowed more students to attend our sessions. With the extra mirrored wall, we’ve reached capacity and expanded our training. It’s made a real difference.
The room still works as it was originally intended. Curtains fitted over the mirrors mean it can still be used for conferences and lectures, making it useful for both the University and the local community. This practical change shows the kind of flexible, student-focused facilities that support ¾«¶«´«Ã½â€™s wider goals.
Kathryn Hughes, Student Opportunities Lead, shared:
We’re incredibly thankful for the support we received from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Fund. Thanks to our alumni generosity, we’re able to create meaningful opportunities that directly benefit our students.
