We spoke to students to find out what they enjoyed about the All Jokes Aside campaign. You can find out more about the campaign, and all sessions and events, on the campaign page.
What’s your name, and what are you studying?
My name's Orlando and I am doing an MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Where did you see the All Jokes Aside campaign, and why did you sign up to sessions?
I found the campaign on the Project Active Website and the activities through the 'What's On' calendar. The 'All Jokes Aside' campaign caught my attention because I was looking for ways to take better care of my mental and physical wellbeing and connect with people outside of my studies. I hadn’t been involved in any regular sport activity before, so I thought it would be a good chance to try something new without pressure, and it really was!
What did you enjoy? What made you keep coming back?
As a person that did not practice any regular sport, what I enjoyed the most was that the sessions were really relaxed, inclusive, and genuinely fun. It didn’t feel competitive or intimidating, which made it easy to enjoy. I got really into the Pickleball sessions, which was completely new to me. Over time, I started to value more and more the sessions not just for the physical activity, but for the mental break and the social side too, which made me want to keep showing up.
Have you noticed any impact on your wellbeing?
Definitely. As someone who wasn’t active before, I was genuinely surprised by how much of a difference it made. The sessions gave me the confidence to try something new and realise that I can enjoy a sport, even with no previous experience. This helped me create space in my schedule for physical activity and, in many cases, were the only reason I stepped away from my computer or left my room that day, which is absolutely necessary for mental wellbeing, especially during intense or overwhelming weeks.
Do you have a highlight moment from attending sessions this year?
One absolute highlight for me was when I started volunteering to help run some of the Pickleball sessions. Honestly, promoting physical activity was the last thing I expected to be doing as part of my student life in London, but it felt great to give back to a space that had helped me so much. Supporting others to also feel welcome and get involved was really meaningful, it made me feel more connected to the UCL community.
What would you say to other male UCL students about All Jokes Aside?
Give it a go! Even if you’ve never done anything like it before. It’s not about being sporty or competitive; it’s about taking time for yourself and having fun. We all need this and there’s no pressure and no judgment. You might just find something you really enjoy, and it could make a bigger difference to your wellbeing than you expect.