Xiaohongshu
When I first arrived at UCL as a commuter student, I worried that my university experience would be limited to lectures, train rides, and rush hour commutes. What transformed everything for me were the communities I found through clubs and societies, particularly through UCL Cheerleading Club. They gave structure to my weeks, friendships that filled me with confidence, new experiences, and an unexpected sense of belonging.
It’s those moments - the ones where students immerse themselves in our vibrant community - that I want every UCL student to experience. As UCL turns 200, I have been reflecting on everything we’ve achieved since the university was born. This goes way beyond academic life, and into the impact our clubs, societies and communities have on the trajectories of our students. UCL200 is not only about reflecting on the past but also looking into the future and what we want UCL to feel like as home for all.
Continuing a Long Tradition of Student-Led Activity
Clubs and societies have shaped UCL student life for decades. Even in the difficult years immediately after the Second World War, students rebuilt their community life at remarkable speed. A joint Union for men and women formed in 1946, followed soon after by leaders who worked tirelessly to support student activity. Sports facilities at Shenley opened around the same time, expanding opportunities for students to play, compete and build community. New societies emerged too - like Film Soc, which went on to become one of the most influential film societies in the UK, supporting generations of creative voices (including, famously, a young Christopher Nolan).
This history shows something important: even in times of challenge, students have always protected and reinvented their spaces for connection and creativity. With UCL growing faster than ever, that same pressure - and the same opportunity - remains.
Building a Home for Sport
Other than its historic connection to Shenley Sports Ground, UCL is one of the only major UK universities without its own sports facilities. UCL200 can be the launchpad for significant progress in this space, and this has been a priority for me since I started in my role as Activities and Engagement Officer last year. Sport is now listed as a strategic priority for senior committees across the university, with investment in sports facilities now officially placed on the “non-regrettable” list – something UCL must do, not merely consider. For the first time there is meaningful momentum behind giving TeamUCL a home.
A Growing Cultural Heart: The Bloomsbury Theatre & ArtsUCL Fringe
One of the most exciting developments in recent years, the Students’ Union have taken over the operation of the Bloomsbury Theatre, expanding opportunities for student performance and creativity and creating a first student-led theatre on campus. With the upcoming artsUCL Fringe Festival, part of UCL’s 200th birthday celebrations, we’re building a truly vibrant, student-led arts culture, and one that echoes the long legacy of Film Soc and other creative groups that have flourished here.
Looking Forward
Everything we’ve worked on this year comes back to one belief:
Activities are not an “extra.” They are core to who we are as a student community – they build a home.
They build belonging and community, support wellbeing and shape everyone’s experience of university.
As UCL continues to grow and evolve, we have a responsibility, just like the generations before us, to protect the spaces, time, and opportunities that allow students not only to study, but to live life to the fullest.
Thank you for being part of this community, and for shaping it with your ideas, your energy, and your presence. Let’s keep building something extraordinary together!