Project Active sessions are beginner-friendly, inclusive activities (there are women’s-only sessions too) that don’t break the bank. With no commitment or experience necessary you can come and enjoy a range of activities from yoga and HIIT to 5-a-side football, rugby and hockey - it’s all about having fun and being active in whatever way works for you.

But don't just take our word for it - here are two stories from students who found new friends, new skills and lots of fun at our classes.

Cheryl's story

I really felt like there was no judgement if you were slow to follow a step or jumped in the opposite direction.

With the start of a new academic year at UCL, I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone, try new things and gain new experiences.  After all, as an international student, I figured I should make the most of my time here in London.  Perhaps I should go for some society taster sessions, gain some new skills and uncover more of London’s hidden treasures.

As the term rolled on, however, I began to feel the pressure of being a second-year student with more work and commitments to juggle.  Besides the daily routine of crossing busy London roads (and working my way through the horrendous traffic) to get to class, I was hoping for something enjoyable to refresh my mind away from the monotony of my daily schedule. 

My friend came across Project Active sessions on the Union’s website and suggested to sign up for the Zumba class. The Zumba instructor was really enthusiastic and approachable, making sure we focused on working out and building confidence in ourselves rather than technical accuracy.  She helped everyone in the room feel empowered through exercise, introducing some useful dance moves amidst core-biting exercises. The atmosphere was comfortable and I really felt like there was no judgement if you were slow to follow a step or jumped in the opposite direction. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and excited to be in the class.

As classes are once a week around lunchtime (there’s also some in the evening), the commitment isn’t too heavy and I enjoy going for the programme to energise myself for the rest of the week.  It’s been a great way for me to learn new skills, meet new people from all over UCL and make the most of my time here in London.

Ahsana's story

The Project Active sessions gave me the much needed me-time to focus and reconnect with myself.

Project Active sessions have influenced my life at UCL as a PhD student-parent in many ways. I have been an active person and team player all my life back in India, but was finding new challenges after starting a PhD at UCL, mainly because of time constraints and the cultural differences. 

Having a small child demanded prioritising time, strictly to either my work or childcare, which meant no time for socialising or even making friends. It was at that point that I came across Project Active sessions for beginners which allowed me to try new sports and workout activities that fitted well into the daily routine at university. I was especially interested in the women only sessions and went straight into it.

I started with Squash and later moved on to explore different options like zumba, barre, HIIT and found myself most attracted to yoga. The Project Active sessions gave me the much needed me-time to focus and reconnect with myself. As an individual-centred activity, the yoga sessions may not seem great for socialising, but I have made some connections with people who attend regularly. 

The best part is you do not need to sign up for a whole term or month, as sessions can be booked for just a day, which is ideal when you want to try out different options and choose the ones you like the most. Also, there’s no need to worry at all about how good you are at something, all sessions are completely beginner-friendly.


Your new favourite class awaits...

Sport
Project Active Dance Fit
31/01/2025 | 18:00 - 19:00
Discover Project Active’s weekly Dance Fit classJoin us every Friday at 18:00 at Bloomsbury Campus for Dance Fit 🕺What to expect at Project Active Dance Fit Class:Our weekly classes are open to all UCL staff and students and are designed to be:  
Sport
Project Active Online: Dance Fit
31/01/2025 | 18:00 - 19:00
Join us every Friday at 18:00 online for Dance Fit 🪩What to expect at Project Active Online: Dance Fit: Our weekly online classes are open to all UCL staff and students and are designed to be: