At Students’ Union UCL, we believe that everyone should be able to experience the wellbeing, confidence, and community that comes from being active. That’s why we’re working with TeamUCL to make sports and fitness more inclusive for our trans* community.
This work comes directly from what trans* students have told us - that they want to get active, but too often face barriers that make it harder to take part. We’re changing that.
What we're doing
In partnership with TeamUCL, we are implementing a trans* inclusion plan to help remove some of the barriers that these students face. Key initiatives include:
- Launching a Gender Inclusion Hub: This is a dedicated web page with clear information on mixed-gender clubs, gender-neutral facilities, and other resources to make it easier for students to find welcoming spaces.
- Creating Inclusive Sports Opportunities: We are working with trans* student and LGBTQIA+ groups to develop new events and classes designed to be explicitly inclusive, including queer students’ sessions at the TeamUCL Gym.
- Embedding Trans* Inclusivity: TeamUCL will integrate trans* inclusivity into its training for all sports club committees, empowering student leaders to foster a more welcoming environment from the ground up.
- Communication and Visibility: We will continue to improve the visibility of our offer to ensure that all students are away of the breadth and diversity of our current sports and physical activity provision.
What we've learnt
In 2023 – 2024, we worked with a student researcher to evaluate our Gender expression Fund, which launched in 2022 to support trans* students in purchasing gender affirming products and services. Building on that research, our 2024-2025 study explored how trans* students do, or do not, access sports and physical activity at UCL, the impact of this on their wellbeing, and how any barriers to access can be overcome.
The findings were clear:
Our research found that trans* students at UCL are less likely to engage with sports and physical activity than the wider UCL student population, with most survey respondents having never attended any UCL-led sports provision. The majority of survey respondents, (63%), have never attended a Students' Union Project Active session, are not members of a sports club (56%), and do not hold a membership at the Bloomsbury Fitness gym (74%).
This is not due to any disinterest – 62% of surveyed students reported the desire to be more active and recognised the benefit, with 80% agreeing that engaging in exercise and other physical activity has a positive impact on their mental and physical health, acting especially to help build community, to alleviate gender dysphoria, and improve body positivity.
What's next?
- We’re committed to evaluating every new initiative that comes from this work to make sure it’s meaningful and effective. Our goal is to make sure the Students’ Union and TeamUCL Spaces are inclusive as possible for Trans* students. Are you a trans student with a suggestion? Contact us on [email protected]
- Join the Trans Student Network if you haven't done already. The Trans* Students' Network represents an opportunity for students to challenge and campaign against discrimination, oppression and inequality faced by themselves or others and work to defend and extend their rights.
- Discover the UCL LGBTQ+ Parents and Families group. All LGBTQ+ parents, prospective parents, children of LGBTQ+ parents and parents & siblings of LGBTQ+ children are welcome.