We value your feedback and will use it to improve our services for you. We have made some changes to our facilities and services following your feedback

The facilities could benefit from an update

We are continually looking to improve our facilities as much as possible. Recent improvements include:

• Our new 3G pitch opened at the end of 2015, replacing the old rugby training area. The floodlit 60 x 40m training pitch is used by Students' Union sports clubs, for Active US student activities and can be booked by members and non-members for football as a full or half pitch (x2)
• A deep clean of our tennis courts and continual biennial maintenance
• Sport Centre repainted
• New carpets at Falmer Sports Complex
• Communal areas at the Falmer Sports Complex have been repainted, including the team changing rooms (following a new roof)
• Toilet floors at Falmer Sports Complex are being replaced
• Refurbished squash courts

More variety and new fitness room equipment

• The Sport Centre fitness room added 20 new Schwinn spin bikes in the last year. To increase the opportunity for cardio workouts, we moved five of the existing spin bikes to Falmer Sports Complex
• We will be replacing all of our yoga mats 
• We have added a selection of barbells in the Sport Centre fitness room to increase the opportunity for strength and conditioning workouts outside of the fitness rooms at Falmer Sports Complex
• We have ordered airdyne bikes for the Sport Centre fitness room to add variety to the cardio workout machines available, these will be available from 12 April 2016

More running and walking opportunities

• Social running sessions: Open to staff and students, join us for a RUNCH (run at lunch), every Tuesday 1.10pm-1.50pm and/or Thursday 12.10pm-12.50pm. Prefer to get a run in before work? From the 14 April, join us on Thursdays leaving at 8am from the Sport Centre. Sessions are low key and social and last no more than 30-35 minutes. Post-run shower facilities are available at the Sport Centre, these are free for members or £1.60 guest fee for non-member use.
• Staff-only weekly walks: We have twice-weekly lunchtime walks, Monday and Wednesdays 12.05pm-12.50pm, starting 18 April. Walks start at the Sport Centre and will take in Stanmer Park, the boundary walk and Falmer pond.

More staff discounts for off-campus opportunities

• Working with local providers, we have secured a number of discounts for University of Sussex employed staff. Show a valid staff ID card to get discounts at Boulder Brighton, Highsports Climbing or for £1 swims at participating pools in Brighton, Hove, Lewes and Newhaven.
• Off-campus staff beach volleyball starts 5 May 2016 6pm-8pm, and will initially run for 12 weeks over summer every Thursday at Yellowave, near Brighton Marina. This session is free for staff gold and silver members and £3 for non-members.

Shorter, lunch-break friendly, group exercise classes

We hope to offer express classes for those who cannot commit to 45 min-1 hour lunchtime sessions. Staff will have the opportunity to try out 30 minute group exercise classes during Commit to Get Fit month in May. We also have shorter running and walking lunchtime activities, including:

• Social running sessions: Open to staff and students, join us for a RUNCH (run at lunch), every Tuesday 1.10pm-1.50pm and/or Thursday 12.10pm-12.50pm. Prefer to get a run in before work? From the 14 April, join us on Thursdays leaving at 8am from the Sport Centre. Sessions are low key and social and last no more than 30-35 minutes. Post-run shower facilities are available at the Sport Centre, these are free for members or £1.60 guest fee for non-member use.
• Staff-only weekly walks: We have twice-weekly lunchtime walks, Monday and Wednesdays 12.05pm-12.50pm, starting 18 April. Walks start at the Sport Centre and will take in Stanmer Park, the boundary walk and Falmer pond.

Opportunities for women-only sessions and activities

• Following the success of our 'This BUCS Girl Can week' in November 2015, we have continued our twice-weekly offer of drop-in women-only fitness room sessions.  Sessions run every Tuesday and Thursday from 3.30pm-4.30pm in the Sport Centre fitness room and are free for gold Sussexsport members. Drop-in prices apply for silver, bronze members and non-members.

  The sessions are facilitated by expert instructors and structured around the needs of the group, but may include:

  • Kettlebells
  • Body weight
  • Full body workout

More staff-only events and activities

• Staff-only yoga: We introduced a staff-only yoga course at the start of the 2015/16 academic year. Following the popularity of this course we are now running two six week evening courses each term in the Library's Barlow Gallery, exclusively for staff. 
• Staff Badminton: We have introduced a Monday lunchtime badminton session for staff, starting April 18 2016, 12 noon - 1pm. Sessions will be relaxed and no previous experience is needed; equipment will be provided. This session is free for staff gold and silver members and £3 for staff bronze members and non-members.
• Staff Beach Volleyball: Off-campus staff beach volleyball starts 5 May 2016 6pm-8pm, and will initially run for 12 weeks over summer every Thursday at Yellowave, near Brighton Marina. This session is free for staff gold and silver members and £3 for staff bronze members and non-members.
• Staff-only weekly walks: We have twice-weekly lunchtime walks, Monday and Wednesdays 12.05pm-12.50pm, starting 11 April. Walks start at the Sport Centre and will take in Stanmer Park, the boundary walk and Falmer pond.
• Social running sessions: Open to staff and students, join us for a RUNCH (run at lunch), every Tuesday 1.10pm-1.50pm and/or Thursday 12.10pm-12.50pm. Prefer to get a run in before work? From the 14 April, join us on Thursdays leaving at 8am from the Sport Centre. Sessions are low key and social and last no more than 30-35 minutes. Post-run shower facilities are available at the Sport Centre, these are free for members or £1.60 guest fee for non-member use.
• Staff Bouldering: Regular Monday evening bouldering sessions start on 9 May from 7pm at Boulder Brighton in Portslade. This session is free for staff gold and silver members and £3 for staff bronze members and non-members. For more information contact Terry Cooper, Health & Fitness Development Officer, on: T.Cooper@sussex.ac.uk

We are looking to further increase our staff-only offer, including staff-only Pilates classes, off-campus activities such as horse riding and a summer group exercise programme for staff. Keep an eye on our news page, Facebook and Twitter for regular updates.

 

I'd like a swimming pool on campus

At present, we do not offer swimming facilites on campus. In lieu of a pool, Sussexsport have secured an agreement with Freedom Leisure and Wave Leisure allowing our staff and students to swim for £1 at local participating pools. To take advantage of the offer, simply show a valid University of Sussex student or staff ID card to reception staff before each swim. Please visit the webpage for the full terms and conditions of the offer.