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Positive thinking isn't about expecting the best to happen every time but accepting that whatever happens is the best for this moment

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Delivering a UK-wide annual inclusive feelgood fundraiser

We would, of course, be delighted if universities and colleges raise funds for BRIT as this will enable us to continue to deliver the annual BRIT Challenge and have an even greater impact on supporting and improving young adult, student and staff mental health and wellbeing.

As a collaborative charity, we are also inviting every university and college team taking part in the BRIT Challenge to consider choose second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.

There are very few Fundraising Platforms in the UK that allow donations to be split equally between two charities. We are sincerely grateful to GiveStar who are delivering this fundraising capability so that universities and colleges can choose one of twelve charities, that we work closely with, to raise funds for, alongside BRIT.

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These are some of our charity partners that you may wish to choose to support as you take on the BRIT Challenge;

1

Uniting the HE and FE Sector through a UK-wide inclusive BRIT Challenge

The annual BRIT Challenge has been designed to be inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part. The BRIT Challenge is to be completed by individuals working as a team to cover each year's target distance by either hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).

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Delivering inspiration through British Sporting Icons

Olympians, Paralympians, sports personalities, adventurers and explorers will be invited to join us as BRIT Ambassadors and choose a university or college to visit during the annual BRIT Challenge (February). They will be asked to encourage, enthuse and inspire students to take on the annual BRIT Challenge and champion young adult mental health and fitness.

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Raise funds for a second charity of your choice, alongside BRIT

BRIT is a collaborative charity and we are inviting every university and college team taking on the BRIT Challenge to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities. We encourage a whole university or college approach to fundraising; inviting communities, businesses and alumna networks to donate.

"The need to support young adults facing trauma and adversity, both physical and mental, is critical; particularly with the impact of COVID-19 compounding existing mental health difficulties.

BRIT has an inspiring vision and I applaud their collaborative strategy to partner with sport and education partners. Through the BRIT Challenge, there is clear potential to engage hundreds of thousands of students and significantly improve young adult mental health and fitness.

At a time when restrictions are affecting many team and sport activities, the BRIT Challenge is an inspirational feelgood fundraising opportunity for young adults to take part safely, on campus or at home, by following guidance from their university or college and of course, COVID-19 Government guidelines.

I hope, wherever possible, the BRIT Challenge can be encouraged, embraced and enjoyed!"

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE

"I am thrilled that Universities UK will continue to partner with the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) in order to invite and encourage all of our 147 UK universities and their Students' Unions to take part in the annual BRIT Challenge. Over the past two years, almost 130 university teams have taken on the BRIT Challenges and encouraged their students and staff to participate.

It is excellent to see BRIT will be delivering their annual inclusive BRIT Challenge as a feelgood February fundraiser; with the collective support of UK universities, this inspiring event should become a firm fixture in the events calendar for students of all ages. BRIT are a collaborative charity and it is great to see that they are inviting every organisation to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities; many of whom have felt the impact of the pandemic on their fundraising efforts.

The next BRIT Challenge will take place throughout February 2022, ending on 3rd March - University Mental Health Day. As President of Universities UK, I urge all of my fellow Vice-Chancellors to join me in championing the BRIT Challenge by entering teams and embracing this tremendous initiative as a catalyst for adopting a whole university approach to supporting and improving student and staff mental health."

Professor Steve West CBE DL FChS FCPodM FRSM FRSA

President of Universities UK

"The BRIT ethos is to be a collaborative charity. As many charities have felt the impact of COVID-19 on their fundraising efforts, I hope the annual inclusive BRIT Challenge inspires UK universities, colleges, specialist colleges and Students' Unions to enter teams and choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.

We have adopted a collectively powerful approach to supporting young adult, student and staff mental health by forging special relationships and partnerships with charities and national governing bodies in the education and sport sectors. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported BRIT and enabled us to grow as a charity and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of young adults and students throughout the UK.

I am also sincerely grateful to the 200 Olympians, Paralympians, Sports Personalities, Adventurers and Explorers, who have joined our BRIT Ambassador family. They have united in promoting the BRIT Challenge, supporting universities and colleges of their choice, encouraging students of all abilities to take part, destigmatising mental health and championing equality, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to treble the size of our BRIT Ambassador family so that every university and college has a BRIT Ambassador who will visit during their BRIT Challenge, share their lived-experience, talk about resilience and encourage student and staff participation.

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I wish every university and college team taking part in the BRIT Challenge the very best of luck".

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Phil Packer

Founder and Non-Paid CEO

The British Inspiration Trust

In 2017, there had been a 210% increase in the number of students leaving university due to mental health problems over the past 5 years.

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*Higher Education Statistics Agency.

85% of colleges reported an increase in students with disclosed mental health issues in the past 3 years.

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*Association of Colleges (AoC) Survey December

2016.

87% of first year students (almost nine in 10) find it difficult to cope with social or academic aspects of university life.

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*University Partnerships Programme (UPP) annual Student Experience survey 2017.

There was a 76% increase in the number of university Students seeking mental health support in the 5 years between 2012 and 2017.

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*The British Psychological Society - Mental Health and Wellbeing in Scotland's higher and further education sector.

Donate to the

British Inspiration Trust (BRIT)

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​By supporting BRIT you will enable us to improve the mental health and fitness of young adults throughout the UK and deliver the annual BRIT Challenge.

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The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 16 - 25 through our annual mental health and fitness fundraising challenges that support the vital programmes and services of charity partners across the UK.

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When you feel like quitting think about why you started