Archive for category: GOGA

It’s been a fantastic semester for Get out, Get Active. We’ve been as busy as ever engaging existing participants and volunteers as well as recruiting new ones to take part and support our activities. As it’s reaching the end of 2019, we’re taking some time to look back and reflect on Semester 1.

Walking

We’ve hosted more walks than ever before with 1,179 participants getting out and about in Yorkshire and beyond this semester. We have visited some of our firm favourites: Ilkley Moor, Malham Cove and Haworth in Yorkshire, Ambleside, Keswick and Windermere in the Lake District and Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby on the Yorkshire Coast.

We introduced one new walking location to our programme this semester- Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. Participants enjoyed a walk along the riverbank and in the woodland before they had some free time to enjoy the town. Participants explored Knaresborough Castle and enjoyed the views of the majestic Victorian viaduct.

Next semester you can expect some brand new walking trip locations in Yorkshire, the coast and Wales. We are also hosting the first ever walking trip to Scotland! You can book onto our walks now. Click here to browse the trips and secure your ticket.

Food workshops

This semester we re-introduced our food workshops which were attended by 57 participants.

Our Mexican themed workshop saw participants cooking up vegetarian enchiladas topped with a spiced tomato sauce and double cheese. The complimentary side dishes were chunky guacamole and creamy corn and black bean salsa. The vegan workshop was back by popular demand and participants cooked Sicilian aubergine stew (Caponata) and raw coconut balls.

Our workshops begin again in February.

Indoor and outdoor climbing

Our climbing programme was bigger than ever before this semester with 44 participants enjoying the regular indoor sessions at the climbing wall at the Edge and outdoor trips at Almscliffe Crag. The beginner indoor sessions are perfect for anybody who wishes to give climbing a try. They provide you with an understanding of the skills and techniques used in climbing which can be transferred outdoors.

Our indoor sessions begin again in February and our outdoor trips return

in March.

Balance classes

Our balance classes have been as popular as ever with over 300 participations in our pilates, yoga and Garuda classes. Garuda Matwork joined our programme this semester. Instructor, Sandy, has enjoyed teaching the innovative exercise system which encompasses the principles of pilates, breath work and asana practices of yoga as well as elements of Tai-Chi.

The classes are a fantastic way to take a break away from your desk at lunchtime and they complement other forms of activity. They require no level of commitment; you simply sign up and pay the entry on the day. The balance classes will return to the programme at the end of January after the exam period.

Couch to 5K

We hosted our first ever entry level Couch to 5K programme this semester. 25 staff from across the university community took part in the programme which culminated  in a graduation event for all participants at the Leeds 5K series at the Brownlee Cycle Centre. All runners completed a chip-timed 5K run at the EvenSplits licensed event.

Many Couch to 5K participants signed up to the programme as they were returning to or starting exercise for the first time after illness and injury and long absences. Other motivations to take part in the programme included a desire to increase self-confidence around running.

The run leaders carefully designed sessions to help participants progress and build up their fitness whilst improving their technique and knowledge about running. They were recognised for their inspiring work as they were awarded the Health and Wellbeing Champions award as part of the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Health and Safety 2019.

There is a continuation pathway for the participants and many have joined our run club that meet twice weekly for a lunchtime run. It’s great to see participants joining the wider running community on campus.

The next Couch to 5K programme will be beginning on Tuesday 4^th February. You can read more about it and book onto the next Couch to 5K here.

Looking forwards…

Kayaking will be returning to the programme next semester with the first session in mid-February. The session will take place on the Leeds-Liverpool canal which is an ideal setting to experience flat water kayaking outdoors.

Thank you to our participants, volunteers and activators. It has been a fun semester and we’re very much looking forward to Semester 2. On behalf of the GOGA team, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. See you in 2020!

This month we are spotlighting one of our Get out, Get Active activators, Gaby Alodia. Gaby has been involved with GOGA in various capacities for a few years. We caught up with her to hear about how it all started.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Gaby and I’m currently in the final year of my PhD, studying geophysics.

How did you first hear about GOGA?

It’s been a long time since I first got involved with GOGA so I’m not really sure, but I think it was through the LUU website. I was a participant at first, then I became a volunteer and I am now an activator!

What made you apply for the activator role?

I had been a volunteer for about two years and thought I would be able to experience more as an activator. I wanted to be more involved with GOGA, as I love the way the programme is run, so I thought why not become an activator!

What activities have you been involved in as an activator?

Mostly our waking trips, but I have also promoted our ‘campus discovery’ event via our GOGA app on campus and have led a couple of our Wednesday afternoon indoor climbing sessions at the Edge.

What do you enjoy most about being an activator with GOGA?

I meet so many new people through GOGA – every time I lead a walk I meet people from different parts of the world. It’s rewarding to know that people enjoy their time on one of my walks when I see them again on future trips. It’s also a great stress relief and gives me a reason to get away from my desk. I have the chance to do my hobby as a job, as going on walks is something I do in my free time anyway!

Do you feel you have learnt anything new through being an activator?

I have learnt how to manage a lot of people in one go, taking care of them and being responsible for them – in terms of safety as well as their enjoyment!

Please summarise being a GOGA activator in 3 words…

Adventure, nature and international!

 

 

This month we are spotlighting a regular GOGA participant, Gabriel Matos. One of our activators, Grace, went down to Parkinson steps early in the morning to meet Gabriel before he headed off for a lovely walk to Malham Cove.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Gabriel and I’m in the first year of my Physics PHD. I am originally from Portugal, Lisbon where I did my undergraduate and masters degrees in maths.

How did you first hear about GOGA?

I was looking on the Leeds University Union website when I first moved here. I wanted to find cool new things to do and that’s where I came across a GOGA walking event.

What activities have you participated in through the GOGA programme?

So far I have been on many walks in Yorkshire and the rest of the UK – today I’m going on my 10th walk!

What made you first take part in a GOGA activity?

I wanted a chance to meet new people and visit the countryside in and around Leeds. It’s certainly helped me to do both of those things!

What have you enjoyed most about getting involved as a participant with GOGA?

GOGA gives me the chance to get away from work for a while and do something completely different. My highlight so far has been the walk to Whitby, the weather was amazing that day!

Participants enjoyed cooking up sweet and savoury vegan dishes in our second food workshop of the term.

On the menu of our Vegan workshop we had Sicilian aubergine stew (Caponata) and raw coconut balls.

Traditionally, the main motivation behind veganism was to prevent animal cruelty and exploitation. The activators leading the session, Ellie and Gabriele, discussed the rise in veganism over recent years and the shift in motivations; many people are now adopting the diet to improve their health and reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

Participants learnt some interesting facts about veganism throughout the workshop. For example, the number of vegans in Great Britain increased four times between 2014-2019 and almost half (42%) of UK vegans made the diet change in 2018.

Participants were informed how they can get the nourishment they need from a plant-based diet and we suggested some easy food swaps to reduce meat intake whilst still consuming a tasty and balanced diet.

Our activator, Gabriele, demonstrated the savoury and sweet dishes before the participants split off into small groups to have a go at cooking the recipes. First up was the raw coconut balls. These are the perfect option any time you’re craving a sweet snack. The balls are quick and easy to make and can be made in a large batch and stored in the fridge or freezer.

Whilst the coconut balls were setting in the freezer, participants prepared the Sicilian stew. This traditional dish can be eaten warm as a side dish or main or cold as an antipasto. The stew combines aubergine and tomatoes seasoned with vinegar, salted capers, onions and green olives.

All participants had the opportunity to tuck into their creations at the end of the workshop whilst chatting with other participants and the team of volunteers and activators.

If you’d like to enhance your cooking skills and nutrition knowledge in a fun and social environment, be sure to come along to our next workshop. Our final workshop of the term is Festive Treats themed and is on Thursday 5^th December. We will be making traditional British festive treats and we will learn about different festivities around the globe. Book your place for this workshop now.

To have a go at making the vegan recipes yourself, please click here.

Our climbing programme is bigger and better than ever before with indoor and outdoor sessions taking place throughout the autumn term.

Participants have been enjoying indoor sessions at the climbing wall at the Edge and outdoor trips at the beautiful spot, Almscliffe Crag.

Our indoor sessions are ideal for beginners and they provide an opportunity to progress with the necessary skills and knowledge onto our outdoor climbing trips. Climbing indoors is a lot of fun and can teach you valuable skills. Many famous rock climbers have learned their skills on indoor climbing walls! You can expect to be shown the basics of climbing from bouldering and scaling 8m up the climbing wall, to coming back down safely.

You will also learn the key skill of how to belay others.

Our two outdoor climbing trips have proved to be popular this term. Almscliffe Crag is a beautiful spot for climbing. The crag is considered the greatest gritstone crag in Yorkshire and it has been climbed by some of the very best climbers!

From the top of the crag you can enjoy the scenic views of the valley below. On our outdoor trips this month, participants were led through some basic bouldering before having a go on the ropes, scaling carefully up the crag and abseiling back down again.

Phil, our climbing instructor, is able to adapt the rope course so it’s appropriate for all – whether you’ve had no previous climbing experience before or you consider yourself an expert! Almscliffe Crag is a climber’s paradise with lots of different routes available of varying difficulty.

Climbing is a fantastic full-body workout. It’s the ideal challenge both physically and mentally!

We have a few indoor climbing sessions left this term. You can book your spot here. Our outdoor climbing sessions at Almscliffe Crag will return to the programme next spring.