Downing kicks off Active Students programme
Image left: Richard Baker & Andy Murray during Andy’s Murray’s press conference after winning the Wimbledon Men’s Singles title in 2013. Richard has served on the Committee of Management of the Wimbledon Championships since 2010. Image right: A photo of Richard whilst at Downing. Richard captained the Downing tennis team.
Sport at Downing has received a welcome boost thanks to a generous gift from Downing alumnus, Richard Baker (1981).
I strongly believe that College sports are a critical building block in the Collegiate community as well as providing a wealth of well-being benefits to students. With that in mind, I have committed to donating a relatively substantial sum for the next five years to kick-start the College sports programme, to bring students back onto the games field.
Richard Baker (Downing1981)
Richard’s support has enabled Downing, in conjunction with the University of Cambridge Sports Service, to create the new ‘Active Students’ programme which over the next five years aims to increase the number of students who participate in sport or physical activity at any level, from complete beginner through to elite competition. The programme is designed to encourage students to attend taster sessions, enhance coaching for College teams and provide grants to students for equipment, training and competition costs.
Speaking about why he is supporting this initiative, Richard Baker said:
“As a highly active sportsman during my time at Downing, I was surprised to see the general decline in inter-collegiate sport across Cambridge Colleges. Very few are now able to raise a whole sports team without combining with other Colleges.
"I strongly believe that College sports are a critical building block in the Collegiate community as well as providing a wealth of well-being benefits to students. With that in mind, I have committed to donating a relatively substantial sum for the next five years to kick-start the College sports programme, to bring students back onto the games field.
"Of course, there is always more that can be done, so extra support from our alumni community would be welcome. Please do consider donating whatever you feel you can to help support this programme.”
The ‘Active Students’ initiative has already started to take effect with ‘Give it a go’ sessions taking place this term across Cambridge, including the tennis and netball courts at Downing. These sessions offer free, beginner-friendly, inclusive activities for any Cambridge student to try. The sessions are all coach or volunteer-led and will feature something for everyone from squash, table tennis and pickleball to cricket, lacrosse and walking.
Professor Graham Virgo KC (Hon), Master of Downing College said:
“We are immensely grateful to Richard for his gift which will be pivotal for revitalising sport at Downing. Sport and physical activity have always played a big part in Downing life. I have seen first-hand the benefits these bring to our students and the sense of community that participating in College sports brings. Thanks to Richard’s ongoing gift I am confident that Downing will be leading the way in College sport and would encourage our alumni to add to the fund to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity at any level.”
Contact
For more information on the Active Students initiative or if you would like to make a gift please email development@dow.cam.ac.uk
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Philanthropic giving is at the heart of the success of the Collegiate University, enabling us to make discoveries that change the world and to ensure that our students receive an unrivalled education. Cambridge owes its world-leading excellence in research and teaching to the generosity of its supporters. Our history is synonymous with a history of far-sighted benefaction, and the same is as true today as it has ever been.
