Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Universities invite residents to be part of Varsity
Children and young people can take part in free sports sessions while community organisations benefit from student volunteers as the city's largest universities celebrate their annual Varsity competition.
When is Varsity 2024?
This year's Varsity competition between University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University holds its largest event, the rugby finale, on Wednesday 24 April at Headingley Stadium.
The finale consists of two matches, with the women's match kicking off at 17:15 before the men's at 19:15. The total crowd is likely once again to be between 7,000 and 10,000.
Get involved
Leeds Becket University is offering the local community free sessions at the Carnegie Junior Sports Academy, Headingley Campus, on Saturday 20 April. There's a wide range of sports available:
Squash
- 10-11:00 - Junior squash ages 8-11 or beginners
- 11-12:00 - Junior squash ages 12 and above
- 12-13:00 - Open family Squash
Athletics
- 11-12:00 - Junior Athletics ages 8-10
- 12-13:15 - Junior Athletics ages 11-13
- 1:15-14:45 - Junior Athletics ages 14+
- 12:30-14:30 - Open family athletics
American Football
- 10:30-12:00 - Junior American Football- Contact session- Under 16's (must be 14+)
- 11-12:30 - Junior American Football- Flag session- Under 14's and 11's (must be age 8 or above)
Tennis
- 11-13:00 - Family Tennis Session
You can book your place now through this online form.
We are also sharing this information through schools and continue to advertise to local community and family groups.
University of Leeds students are signing up for volunteering opportunities through its Gryphons in the Community initiative, which uses the power of sport to bring communities together. You can read about one of the University of Leeds' students and their experience of volunteering at Ruth Gorse Academy here. Meanwhile, students are preparing to motivate fellow runners, at the upcoming Leeds Marathon and Woodhouse Moor Parkruns, with plenty of cheers and handing out water. Learn about the opportunities available for students by following this link.
Local community groups can also advertise opportunities for student volunteers from Leeds Beckett through the Students' Union volunteer hub.
Limiting community impact
The captains of all teams competing have once again signed up to the community pledge, which covers a range of anti-social behaviour, including litter and noise when leaving the venue. The pledge directly links behaviour during Varsity to the university disciplinary processes.
The stadium security is placing bins at every entry point, in which they will place any confiscated items. The stadium also has bins on the exits so that no rubbish is removed from the stadium.
Leeds University Union and Leeds Beckett students will once again employ a team of litter pickers for the streets with the highest footfall surrounding the stadium. The litter picks will take place during the finale and first thing the following morning (Thursday 25 April) before schools open. The team will be in close contact with the council's cleaner neighbourhoods team to make sure that any hazards that cannot safely be removed, like smashed glass, are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The universities fund a dedicated noise nuisance service for inner north-west Leeds. Two dedicated response officers respond exclusively to calls in the area until 4am (last call out 3.30am) every night, seven days a week. The officers will be on patrol before and after the Varsity finale. People can also report anti-social behaviour online using Leeds City Council's web form for anti-social behaviour.
