Sport and Wellbeing activities

We pride ourselves on the number of opportunities our students can experience when they study within Sport and Wellbeing. Activities have ranged from inspirational and thought-provoking talks to CPD sessions and physiology testing

Last month, our final-year Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students met the Dutch women's cricket World Cup team, Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB), to provide soft tissue treatment ahead of their game against India.

The two Level 6 students who delivered the therapy did so as part of their work in the University’s Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, a new, expert-led setting providing students with the opportunity to gain real-world clinical experience as an integrated part of their studies.

Student Tom Harban said: "Providing soft tissue treatment to World Cup players was an insightful and fantastic learning experience, as I got to understand what the athletes go through on a day-to-day basis to maintain high performance. Knowing that our help will improve their performances is an amazing feeling, and I am grateful for the opportunity."

Leeds Trinity has a strong reputation for career-led education, with professional work placements and applied learning opportunities embedded into the curriculum. Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students work with professional athletes and sports teams year-round to develop key skills and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, including supporting them to prepare for competitions.

The Dutch women cricket team with two Leeds Trinity University students in a conditioning suite.

Moving on Event

The School of Health and Life Sciences, together with our Careers+Placements team, hosted the Sport Careers Employability Day in February. The event gave students from across our sport degrees the chance to explore industry pathways, build professional networks, access live vacancies and placements, and receive guidance on their career development.

Keynote
Tom Williams, Co‑Founder and Director of Participate World and former COO of parkrun Global, delivered an inspiring keynote on his career journey, the global growth of parkrun, and how students can build meaningful professional relationships.

Careers+Placements Fair
The day included a Careers+Placements Fair featuring more than 14 organisations sharing opportunities and insights into their recruitment processes.

Participating organisations included: GO Global, CCUSA, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation, Leeds SCITT, Leeds Trinity Postgraduate (MSc Health and Wellbeing), LS‑TEN, PE Partner, Pe Pro and Elite Teaching Solutions, Royal Air Force, Sporting Influence, The British Army, Total Sports Limited, Trinity Fitness, West Riding County Football Association and United Education.

Panel and Next Steps
A panel discussion with Shazia Ali (Asian Sports Foundation), Graeme Woodward (Optimize Fitness Ltd/Visiting Lecturer) and Cherelle Mitchell (CIMSPA) explored the skills and attributes needed for success in the sector. Students also gained useful labour market insights to support their career planning.

Image of Co-Founder and Director of Participate World and former Chief Operating Officer of parkrun Global, Tom Williams.

Keynote speaker, Tom Williams

Moving on Event Panel session

Image of our Careers+Placement team member.

Meet our Careers+Placements team at the Employability Fair

Image of Careers+Placements Information session.

Careers+Placements Next Steps Information session

Sport and Wellbeing Guest Speaker sessions

As part of our ongoing commitment to connect our students with industry professionals, we welcomed two Sport and Exercise Science alumni to share insights from their career journeys. Matt Gray (2022 graduate), Assistant Head Coach at Peterborough Swimming Club and former elite swimmer, delivered an in‑person session in October 2025, offering reflections on his time at LTU and practical advice on developing applied skills, growth mindset, and employability.

In January 2026, Danny Doherty, Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach for Derry City FC Senior Men, joined students online to discuss how to maximise development opportunities, providing a detailed look into his role within an elite multidisciplinary team. Both sessions gave students valuable, real‑world perspectives on progressing in the sport and exercise science sector.

Image of alumni, Matt gray giving a talk to our Sports students.

St Georges' Park visit

Students from our Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Therapy courses had an amazing visit to St George's Park – the FA’s national football centre. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore the world-class facilities, engage in a range of activities, and even bump into high-profile head coaches.

This visit provided invaluable insights into the professional sports world, and we’re proud to offer such enriching opportunities to our students. Stay tuned for more exciting experiences ahead!

Image of Sports and Exercise students at St George's Park.

Leeds Knights partnership

Leeds Trinity has formed a new partnership with local ice hockey club Leeds Knights, providing students with invaluable practical experience.

Students will have the opportunity to attend the team’s training sessions, applying their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings using portable sports science kits such as NordBord and GPS technology.

This hands-on experience will allow students to assist with performance testing and data analysis, directly contributing to the team's growth and training programmes. The collaboration will also provide students with insights into working with athletes and coaching teams in a high-performance setting.

Image of Sport and Wellbeing staff at a Leeds Knight match.

Olympic medallist shares career lessons

In January, we welcomed Olympic, Commonwealth, and World Championship medal-winning gymnast Nile Wilson to our Moving Forward: Working in Sport and Wellbeing Conference.

Nile, who made history by winning bronze in the Horizontal Bars event at the Rio 2016 Olympics, delivered the keynote speech, discussing his personal journey, mental health struggles, and transition after retirement. He encouraged students to embrace failure as a learning opportunity and highlighted the importance of a positive mindset.

The conference also featured a careers fair and themed sessions, providing a fantastic platform for students to connect with industry professionals and gain inspiration for their future careers.

Image of Bronze Olympic medalist, Nile Wilson.

Sports Therapy CPD sessions

We work with Simply MSK Ltd, a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal (MSK) education provider, offering CPD sessions for our Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students. Their sessions focus on simplifying MSK concepts and enhancing practical skills for clinical practice. Previous sessions have covered diagnosing, managing, and rehabilitation an ACL injury and more recently conducting a Tendinopathy Lecture, exploring the latest evidence and rehabilitation strategies.

Students can get involved by attending these workshops and lectures, which are often held on campus. These events provide valuable insights into current MSK practices and offer networking opportunities with professionals in the field.