Tell us about your project/fundraiser. 

Our project aimed to provide free taekwondo classes in competitive poomsae to under-18s in East London from groups that are historically under-represented and unlikely to be able to access competitive-level sports. With support from KCL SU and local community groups, we were able to offer sessions every two weeks led by experienced instructors and our club volunteers, attend a seminar from a world champion, and provide entry and coaching for two online international and one national in-person competition. Whilst competitive taekwondo was our activity focus, the project's real goal was to improve the participants' confidence, resilience and independent working skills. We were delighted to run 16 sessions to a full class over 6 months of the academic year.

Why is this cause important to you?  

Having started taekwondo only a few years ago myself, and started competitive poomsae only within the last year and a half, it was incredibly clear to me how this discipline had improved my skills and mindset, as well as those of my peers. We had become more focused and confident individuals and felt proud of the work we had done. I had been voluntarily teaching a girls-only class in East London and noticed how there was a big gap in any area of competitive sport for this group. There were huge financial barriers, and the community groups that ran programs did not have the capacity or funding to run a competitive program. It was clear to me that there was a gap in opportunities that we, as a group at KCL Taekwondo, could help with and contribute to our local community.

Having been an assistant coach and volunteer lead of the project, I've watched every single one of our participants grow in confidence in a way that I haven't seen in other environments before. Kids who were too nervous to perform or would stand silent the whole lesson were now conquering their fears and becoming independent young individuals. Seeing how empowered they've become through just a 1.5-hour class every couple of weeks has been an incredibly rewarding experience. 

How did funding help your project? 

Without funding, the program just wouldn't have been possible. There are significant fees for buying association licenses and competition entries, which are a huge barrier to taking part in competitive taekwondo. The funding allowed us to cover the cost of competitions, pay for qualified and experienced coaching, and for a good quality venue to make the experience safe and accessible. It also helped us to get matching team jackets to help the children with their sense of belonging and feel proud of their group.

What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? 

One challenge was taking the children to the first in-person competition. While I've been a competitor and coach for adults many times, I have not done this; I have only been coaching children before. I didn't anticipate how hard it would be to juggle the competition schedule for the day, with it not being live updated anywhere. Trying to keep the children entertained for hours but also ready to perform at short notice was a struggle! Luckily, the other volunteers and I allocated ourselves to participants to keep the morale high, let them explore with us, and stay in touch! One of our club coaches also came to help support us - even though they just brought us volunteers coffee, it made it all that bit easier. It worked out great in the end, and the kids never knew that there was stress behind the scenes!

What would you say to other King's students interested in volunteering? 

I've found volunteering this year to be a fully worthwhile experience. It broadened my own horizons on what I can do for my future and how much we can give back with not so much of our time. I'd really recommend either finding a project you have a lot of interest in - or if there isn't one to launch your own! The volunteering team at the SU have been so helpful, and that made it a really enjoyable and easy experience. 

What do you plan to do next to support your community? 

I'll be finishing my taekwondo coaching qualifications this summer, so plan to up my hours teaching in the community next! I'd really like to look more into helping to provide female-only options for training, and I'll also be running a free class for staff at the hospital I work at over the summer, too!