University of the Highlands and Islands: Amanda Fleet Finalist for ‘Employee of the Year’ at Scottish Charity Awards
Amanda Fleet, Sports Development Coordinator at the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA), has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Employee of the Year’ category at the upcoming Scottish Charity Awards. As a finalist, Amanda is also in the running for the People’s Choice Award, where the winner will be determined by a public vote.
This announcement comes on the heels of another recent achievement for Amanda, winning the title of ‘Staff Member of the Year’ at the NUS Scotland Awards.
Amanda has earned this recognition for her dedication to sporting inclusion and for transforming opportunities for students at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). Since taking on the role in December 2023, she has tripled the number of active sports clubs from nine to 24 and increased student membership from 100 to 400.
Amanda has been proactive in promoting inclusion by engaging women, LGBTQ+ students, and those facing barriers to traditional sports. She is the LGBTQ+ lead on the Scottish Student Sport Equality Steering Group and provides mentorship on the SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) Scottish Women in Sport leadership programme.
Through her collaboration with academic staff, active campus coordinators and community organisations, Amanda helped form the first UHI boccia clubs, providing a platform for students with disabilities to participate in sports. She also helped establish UHI’s new shinty teams, culminating in the first ever UHI entry, and victory, in the Littlejohn tournament.
Amanda said: “I’m extremely passionate about all aspects of developing sports at UHI and have felt very well supported in everything that I do by my colleagues in HISA and UHI. Being recognised by the Scottish Charity Awards and NUS Scotland is an absolute honour and I look forward to continuing my work making sports accessible to all.”
Rachel Burn, CEO at HISA added: “I am delighted at this well-deserved recognition of Amanda’s achievements at the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association over the past year. From championing disability and LGBTQ+ sport to fiercely contested varsity competitions to shinty success in the Littlejohn tournament. Amanda’s passion for sport and her ability to enable all to participate shine through.”
Dr Iain Morrison, Dean of Student Experience at UHI, echoed: “UHI is proud of Amanda in gaining this much deserved national recognition. She has been the driving force behind a step change in sporting opportunities for our students. We work closely with our students’ association, and we are grateful to Sport Scotland, the joint funders of Amanda’s post, in helping us create yet another great reason to study at UHI!”
The Scottish Charity Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday 20 June, and you can vote for Amanda for the People’s Choice Award from now until Friday 24 May.