Summary of The Loughborough Challenge

Pleasure from learning, physical activity and social contribution to all parts of our community

Challenge your mind, body and social conscience. Learn a new skill. Take on a new physical challenge. Make a social contribution. Feel fulfilled.

The Loughborough Challenge

We are extremely proud to be hosting The Loughborough Challenge. It is inspired by “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award” and – drawing on the “5 steps to mental wellbeing” – asks you to learn new things, take exercise and make a social contribution.

Why would you take part in the Loughborough Challenge?

  • It is a structured and creative approach towards leading a healthy and interesting lifestyle
  • Personal achievement. You should get real satisfaction from each of the three elements
  • To develop new skills, sports and/or connections
  • You can also use your cumulated skills and wisdom for the benefit of others and within a publicly recognised context.

If you complete the challenge there are the benefits of becoming a Gold Member of The Challenge Hub (please see the “Membership Levels” page), the certificate which we will send you and public recognition on our Roll of Honour.

But really it’s about having fun, establishing your boundaries and feeling good in yourself.

REGISTER
The Rules

On registration you will be asked to confirm in confidence that you are experiencing issues of mental health or of mental / physical (which for these purposes includes sensory) impairment.

You must complete achievements within each of the three categories of (a) learning (b) physical activity and (c) making a social contribution.

Qualifying achievements are listed below for each of the three categories. Each are marked as attracting 1, 2, or 3 points, depending on how demanding they are.

To complete the challenge – and to become a Gold Member of The Challenge Hub – complete one task from each category which together attract at least 6 points. For 6 points the options would therefore be to select challenges at 3×2 points or as 1, 2 and 3 points.

A Roll of Honour will record all those who complete The Loughborough Challenge Challenge and we will highlight the names of all those who become Gold Members with 8 or 9 points.

Members have three years from registering with The Challenge Hub in which to complete the challenge.

Please note: You will be deciding what challenges you want to set yourself to achieve The Loughborough Challenge, so by participating you agree that The Challenge Hub will not be liable for any loss or harm which you may suffer in the course of your Loughborough Challenge, nor as a result of any decisions which you might make. Please do consider your personal circumstances and safety before embarking on any course of action as a result of the contents of this website or actions of The Challenge Hub. Thank you.

How to tell us you have completed the Challenge

Members can access the ‘My Loughborough Challenge’ workbook, which can be filled out after each activity.

It provides a simple way of organising achievements so that, when it comes to telling us that you have completed your Loughborough Challenge, everything will be together and easier to send us. Non-members can also view a limited version of the ‘My Loughborough Challenge’ workbook online.

two women doing yoga

Planning your challenge

Our menu for the Learning, Physical and Social Contribution challenges is below. In the Members’ area we explain the evidence required and make a suggestion on how you might set about planning your Loughborough Challenge with the right balance for you between learning, contributing and physical exercise.

Don’t be daunted by what you can’t do but concentrate on what you can do. We are confident that there is something in there for everyone. You could consider, for example:

1 point – Learning – 10 learning sessions on any subject, skill or craft

2 points – Physical activity – taking part in 6 charity / local community events

3 points – Social Contribution – 20 weeks of volunteering for 2 hours per week.

On the other hand, our three point physical challenges are deliberately demanding.

The idea is to have fun. It doesn’t matter if you don’t complete it but just have a go and see where you get to.

The Menu

– 1 POINT –

Learning

Attendance at a minimum of 10 lectures or learning sessions, each lasting at least 1 hour, within a period of 12 months and provided by one or more established organisations known for delivery of education or training.

Physical Challenge

Canoeing
Canoeing (Canadian canoe or kayak) any river for a distance of at least 30 miles in one series of consecutive days.

Charity / Community Events
Charities and communities organise a wide range of creative physical events which simply cannot be listed here. So: In any 12-month period completing a minimum of three charity or community organised physical events.

Cycling
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period complete two official organised Cyclo-Sportives each of which exceed 40 miles
or
(b) Complete in one session of consecutive days a linear cycling tour of a distance of at least 150 miles.

Hill walking
Climbing any two mountains in the UK, one of which must be over 600 metres in height. Each mountain must be in a different area chosen from the following menu:
(a) Cheviot Hills (b) Ireland (c) Lake District (d) Peak District (e) Scotland and (f) Wales

Individual sports
For any other individual sport listed in this table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge having never within the previous five years been a member of a club for that sport and participating in sport at the club on at least eight occasions within a 12-month period.

Leisure Centres

In one activity centre and within one period of 12 hours:

(a) Swim 40 lengths of a 25M pool or 20 lengths of a 50M pool plus

(b) “Run” on a jogging machine a distance of 5K plus

(c) “Cycle” on a spinning machine a distance of 10 miles

[Evidence required: These achievements must be formally monitored by a manager at the relevant activity centre. A written description of the achievements including location, date, times and distances must be signed off by the manager on headed notepaper of the activity centre – or stamped by the activity centre – and submitted]

Pilates / Yoga
Joining a class of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge and attending ten sessions over a period not exceeding 40 weeks.

Running (including by wheelchair)
Completing two official Half Marathons

Team Sports
For any other team sport listed in this table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a match-playing member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge and playing in at least five matches within a 12-month period.

​Triathlons
Completing two super sprint or sprint triathlons (400m, 10km, 2,5km / 750m, 20km, 5km).

Walking (including by wheelchair)
Either:
A linear walk anywhere in the world of at least 35 miles completed over consecutive days
or
Joining the Ramblers™ Association or similar officially recognised body and participating in at least four excursions.

​ Social Contribution

Working as a volunteer for a single qualifying organisation for a minimum of two hours per week for at least 10 weeks within any single period of 20 weeks

– 2 POINTS –

Learning

Attending throughout any course operated by any recognised provider of any skills / craft / talent-based training where that course operates over one academic or calendar year. Passing distance-learning accredited modules over at least one full academic year.

Acquiring A or AS Levels, GCSEs, NVQs, diplomas or other formal qualifications acquired through a course lasting one academic year.

Physical Challenge

Canoeing
Either:
(a) Canoeing (Canadian Canoe or Kayak) any two rivers for a distance for each of at least 50 miles and in each case in one series of consecutive days.
or
(b) canoeing one such river for a distance of at least 50 miles plus in the Lake District, England, canoeing the length of each of Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Ullswater, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake within one series of consecutive days.

Charity Events:
In any 12-month period completing a minimum of six charity or community organised physical events.

Cycling:
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period completing official organised cyclosportives which in aggregate distance exceed 500 miles.
or
(b) Completing within a 12-month period and in no more than two sessions linear cycling tours of an aggregate distance of at least 400 miles.

​Hill walking:
Either:
(a) successfully completing The Three Peaks Challenge.
or 
(b) climbing Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Scafell and Skiddaw in one session of no more than four consecutive days.

​Individual sports:
For any other individual sport listed in this table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge having never within the previous five years been a member of a club for that sport*, completing a course of at least three lessons from a professional coach and participating in sport at the club on at least 10 other occasions, all within a 12 month period.

*Note: The intention is that this should be engagement with a new sport or one which is revisited from the past.

Leisure Centres

In one activity centre and within one period of 12 hours:

(a) Swim 60 lengths of a 25M pool or 30 lengths of a 50M pool plus

(b) “Run” on a jogging machine a distance of 13 miles (approximately a half-marathon) plus

(c) “Cycle” on a spinning machine a distance of 40 miles

[Evidence required: These achievements must be formally monitored by a manager at the relevant activity centre. A written description of the achievements including location, date, times and distances must be signed off by the manager on headed notepaper of the activity centre – or stamped by the activity centre – and submitted]

Rowing:
For a club which you joined after registering for the Challenge, taking part in 4 regattas within a 12-month period. 

Running (including by wheelchair):
Completing an official marathon never having done so before registering for the challenge. 

Sailing:
For a club which you joined after registering for the Challenge taking part in four regattas.

Sea kayaking:
Going on two linear sea kayaking expeditions anywhere in the world, each of which involve sea kayaking for at least 4 hours per day over at least 4 consecutive days.

Team sports:
For any other team sport listed in this table of National Governing Bodies: representing a club in formal matches or competitions against other clubs on at least ten occasions, having not on more than three previous occasions represented that club in any matches or competitions for that sport at any time before registering for The Loughborough Challenge*. 

*Note: The philosophy is that we are encouraging the taking on of new challenges rather than rewarding extensions of past achievement.

Triathlons:
Complete two Olympic distance official triathlons having never done so before registering for the Challenge.

Walking (including by wheelchair):
A linear walk(s) anywhere in the world of at least 125 miles in aggregate, completed in no more than two sets of consecutive days.

Social Contribution

Working as a volunteer for a single qualifying organisation for a minimum of two hours per week for at least 15 weeks within any single period of 35 weeks.

– 3 POINTS –

Learning

Passing distance-learning accredited modules over at least two full academic years.

Acquiring A or AS Levels, GCSEs, NVQs, diplomas or other formal qualifications acquired through a course lasting two academic years.

Physical Challenge

Canoeing
Canoeing (Canadian canoe or kayak) any six rivers / canals for a distance of at least 60 miles each and in each case in one series of consecutive days.

​Cycling
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period complete official organised Cyclo-Sportives which in aggregate distance exceed 1,500 miles.
or
(b) Complete within a 12-month period and in no more than two sessions a linear cycling tour of a distance of at least 874 miles (the traditional cycling distance of John O’Groats to Land’s End).

​Hill walking:
Completing the ‘Bob Graham Round’ in one session of no more than six days.

Individual sports
[Not applicable for 3 points]

Leisure Centres

[Not applicable for 3 points]

Running (including by wheelchair)
Within a 12-month period completing five or more official marathons. 

Sailing
Taking part in either (a) one yacht race over a distance of at least 1,000 nautical miles or (b) two yacht races each of which is over a distance of at least 500 miles.

Sea kayaking:
Taking part in a sea kayaking expedition anywhere in the world where the end point is at least 150 miles from the start point, the distance is travelled by kayaking in one sequence of consecutive days and the sea kayak is never transported when out of the water.

Team sports:
[Not applicable for 3 points]

Triathlons:
Complete 2 x 70.3 (Half Ironman) distance triathlons OR 1 x 140.6 (Ironman) distance triathlon.

Walking (including by wheelchair):
A linear walk anywhere in the world of at least 200 miles completed over consecutive days.

Social Contribution 

Working as a volunteer for either one or two Qualifying Organisations for a minimum of two hours per week for at least 20 weeks in aggregate within any single period of 52 weeks.

two men talking

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