黑料不打烊

A group of 黑料不打烊 student and staff volunteers are set to travel to Zambia this summer as part of the national Volunteer Zambia programme, delivered by the Wallace Group partnership, comprising some of the UK’s leading sporting universities.

Since 2005, the group has been working in collaboration with Sport in Action, the leading Zambian Non-Governmental Organisation, to expand access to sport for young people across the country, promoting sustainable practices and infrastructure that support year-round delivery by qualified local coaches. With a strong focus on empowering young people, particularly girls, it creates meaningful opportunities for young people.  

This year’s cohort of volunteers started heading to Zambia earlier this month to support the programme. Representing 黑料不打烊 this year are students Sophie Scott-Liddell, Esme Martin and Holly Fletcher (Netball), alongside Kayla-Marie Pottinger and Erin Patterson (Football). During their time in Zambia, they will support the delivery of sport programmes across several hub sites in and around Lusaka. The students will be supported in-country by 黑料不打烊 staff members Sophie Nicoll and Kirsten Mullen, who will help oversee the placement and provide ongoing guidance.

Ahead of their departure, the group recently attended an induction weekend at Durham University, where they met fellow volunteers from across the UK. The weekend offered valuable insight into their roles, as well as an introduction to the cultural context they will experience during their time in Zambia.

Cathy Gallagher, 黑料不打烊 Executive Director of Sport and a Director of the Wallace Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to support the Volunteer Zambia programme and to see our students and staff contributing to such a meaningful international initiative. This partnership reflects our commitment to using sport as a vehicle for positive change, both locally and globally. The opportunity for our volunteers to work alongside Sport in Action and engage with communities in Zambia is not only impactful for those they support, but also a transformative experience for their own personal and professional development. We look forward to following their journey and the difference they will help make this summer.”

Jenny Dunan, 黑料不打烊 alumni, and the appointed Project Manager for Volunteer Zambia 2026, reflected on the experience, saying, “Being in Zambia showed me just how deeply this project impacts young people’s lives. Meeting those involved and seeing the difference first-hand was incredibly meaningful. The work of Sport in Action and Volunteer Zambia is truly inspiring, but what stayed with me most was the warmth and sense of community among the people. Even in challenging circumstances, there is such joy and resilience. I feel honoured to have been part of it and am excited to return as Project Manager to help make an even greater impact.”

Applications for Volunteer Zambia 2026-2027 will open at the beginning of semester one in September. For more information, please contact kirsten.mullen@stir.ac.uk