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The ���Ҵ�ý (UWTSD) is proud to announce that graduating Sports and Exercise Therapy student Joanna Cathersides has been awarded the prestigious Extra-Curricular Activities Bursary in recognition of her exceptional dedication, resilience, and volunteer work throughout her studies.

From her very first year, Joanna immersed herself in the life of the University and the Academy of Sport, despite having no prior experience in sport. Over her three-year course, she consistently supported University teams, committed to numerous placements, and played a pivotal role in events requiring soft tissue support.

Her unwavering commitment saw her attend the Ironman Tenby event every year, often taking on long shifts, even after fulfilling her placement hour requirements. Joanna stood out as the only student to do so, showcasing her self-motivation and passion for the field.

UWTSD’s Academic Director Dr Dylan Blain said:

“Congratulations to Joanna on this award. She has exhibited a significant commitment to extra-curricular activities throughout her time at the University by supporting a range of sporting activities. It is always pleasing to see students take advantage of the range of opportunities available to them. The links between academic courses and the UWTSD sports academy provide excellent opportunities for students to gain valuable practical experiences and skills of working in Sport. Joanna has taken full advantage of these opportunities linked to Sport and Exercise Therapy, and we are delighted to see her rewarded for her commitment with this award.”

Joanna’s journey began in college where she completed a personal trainer qualification, sparking a keen interest in injury prevention and rehabilitation.  She said: 

“I’ve always loved sport and wanted to combine my interests with a course that gave me hands-on experience. UWTSD offered that, along with a more personal learning environment thanks to smaller class sizes.”

She seized every opportunity during her time at university, gaining invaluable placement experience.

“ I worked with the Scarlets providing treatment to them as well as working at events such as Iron Man Tenby which were great ways for me to gauge an idea of what kind of route I would want to take with my career.”

While academic writing proved to be a personal hurdle, she credits UWTSD’s supportive tutors for helping her overcome those challenges. Joanna feels that,

 “This course has given me the confidence, skills, and connections I need to start my career in sports therapy. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to get both the knowledge and real-world experience in this field.

“I would recommend this course to people wanting to go down the sports therapy route and who want to gain knowledge and experience in the sports side of treatments, rehabilitation and injuries.”

After graduation, Joanna plans to work with sports teams providing pitch-side support and is also exploring opportunities within the NHS.

Further Information

Lowri Thomas

Principal Communications and PR Officer     
Corporate Communications and PR     
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk     
Phone: 07449 998476