London South Bank University (LSBU) won the Digital and Tech Innovation Award at the London Sport Awards 2024 on 21 March at the Guildhall, City of London. The Digital and Tech Innovation Award was won for LSBU’s work using physical activity to tackle mental health disparities among black students in higher education. That included the work by LSBU students to support the development of the YouPlus app (with NHS Good Thinking & Office for Students) which has workouts promoting the academic advantages of exercise, increased physical activity and mental wellbeing.

The YouPlus app is part of the work done by LSBU Black Students Mental Health project to prevent mental health deterioration and promote early access to mental health support and has reached and benefited nearly 1000 students in the last year.

The London Sport Awards Digital and Tech Innovation Award, ‘recognises creative new thinking, innovative ideas through the creation and/or use of digital or tech methods to support inactive Londoners to get and stay physically active.’ The London Sport Awards 2024 had over 400 nominations across ten Awards categories.

Alan Taylor, Head of Sport and Recreation at LSBU, said,

“Winning the Digital and Tech award at this year’s London Sport Awards is a huge tribute to the amazing work of LSBU students who developed the YouPlus app with NHS Good Thinking & Office for Students.

“The YouPlus app is aimed at supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing with workouts promoting the academic advantages of exercise, increased physical activity and mental wellbeing. Since the app was launched it has reached and benefited nearly 1000 students in the last year.”