Out & About
People, purpose and potential PB’s
Words by Jason Best
25 May 2023
Print designer and sports fanatic Jason Best shares more about UnitedUs sporting activities.
As desk dwellers, we sit down for many hours each day at work – whether in the studio or remotely at home. Whilst I was sitting down at the big roundtable in the UnitedUs studio, a thought came to mind ‘What can we do to encourage people to get up and be active?’ So once I’d finished my 11am cuppa and biccies, I pulled the MacBook closer and started initial outreach: to set up UnitedUs Sports Club – to get the team up, out and having fun through sporting activities.
Being an active part of UnitedUs Sports Club
As the nominated Captain of the UnitedUs Sports Club, I couldn’t be happier to fulfil this role. It’s no secret in the studio that I’m a big advocate for exercise. As a running ambassador for local club, RunBrighton, I’m used to leading group exercise, offering support, motivation and ensuring we don’t get lost… although we can take an unexpected turn now and again.
UnitedUs Sports Club was born so that everyone in our team has the opportunity to try new things, develop their skills and support each other to have a positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. We’ve compiled a growing list of sporting activities that everyone can contribute to and be a part of. Ranging from badminton to roller disco, kayaking to table tennis.
Go karting – satisfying our need for speed
We headed to TeamSport Lancing, where twelve members of the team got to grips with electric karts, channelling our inner Mario Kart whenever we pushed the boost button (no bananas or oil slicks involved on this occasion). The post-race feeling permeated into the studio the next day, as the team buzzed with tales of near misses, daring overtakes and accusations of foul play. It was the first time many of the team had tried go karting, and it was safe to say they were hooked.
Next it was time to put our learnings from the track into a corporate event at TeamSport Crawley, where 20 teams from various organisations raced petrol karts over three levels, in a fast and furious adrenaline-fuelled two hour endurance race. It needed a real team spirit to give your best, knowing as a collective you were aiming to finish as high as possible up the leaderboard. Despite not making the podium, we were full of healthy competition, whizzing round the course and trying not to get overtaken.
Bouldering – chalking up… bring on the wall!
A few of the team had been bouldering before, and to make the most of doing something indoors when the weather is less than favourable, an adventurous four of the team partook in a session on a wet and windy Monday evening at the end of last year.
The mental challenge of planning your route to the top, along with the physical strength and determination needed, makes for a full body workout. Bruno and Stephanie enjoyed the experience so much, that they now regularly visit Boulder Brighton to test and develop their skills on the wall.
Padel – getting to grips with the UK’s fastest growing sport
With an invested interest in the UKs fastest growing sport (watch this space!), we jumped at the chance to take to the court to play Padel. Sometimes known as Padel Tennis, this racket sport is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court. It’s fast paced, strategic and very sociable, but the racquets still remind us of that classic garden game, Swingball.
Six of the team went to the only court in Brighton at the Withdean Sports Club, to get to grips with the sport itself and how the experience feels, from booking to playing. Everyone enjoyed trying a new sport, and will be back again in the near future for another game.
Beach volleyball – summer, sunsets and plenty of sand
As the sun was setting on Brighton seafront, the team took to the volleyball court. A few of us have played before, so could guide the play as the games progressed.
We split into two teams, with a couple of the younger members of the team’s family also joining in the fun. After an hour of scrambling around, setting up teammates for a smash winning point, and lots of laughs, this was the perfect mix of collaboration and diving around in the sand.
Lace up the runners and begin the adventure
My biggest passion in life other than designing for print is running. As some of the team wanted to more regularly get involved in being active, I took it upon myself to organise a run after work each week. As an addition to UUSC, this led to the creation of the studio’s very own running club. We even have our own group on Strava, UnitedUs Run Club.
Bringing all the positives from my experiences of over 13 years being part of running groups, the UnitedUs Run Club has seen the regular members of the UnitedUs team progress with their own running. We now regularly attend parkrun, a free timed 5k event held all over the UK on a Saturday morning – our usual collective stomping ground is Preston Park, Brighton. Thanks to UnitedUs Run Club, our times are getting quicker.
For me, there is nothing better than heading out for a run with your mates, conversation flowing and the prospect of a new route to explore. This is especially so when the sun is shining and you have the South Downs on your doorstep.
Sports Club is alive and kicking, and I am hoping that will continue, so we can all reap the benefits of this important part of UnitedUs culture. A big thank you to the Partners; Luke, Jan and Natalie, for always encouraging us to get out and about outside of the studio, supporting our health and wellbeing. The contribution towards the sports club they provide, both financially and motivationally is appreciated by the whole team.
Here’s to getting up, getting active and having fun… maybe see you on the court, pitch or start line sometime!