Gifted and Sponsored Memberships

These Terms and Conditions apply to any Loughborough Sport membership that is provided, funded, subsidised, awarded, sponsored, or gifted to an individual by a third party.

By accepting, activating, or using a Gifted or Sponsored Membership, the member agrees to these Terms and Conditions.

Loughborough Sport means Loughborough University, its departments, employees, contractors, authorised representatives, and service providers responsible for delivering sport facilities, memberships, programmes, and services.

Member means the individual receiving the Gifted or Sponsored Membership.

Gifted or Sponsored Membership means any Loughborough Sport membership provided at no cost or reduced cost to the recipient, where the membership fee is paid, subsidised, funded, awarded, or gifted by another organisation, programme, department, employer, sponsor, partner, or third party.

Examples of Gifted or Sponsored Memberships include, but are not limited to:

  • Scholarship-funded memberships.
  • Memberships funded through a sports institute or performance programme.
  • Memberships paid for through a University or College course.
  • Memberships awarded through a prize draw, competition, promotion, or incentive scheme.
  • Memberships funded by an employer as an employee benefit.
  • Memberships provided to conference delegates or event attendees.
  • Complimentary memberships issued by Loughborough Sport.
  • Free trial memberships.
  • Memberships funded through partner organisations.

2.1 Acceptance of a Gifted or Sponsored Membership constitutes acceptance of:

  • These Terms and Conditions;
  • The Loughborough Sport Membership Terms and Conditions;
  • Any applicable booking, cancellation, and facility access procedures;
  • Any programme-specific requirements associated with the membership.

2.2 A Gifted or Sponsored Membership remains subject to all rules, regulations, policies, and conditions applicable to a standard Loughborough Sport membership.

2.3 Receiving a membership free of charge or at a reduced rate does not exempt a member from any obligations applicable to paying members.

3.1 Eligibility for a Gifted or Sponsored Membership is determined by Loughborough Sport and/or the organisation providing the funding.

3.2 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time.

3.3 If eligibility ceases during the membership period, Loughborough Sport may suspend, amend, or withdraw the membership.

3.4 Memberships issued on the basis of scholarship, programme participation, employment, student status, conference attendance, prize awards, or any other eligibility criteria may cease when that eligibility ends.

4.1 Loughborough Sport may offer free trials to eligible individuals from time to time.

4.2 Free trials may be offered to:

  • University staff;
  • University tenants;
  • Conference attendees;
  • Partner organisations;
  • Other eligible groups determined by Loughborough Sport.

4.3 Free trial users must comply with all applicable membership, facility, booking, cancellation, safety, and conduct requirements.

4.4 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or withdraw free trial access at any time.

4.5 A free trial does not guarantee entitlement to future memberships, promotions, discounts, or ongoing access.

5.1 Where membership has been funded by an employer, educational institution, programme provider, sponsor, partner organisation, or other third party, the member remains personally responsible for complying with all applicable Loughborough Sport policies and procedures.

5.2 Loughborough Sport may share information relating to membership status, activation, usage, attendance, eligibility, and compliance where reasonably necessary for administration of the funded membership arrangement and where permitted by applicable data protection legislation.

5.3 Continued eligibility for a funded membership may be subject to criteria determined by the funding organisation.

6.1 Memberships awarded through prize draws, competitions, promotional campaigns, sponsorship arrangements, goodwill gestures, or similar initiatives remain subject to all applicable membership conditions.

6.2 Such memberships are non-transferable and have no cash value.

6.3 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to withdraw a complimentary or promotional membership where eligibility criteria are no longer met or where any applicable conditions are breached.

7.1 Where a Gifted or Sponsored Membership includes eligibility for a Performance Squad Membership, AU Club Membership, or another sports programme, the member must comply with all associated programme-specific terms and conditions.

7.2 Acceptance of a gifted membership does not guarantee selection into, continued eligibility for, or continued participation in:

  • Performance Squads;
  • AU Clubs;
  • Scholarship programmes;
  • Funded athlete programmes;
  • Sports institutes;
  • Development pathways;
  • Any other sporting programme.

7.3 Members participating in Performance Squads must comply with:

  • Performance Squad Membership Terms and Conditions;
  • The Loughborough Sport Code of Conduct;
  • Performance Sport Athlete Codes of Conduct;
  • Any requirements established by programme staff.

7.4 Members participating in AU Clubs must comply with all AU Club regulations, codes of conduct, membership requirements, and disciplinary procedures.

7.5 Removal from a Performance Squad, AU Club, scholarship programme, or funded programme may result in the withdrawal of associated membership benefits.

8.1 All members must comply with applicable booking and cancellation requirements when accessing facilities, activities, training sessions, fitness classes, courts, support services, or any other bookable activity.

8.2 By accepting a Gifted or Sponsored Membership, members acknowledge that they remain subject to the Loughborough Sport Pay As You Go Terms and Conditions where applicable.

8.3 Members also acknowledge and accept the Loughborough Sport Fines Terms and Conditions.

8.4 Failure to comply with booking procedures, attendance requirements, cancellation policies, or facility access procedures may result in:

  • Fines;
  • Service restrictions;
  • Suspension of booking privileges;
  • Membership suspension;
  • Membership withdrawal.

8.5 The fact that a membership has been provided free of charge or funded by a third party does not exempt the member from applicable fines or penalties.

9.1 Members must comply with the Loughborough Sport Code of Conduct and all facility rules and policies.

9.2 Members are expected to act respectfully towards staff, coaches, volunteers, students, visitors, and other facility users.

9.3 Bullying, harassment, discrimination, abusive behaviour, unsafe conduct, misuse of facilities, or any behaviour that may negatively impact others will not be tolerated.

9.4 Breaches of conduct requirements may result in disciplinary action, removal from programmes, suspension of facilities access, or withdrawal of membership.

10.1 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to suspend or withdraw any Gifted or Sponsored Membership.

10.2 Membership may be suspended or withdrawn where:

  • Eligibility requirements are no longer met;
  • A funding arrangement ends;
  • A member ceases to be part of the relevant programme;
  • The member breaches any applicable terms or conditions;
  • The member breaches the Code of Conduct;
  • The member receives repeated fines or repeatedly breaches booking procedures;
  • Withdrawal is considered necessary for operational, safety, welfare, disciplinary, or reputational reasons.

10.3 Withdrawal of membership does not create any entitlement to compensation, cash reimbursement, replacement benefits, or alternative memberships.

11.1 Members are responsible for ensuring that they are medically fit and physically able to participate in any activity, training session, exercise programme, sport, competition, or service provided by Loughborough Sport.

11.2 Members must take reasonable care of their own health, safety, and wellbeing, and must act in a manner that does not place themselves or others at unnecessary risk.

11.3 Members must comply with all health and safety requirements, facility rules, operational procedures, signage, and reasonable instructions issued by Loughborough Sport staff.

11.4 Members must immediately report any accident, injury, illness, unsafe condition, equipment fault, or health and safety concern to an appropriate member of staff.

11.5 Members must not participate in any activity where they know, or reasonably believe, that doing so would be unsafe due to injury, illness, medical condition, intoxication, fatigue, or any other factor that may impact their ability to participate safely.

11.6 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to refuse, restrict, or suspend access to facilities, activities, programmes, or services where it reasonably believes participation may present a risk to the member or others.

11.7 By accepting a Gifted or Sponsored Membership, members confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with the Health Commitment Statement and any associated health and safety requirements that may apply to the facilities, activities, programmes, or services they access.

12.1 Personal information will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and the Loughborough University Privacy Notice.

12.2 Where reasonably necessary and lawful, information relating to membership status, activation, eligibility, attendance, participation, and compliance may be shared with:

  • Loughborough Sport administration teams;
  • University departments;
  • Loughborough College;
  • Employers funding memberships;
  • Scholarship providers;
  • Sports institutes;
  • Programme providers;
  • National Governing Bodies;
  • Funding organisations;
  • Other authorised partners involved in the administration of the membership.

12.3 Information will only be shared where necessary to administer the membership, monitor eligibility, support programme delivery, or fulfil contractual and operational requirements.

15.1 Loughborough Sport reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions where reasonably necessary.

15.2 Any material changes will be communicated through appropriate channels.

16.1 These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

16.2 Any disputes arising from these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.