Interview with Mark Jenkins

By Joe Robinson

'All work and no play' is a maxim that Mark Jenkins, Head of Sports and Recreation at Bournemouth University, believes strongly in. “Students these days don’t do enough to keep fit” he claims, and so he has made it his mission to do something about it. Mainly by using this little anecdote to get extra money for the Departments budget.
Mark has been in his current role as at the university since July 2004, after coming from a background in Local Authority Sport/Recreation, and has been fighting a progressive battle to try and bring the Universities “unfit” facilities up to scratch, with only 4 Sports Degrees at the University, the department has been largely neglected in the past. Since taking over from the previous regime, Mark has managed to increase the sport department’s budget (and expenditure) in recent years, gaining an extra 80 grand in the last academic year alone. With the Vice-Chancellors new 'Corporate Plan' currently in progress, Mark sees this as a golden opportunity to gain some much-needed investment.
Not surprisingly, Mark also has a quite active Sports History, having been a competitive swimmer from the age of 11 through to most of his young life. Unfortunately, since leaving collage, Marks time as been sparse, and so he has had to let his passion lax in recent years, especially since Bournemouth lacks its own Swimming pool. These days, Mark takes a more 'business' view on sport, He may not know who England is facing next in the championships, but he’ll make sure you have a pitch to re-play the match on.
The bit Mark most enjoys about his work is seeing a well-thought out plan come to fruition, and with development plans such as the new playing fields at Wallisdown, the creation of a third generation Astropitch, and new sports facilities well in the works, Mark has a lot of ‘enjoyment’ to be had.
What has been Marks greatest Success? Convincing the University that having the County Sports Partnership based at the University would be a good thing. Having come from the Dorset Initiative himself, he knew how trapped the Partnership was by the 'political interference' of Local Government. Bringing the Partnership to the university not only freed it from the clutches of the LA, but also made a perfect excuse for an extension to Bournemouth’s existing facilities.
What does the future hold for Mr Jenkins? Despite enjoying his time here at University, the poor standard of Bournemouth’s facilities trouble him deeply, and if the funding for his projects isn’t granted, he may have to give the local Jobcentre a quiet visit.