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As the festive season approaches, you may be reaching to the back of your wardrobe for your faithful jumper. But what if we told you that you could treat yourself, look and feel great, and support charities at the same time?

Lauren Steadman and Tamsin Scobell met at the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú while studying Psychology. Since University, they have stayed in touch and launched their own business - Sizu.

The company was founded during lockdown when both graduates decided people needed a morale boost. They always wanted to remind everyone that while times are tough, you are stronger than you think.

Each year, the team sells a range of festive jumpers with profits going to charities. And this year for the first time, the University has collaborated with Sizu on .

We spoke with Lauren to find out more about the great work they do and how they are continuing to raise money for charities in need.

Please can you tell us more about the festive jumpers?

They have a little bit of sparkle but are also very subtle - they are perfect to wear every year. As well as the sparkle, there is a geometric stag to fit in with the festive theme.

To produce these, we work with a local small printing company called in Chichester which provides local jobs to the community. It’s really important to me that the journey of the jumper is sustainable - each is handcrafted and not batch-produced so they are environmentally friendly and leave a positive impact on the world.

Who is the chosen charity this year?

Since founding Sizu, we have successfully raised £28,000 for charities including , and . A lot of people have supported the promotion of items including celebrities I met on the TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins, and more.

This year, our chosen charity is . It is a small independent charity promoting awareness and education, and preventative strategies towards suicide. Hector was 19 years old when he took his life and his family started the charity to make sure his story was heard and not repeated. 

Has mental health always been important to you?

Naturally, as I’ve got older I have focused more on my mental health over physical health. As a young athlete, I always got my head down and focused hard on training. I was always doing what I could to be my best during every session and race.

As you get older, you start to realise that perhaps it’s not about the results of the races, it’s about the journey between them. Every day there are things that are stressful and taxing but there are also beautiful and brilliant moments too. Often, we don’t get the balance right between our physical and our mental health, and sometimes it’s about prioritising how we are feeling and dealing with them over our physical day-to-day activities.

What is the meaning behind the jumpers?

For the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú jumpers, we have chosen a beautiful purple grey and the darker UoP purple colour with either a glitter gold or white stag. They represent more than just a jumper to me, it’s a collaboration between myself and UoP who have given so much to me throughout both my academic and sporting careers. 

Studying can be time-consuming and stressful as you want to do the best you can. Sometimes, we let our mental health slip a little bit. I love the fact that these jumpers also represent looking after yourself with a reminder on the cuff.

I hope that everyone who purchases one has a gentle reminder that they are fabulous and stronger than they think!

Which companies have you collaborated with?

We are also working with Matt Johnson who owns a brand called the Check-In Company. They support local communities and provide mental health activities and awareness for underprivileged and deprived areas. Their latest campaign helps women understand men’s mental health so that they can support men at home. 

We have also partnered with my local triathlon club, Thames Turbo Triathlon Community as we lost a member who suddenly passed away at the age of 41 from heart arrhythmia. Dylan Howells Foundation was created in his memory to help young people in their chosen sports.

Finally, we have collaborated with Blitz CrossFit gym which has chosen to support McMillan and breast cancer. Last year, they lost two members to breast cancer leaving behind two young families.

I feel strongly about supporting charities as they do the work that we cannot, and without generosity, kindness and support they could not have an impact. I do as much as I can for charity because it costs nothing but my time and effort, and has a maximum impact.  

What’s next for you and Sizu?

I am currently studying for a PhD at ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú under Professor Chris Wagstaff studying mental health in our Olympians and Paralympians. Combined with training for triathlon to defend my title in Paris 2024 and dabbling in the world of winter sports to try to qualify for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in cross-country skiing. 

Then for Sizu, we’re hoping to create a community. One day in the future, we would like to become a platform where people can share their experiences of coping with stressful situations, navigating tough times and supporting each other. Unfortunately, we can’t always get easy access to mental health support so at least we can fall back on one another.

To find out more about Sizu, click .