Community Tutor Training

Community projects organised by organisations such as Connexions, Sports Partnership and Universities are taking advantage of the Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications.

Local people are being trained in sports leadership qualifications with a view to delivering programmes of activities in their communities.

Claire Anderson, Transition Through Sports Co-ordinator, Black Country Connexions is leading the way by providing local Youth Workers with the opportunity to train as Sports Leaders UK tutors.

Once trained the Youth Workers will offer local 14-19 year olds the opportunity to participate in Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications. The aim is to help young people to become more responsible, self-motivated and confident. The nationally recognised qualifications will provide the new leaders with skills and confidence to give back to their local communities as well as potentially gaining employment.

Pip Bell, Sports Development Officer (Participation), Teesside University, as part of the SUNEE (Sports Universities North East England) project, has been a catalyst in training student volunteers and sports development officers from the five universities to become Sports Leaders UK tutors. These tutors in turn develop local Sports Leaders who in turn assist in the delivery of local projects such as Street League. SUNEE Street League provide football and multi-sports sessions, as well as working with young people engaged in drug or alcohol treatment.

Karen Edmonds, Leadership Co-ordinator, Cornwall Sports Partnership, has engaged local community organisations to work together to provide Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications, as a means of engaging with and motivating adults and young people to become Sports Leaders. Nearly 30 tutors were trained in June 2009 from groups such as the Cornish Pirates (Rugby), Play Rangers, Outreach West, Cornwall Outdoors Centre, Bodmin Police PCSOs and Youth Offending Teams. As a result various Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications have been delivered in the community. The resulting Level 1 Dance Leaders, Level 1 Sports Leaders and Level 2 Community Sports Leaders will have opportunities to volunteer in their community, as well as gain part-time employment.