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London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics

The staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012 offers a unique opportunity to the sector. It has focussed the spotlight on the capacity of the sector to deliver – both in terms of a successful event with a sustainable legacy for sport, while contributing to the broader legacy through using sport and the inspiration of the Games.

To achieve these twin aims, a skilled workforce is essential. SkillsActive will use the Games as a catalyst for change and as a cornerstone of our work.

What will success look like for the Sector?

SkillsActive role in staging the Games:

Shaping the training for the 70,000 volunteers involved in the Games;
Ensuring availability of trained and qualified staff for all the venues – with priority focus on officials and stewards.
Rolling out the Personal Best Programme to all Regions to re-engage the long-term workless and recruit into volunteer programme and paid employment;
Preparing athletes for success – the expansion of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence to 12 Olympic sports, building on the success of AASE athletes in Beijing;
Working with People 1^st on the customer service Gold Standard – with rollout to raise standards across our Sector.

SkillsActive role in establishing a Sporting Legacy:

Increased and sustained participation in sport (DCMS target);
Improved health through sustained increase in physical activity (DoH target);
Excellence development pathway established with AASE up and running as 16-19 option for all Olympic and Paralympic sports;
Sporting infrastructure structure strengthened - both capital and people;
More active and qualified coaches, leaders, activators and officials;
UK Coaching Framework established and reflected in standards and coach education;
QCF established and NGB qualifications integrated with new model and eligible for public funding;
Workforce planning established in each sport to assess and monitor need and at local level through County Sports Partnerships;
Strengthening of sports club management with introduction of business support packages through the NSA;
Licensing and registration for coaching (and potentially other professions) researched and agreed – integrated with the activepassport scheme;
National Skills Academy established as the focus for quality assured training, employer training brokerage and project development for the Sector (eg Apprenticeships Expansion & Future Jobs Fund);
National Skills Academy re-located at the Olympic Park by 2014.

Initiatives:

Recruit into Coaching

The overarching aim of the Recruit into Coaching programme (RiC) is to recruit, train and deploy 10,000 new volunteer coaches by 2011. It is being implemented in partnership by Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust, with support from sports coach UK and SkillsActive. SkillsActive provide expertice and support to the RiC partners through a flexible range of workforce development solutions and expertise around other value adding local initiatives or funding opportunities. Find out more about the Recruit into Coaching programme.

Personal Best

SkillsActive has been contracted by the LSC to support the implementation of the national pre-employment training programme linked to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games titled Personal Best. The programme uses the potential prospect of becoming a Games Time Volunteer in 2012 to engage workless and socially excluded people with learning and the labour market, lift their aspirations and create new life or career choices.

Working closely with key national and regional delivery partners, SkillsActive has a central role in supporting key priority groups of adults (e.g. unemployed, low skilled, lone parents, BAME groups) in the UK to participate in a training programme which enables them to acquire a national accredited level 1 Award in Preparation for Event volunteering (Personal Best). SkillsActive have been contracted to support the implementation over the next two years - click here to find out more.

Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence

The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) has been designed to meet the needs of young people (aged 16-18) ‘who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal’ - with the view that they go on to represent their country on the Olympic stage or gain professional contracts. Find out more to find out more about the Olympic success to date of the AASE programme.