SkillsActive Wales is proud to announce that it has secured funding for a range of programmes in sport, fitness and playwork.

SkillsActive Wales has agreed a mutual programme of work with Sport Wales which will enable the delivery of an extensive programme over the coming year. SkillsActive Wales is also happy to have secured funding from the Welsh Government Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) to develop innovative learning and teaching materials for the level 3 Playwork Principles into Practice (P3) qualification.

The investment from Sport Wales will have a positive impact on the delivery of the SkillsActive Wales Business Plan 2012-13 and will ensure the full involvement of Welsh employers across the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector.

The Sport Wales funding will go towards a number of initiatives which SkillsActive Wales has already begun to implement. These include:

• The production of an Annual State of the Industry Report for Wales, exploring sector specific gaps and shortages

• The development of a Single Qualification Framework, produced and agreed with key stakeholders in Wales

• An increase in REPs Wales members from 1000 to 1100, plus a 10% increase in the number of Welsh employers registering with REPs and a 5% increase in the number of instructors holding a level 3 qualification

• Promoting the importance of Active Passports across the sector.

In relation to the Sport Wales investment, SkillsActive Manager Richard Tobutt commented:

"SkillsActive Wales has maintained a healthy working relationship with Sport Wales for around 10 years. The activities agreed as part of this programme will positively impact on both the Sport Wales Vision for Sport, and particularly the 'skilled and passionate workforce strand', and the strategic context outlined in the Welsh Government 'Creating an Active Wales' document."

The Welsh Government Sector Priorities Fund Pilot also secured by SkillsActive Wales will massively assist playwork training delivery across Wales, by ensuring that the workforce is adequately skilled, trained and possesses the correct resources.

The project aims to develop and finalise bilingual learning and teaching materials for the recently developed Level 3 qualification entitled 'Playwork Principles into Practice' (P3).

The funding will allow SkillsActive Wales to lead the development of a full suite of resources for the Award, Certificate and Diploma which will promote high quality learning. Trainers currently delivering level 2 Playwork qualifications will also be upskilled, allowing them to progress the wide scale delivery of level 3 across Wales.

Concerning playwork funding, SkillsActive Technical Manager, Home Countries, Debbie Willets comments:

"The Children and Families (Wales) Measure places a duty on each local authority to provide sufficient play opportunities for children and young people and will increase the demand for qualifications within the playwork sector. Therefore, this project will have a positive impact on this strategic development and will go some of the way to address the skills shortages that exist across Wales."

Playwork qualification delivery is in its infancy in Wales, therefore the production of these resources will have a positive impact on the development of the playwork infrastructure. Ultimately, learners will benefit from these developments and will be able to further develop their playwork skills.

The investments will bring a whole range of benefits to the sport, fitness and playwork sectors in Wales, benefitting both the workforce and the general public.

CIMSPA and SkillsActive have today agreed an outline structure of how the two organisations could work together to achieve their joint and individual objectives and work collaboratively for the benefit of employers, members, and the long term professionalisation of those working in the sport and physical activity industry.

This initiative carries the full support of Sport England and ukactive who can both see the considerable benefits the partnership will offer the sport and physical activity sector as a whole.

We plan to conclude these discussions early in the New Year, including full consultation with employers and members.

Miles Templeman – Chair CIMSPA

Peter Rowley – Chair SkillsActive

December 2012

The closer collaboration will be subject to due diligence, and involve the joining up of the two organisations' offers in relation to:

1. Registered professionals

2. Management professionals

3. The single qualification framework (sqf)

4. Endorsed training provision

5. The skills passport - activepassport

6. Skills funding bids and a new 'industrial partnership' between CIMSPA/SkillsActive and the sector's leading employers.

To find out more about CIMPSA follow this link

According to figures released today by Sport England there are a record 15.5 million people aged 16 and over playing sport every week.

The strongest growth has been amongst women, which has helped to cut the pre-existing gender gap in sport. All in all there are 750,000 more people playing sport than a year ago and 1.57 million more than when London won the Olympic and Paralympic bid.

As expected the sharpest rises in participation were seen in the period during and following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

SkillsActive CEO, Ian Taylor comments:

"This is great news which offers proof that talk of creating a lasting legacy of sport from the Summer Games wasn't just hyperbole. These figures offer concrete proof that the nation has been inspired by an amazing summer of sport, however we must continue to work hard to ensure that for these individuals sport remains a constant part of their lives.

SkillsActive as the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing believes that having a competent and skilled workforce is inextricably linked to both increasing participation and improving the customer's experiences of sport and physical activity"

One of the tangible ways in which SkillsActive has been involved in driving up sports participation, especially amongst women has been through its work with England Netball. SkillsActive was able to assist England Netball in identifying the training needs of their newly recruited Netball Development Community Coaches, thought the "Back to Netball" programme. We worked to ensure that the Coaches had the right skills to work in local communities to recruit women who wanted to get back in to playing netball.

SkillsActive has worked with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) in helping them to engage with leisure operators to identify the training needs of individuals within facilities thus allowing them to provide a variety of activities in the pool environment.

Also, SkillsActive worked with the British Judo Association to ensure that their workforce was adequately trained and skilled. As a result of this new customers have been welcomed into the sport through the "Judofit" programme. This has helped the British Judo Association to engage with leisure operators to increase awareness and interest in the sport, allowing the newcomers to Judo to move into sustainable participation within the sport.

In all three examples, by up-skilling the workforce and improving the customer experience SkillsActive has been able to contribute to the increased levels of sports participation.

SkillsActive hopes to work alongside Sport England in creating a sporting habit for life amongst communities and individuals, which will in turn see participation levels continue to rise.

SkillsActive leads delegation to India's largest convention on business of sports

SkillsActive led a delegation of fourteen sport and education professionals, to TURF 2012 in New Delhi – India's largest convention on business of sports. The conference aimed to look at the challenges facing India in creating a successful sporting system for 1.2 billion people in a developing nation. The conference was organised by the sports division of the Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

SkillsActive was represented by Head of Operations David Henwood who was accompanied by EOSE Director and Consultant and former SkillsActive Senior Programme Manager for Qualifications and Standards at SkillsActive Ben Gittus.

David Henwood Operations Director who led the delegation from SkillsActive commented:

"This was a fantastic opportunity for SkillsActive to share our experiences and knowledge with a developing nation to introduce a successful sporting system. The future of sport looks bright for India, with the country possessing a great of deal potential to make significant gains in the development of its sporting infrastructure."

Similarities between UK and Indian sport were observed with Ben Gittus commenting:

"There are three main pillars which make up sport policy across the world: school sport, participation and elite sport. These are the same in the UK as they are in India. Familiar themes such as: legacy, infrastructure, coach education, capacity building, investment, athlete support and skills development were also addressed. It is recognised that no country will ever have the perfect system, but it has been the bringing together and development of these elements that has contributed to the improvements and successes which have occurred in British sport. There was a view amongst the delegates that India is still right at the start of the process of indentifying and developing all the components which will produce a system which will ultimately take Indian sport forward."

Although India only gained 6 medals at London 2012 the two words which summed up the findings of the conference were "potential" and "opportunity".

It was also noted that foreign investment in Indian sport is increasing every year. If increased interest and popularity of sports can be coupled with improved organisation, coordination and some semblance of a 'system' there is no reason why India can't gain the societal, economic and health benefits of sport, whilst rising up the medals and ranking tables.

Some of the specific challenges for Indian sport discussed at the conference included:

• Changing mindset and attitude to sports - so that participation in sports or aiming for a career in sports is not looked down on by parents or society.

• Institutional capacity building and skill development - so a wider range of courses can be offered in institutions and there is a qualified and skilled workforce (the formation of a sector skills council is a possibility)

• Data collection – more information is needed on the baseline position of sport in the country

Some of the most interesting sessions at the conference were:

• Infrastructure and legacy planning – where Scott Hartley from Press Red sat on the panel and received some tough questioning from the audience

• Institutional capacity building – SkillsActive's Ben Gittus outlined the components of a skills system in sport and promoted "global knowledge partnerships" between UK and Indian institutions

• Mission Rank 100 – where the aim to move from position 169 in the FIFA soccer rankings to enter the top 100 was debated with insights from organisations including Barcelona FC who have opened an academy in New Delhi

• Focus on Punjab State – who are making major investment to become a powerhouse in Indian sport (the delegation were kindly invited to the Kabaddi World Cup in Punjab in December)

• Finally SkillsActive's David Henwood summed up the international perspectives of the conference as part of the valedictory session.

One of the successful outcomes of the conference were the arrangement of several dedicated B2B meetings between the seven UK universities with Indian institutions – Glamorgan, UCP MARJON, Liverpool John Moores, Chester, Chichester, Birmingham and Bournemouth. It is hoped that these will result in ongoing work and partnerships. Positive links were also established between the school sector and Sports Global training provider. Furthermore, SkillsActive is currently in the process of delivering a programme of support which will enable the establishment of a "SkillsActive India".

There is enormous potential in Indian sport and many possibilities for the UK delegates to remain involved and provide support to the process of development and improvement in Indian sport, particularly around sport education, and possibly help with the nascent development of an Indian sport system.

A Stevenage employer is using Apprenticeships to give unemployed youth a sporting chance thanks to SkillsActives Group Training Association (GTA).

Stevenage Sporting Futures Team cic supports and provides physical education and sport sessions to schools in Stevenage, which has high youth unemployment (7.9%).

The not for profit organisation has always been strong on recruiting and developing its own workforce from within the community. In 2008, it began employing school leavers in its Partnership Coach programme, which provides 18 year olds with 12 months training and work experience.

Director Jill Eaton says: "We wanted to expand our services and offer the young people of Stevenage a chance to kick-start a career in sport and active leisure".

In 2011, the company went one step further – hiring three 16-24yr olds through the Future Jobs Fund programme delivered by SkillsActive's National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure. Jill says the programme, which provided 5000 young unemployed people within six months training and was a turning point for the company.

"The Future Jobs opened our eyes to the possibility of transforming our own program into an Apprenticeship".

The company joined SkillsActive's Group Training Association, which brings small and medium size employers together so they can access funding opportunities and specific training that would otherwise be out of their reach.

Thanks to the Group Training Association, Stevenage Sporting Futures Team cic received funded training that would otherwise be out of their reach.

The young people follow Apprenticeship frameworks designed by SkillsActive in consultation with employers. They gain nationally recognised qualifications such as an NVQ in Activity Leadership and various NGB Coaching Awards which are all delivered by the company's own training provider: Sporting Futures Training cic.

Jill says Apprenticeships have had a "massive impact" on the business – and the wider community.

"Many schools and community clubs have approached us wanting to retain the apprentice working with them for a second year are keen to develop and create a pathway into employment for them such as teaching sports teaching assistants or into further sporting careers in the sport and active leisure sector."

"Our new workforce has not only enabled more young people to participate in activities, they have provided them with positive role models in their own community. This is of immense value in a community renowned for low aspiration amongst youth."

To lean more about how your business can benefit from funded training through SkillsActive's Group Traning Association, please click here.

Sport Wales is to launch a new initiative aimed at helping primary school children in Wales learn more core physical skills in order to become "more confident sportspeople" by building on basic skills.

The new Dragon Multi-Skills and Sport blueprint, for children at key stages 1 and 2 (primary school ages 5-11), will be used in schools, sports clubs and community settings such as leisure centres.

A similar scheme is already run in Canada, New Zealand and Australia where practitioners have found a good grounding in basic agility, balance and co-ordination skills leads to greater competency, and enjoyment, across all sports.

Chair of Sport Wales, Laura McAllister, said: "We want more children playing sport to a higher standard and more children having the skills to take part in sport and physical activity through their lives.

"It's important that children have the right skills as young as possible because it sets them on the path for better sporting experiences.

"At the moment we have pockets of excellent practice in developing the skills of children but we want to make that consistent across the board."

Read the full story here

15/3/12

A disability sports volunteer has become the 10,000th Londoner to get qualified through the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund, which is managed by SkillsActive, helping ensure a grass roots sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jaspaul Vilkhu, 30 (pictured), applied for the programme, which provides up to 75% off training for London sport and leisure volunteers, after learning about the opportunity through the UK’s leading disability sports coaching company, Disability Sports Coach, where he volunteers helping deliver sports to disabled people like himself.

Jaspaul used the 75% subsidy to complete his Boccia Leaders Award. The one day course enabled him to step up his responsibilities and assist other, more qualified coaches in delivering boccia coaching sessions to players of all ages and abilities.

Jaspaul says: “I’m really honoured to be the 10,000th Londoner to qualify through the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund. I’ve played boccia for three years but I enjoy being a leader and wanted to learn how to coach the sport.

“Thanks to the training, I now feel more confident going into different settings and coaching disabled participants for Disability Sports Coach and the other organisations I work for. I love seeing the smile on people’s faces when they get involved in sport. I’d like to keep gaining new skills and, eventually, find a paid job in sports.”

Managed by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, the Fund is part of the Mayor's plan ‘A sporting future for London’. The plan ensures Londoners benefit from a genuine grass roots sporting legacy from the 2012 Games, by encouraging more people to become active and strengthen community sport facilities.

Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund project manager Katie Couchman says: “The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has created a pathway into coaching and volunteering in amateur sport that would not otherwise be there. London communities will benefit from this programme for years to come.”

Disability Sports Coach founder Peter Ackred says: “Funding training for staff and volunteers can be a challenge, especially in the current financial climate.  Thanks to Mayor’s Legacy, we’ve upskilled 30 sports coaches, which is a huge boost for us and our clients.

“Each day, we deliver sport coaching services to people with disabilities all across London, some of whom we think will have a real chance of competing at future Paralympics. Through our work, the Fund is helping deliver a legacy at grassroots and elite sporting level. We’re really proud to be associated with this fantastic project.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “It is spot on that these extraordinary, selfless Londoners are being recognised for their contributions through volunteering in our capital.  The commitment to helping those most in need should be an example to us all.  Being able to recognise the 10,000th person to qualify through the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund is a wonderful milestone.  Congraulations to all who grabbed this unique opportunity for funded training and are playing their part in the Games Legacy.”

Londoners can receive up to 75% off the cost of nationally recognised qualifications in areas such as coaching and officiating, community sport, volunteering, leisure and health, in exchange for volunteering hours.

To find out more about the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund and the range of discounted training on offer please visit www.skillsactive.com/mayorslegacy