1/5/12
Adam has made a massive impact in his local community in Haringey through three key projects.
First, Adam played a key role in the complete regeneration of Fairlands Park, which resulted in a new play and sports area. He was then successful in securing funding to run regular tennis sessions at the facility.
His second project was to develop a primary schools cricket programme, which involved a series of cricket coaching sessions and a primary schools Cricket tournament.
His final project has been the establishment of a Sunday ‘Family Activities Programme’, resulting in regular family events and activities, such as cycle rides, family days out, cycle workshops and training courses.
Head of National Partnerships Stephen Mitchell says: “Whether they be a coach, official or club treasurer, volunteers play a vital role in encouraging and supporting people to get involved, and stay involved, in sport and active leisure. SkillsActive is really pleased to acknowledge Adam's wide ranging efforts in his community.”
Over 500 nominations were received for the PRO-ACTIVE London 2012 awards on 27 April - the only regional awards which celebrate the contribution of thousands of people, the majority of whom are volunteers, who make it possible for so many people to take part. Other winners include:
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport – Alex Welsh (Multi boroughs)
• Young Volunteer of the Year - Jordan Sargeant (Havering)
• Coach / Instructor of the Year – Pierre Aghabala (Croydon/Wandsworth)
• Project of the Year – BMX Legacy Project (Greenwich, Newham, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Tower Hamlets)
• Club of the Year - Waltham Forest Hockey Club (Waltham Forest)
For more information on the past and present awards and the nominations please visit www.pro-activelondonawards.org
15/3/12
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
East region approved Academy Providers and Centres of Excellence are as follows:
Health & Fitness
Approved Providers
Leisure Operations
Approved Providers
London region approved Academy Providers and Centres of Excellence are as follows:
Coaching
Approved Providers
Health and Fitness
Centre of Excellence consortium consisting of:
Approved Providers
Leisure Operations
Centre of Excellence
Approved Providers
Management and Leadership
Approved Providers
Mayor's Legacy Sports Fund
Physical Activity
Centre of Excellence
Approved Providers
Playwork
Approved Providers
Stewarding and Events
Approved Providers
National research commissioned by Central YMCA found that almost one in three people wouldn’t hire a personal trainer with a noticeable physical disability. Furthermore, Aspire, a national charity supporting people with spinal cord injuries, found that non-wheelchair users were more than three times as likely to be invited to interview for job vacancies than wheelchair users.
To help tackle these issues, Aspire has teamed up with YMCAfit on the groundbreaking Instructability project. Supported by a 75% subsidy from the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, which is managed by SkillsActive's National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, the Instructability project provides disabled people with Level 2 fitness instructor training.
Over three weeks, participants learn about subjects such as anatomy and physiology, how to use gym equipment and how to put together a gym programme. Once qualified, they are given support to find placements and employment in the fitness industry.
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund aims to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in sports ahead of the 2012 Games. Denise Page, Director of YMCAfit, is condident the Instructability approach can help change the culture that may stop disabled people working in the fitness sector.
“We hope that learners will overcome barriers specific to the fitness sector and disability, such as a lack of disabled role models, difficulty accessing training and work venues, and an assessment structure which can be impractical for certain participants.”
Half of the participants on the Instructability pilot in late 2010 are now in employment, working at local leisure centres, helping both disabled and non-disabled people achieve their fitness goals. Tasha Webster, Director of Operations at Aspire, has similarly high hopes for the 30 Londoners who will this year benefit from the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund subsidy.
“Longer term it is hoped that by employing more disabled fitness instructors in the industry this will increase the number of positive role models and encourage greater participation in physical activity by disabled people, who are significantly less likely to meet the recommended levels of activity for health.”
1COMRES 2011
Street League delivers football and education programmes to 16 - 25 year old NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) groups, offenders and substance users.
“The sole aim of The Academy is to accelerate participants’ progression into sustainable employment, mainstream education & training,” Sally says.
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has provided a 75% subsidy for four academies to be staged across London. Managed by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund provides Londoners with up to 75% off the cost of training in exchange for them volunteering in their local community.
Sally says Street League recruited 59 young people for the first Academy in October through channels such as Job CentrePlus and the probation service. North Londoner Tony Young, 20, was approached about the course after attending the Street Football sessions.
“I was going for about four job interviews a week but not getting anywhere so I thought I’d see what the Academy could do for me,” he says.
Over eight weeks, Tony and the other participants attended workshops in employability, health and nutrition and gained qualifications in community sports leadership, first aid and coaching. They then committed to 20 hours of volunteering their skills in their community.
“The best thing about the course was learning interview techniques and CV writing skills, which I never learned at school,” he says.
After graduating from the course, Tony was offered a coaching apprenticeship at Street League. He now spends his day coaching young people just like him: “I used to have no idea what I wanted to do. Now I’ve got new skills and a new career helping people and giving back to my community.”
An impressive 23 of the 40 who completed the October Academy programme have progressed to further education or sustainable employment, supported by Street League’s progressions staff. Sally is confident the young people who complete the funded Academies in February, June and October 2011 and February 2012 will have similar success.
“The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund and the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure have helped us expand our structured football and education programme across London and engage a greater number of young unemployed people through the power of football.”
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund provides up to 75% off the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved, ahead of the 2012 Games.
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund provides up to 75% off the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved, ahead of the 2012 Games.
David Read, 22, Chris Wood, 32, and Peter Friel, 38, play and coach at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club. The community sports club is one of 33 Badminton England Performance Centres and a registered pre-Olympic badminton training venue for London 2012. It is also currently one of six Badminton England High Performance Centres.
Club director Phil Read says the club's 250-strong junior badminton section provides a powerful springboard for the future, but coaching demand for both juniors and the 450-strong adult section often outstrips supply.
"Money is definitely an obstacle. For example, a Level 2 Certificate in Badminton Coaching costs £350 and that's a lot for coaching candidates to put forward for something they volunteer their time for."
Luckily, Phil's internet search for coaching funding turned up the Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund. Led 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'.
It provides up to 75% off the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved. All funding recipients need to do in return is volunteer their new found skills in their local community.
Chris successfully applied for a 75% subsidy towards his Level 1 Certificate in Badminton Coaching and David and Peter, who already had that qualification, successfully applied for the same subsidy towards their Level 2. This reduced Chris's bill to £48.75 and David and Peter's to £87.50.
The men completed the coursework in five weeks. They dedicated their 25 volunteer hours, which were verified by Phil, to helping a group of five adult players move up a grade and to coaching new club members who wished to join a graded session.
"The five graded players lacked tactical awareness and basic knowledge of doubles positioning.
Following two hours coaching a week over 13 weeks from Chris, David and Peter, they have now improved their technique and achieved their grade B. This means they can compete at a higher level."
Phil is confident the extra coaching expertise will contribute to a 2012 legacy for badminton.
"As a High Performance Centre, we're geared towards equipping players with the skills for national, European and international success and as a Performance Centre we are committed to developing junior players. Thanks to the Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund, we have the capacity to take on more of these junior players and nurture their talent. The Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund has been a great help for us, and we're keen to see more of our staff benefit from it."
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