Motivating physical activity during Olympic year
1/5/12
SkillsActive took part in a conference about the impact and opportunities the London 2012 Olympic Games offer Northern Ireland on Wednesday 25 April.
The 'Moving The Nation: Working Together To Get More People Active' event in Craigavon aimed to bring together a number of key experts and agencies to share information relevant to the promotion of physical activity and a healthier lifestyle among the local population, during this summer of sport.
SkillsActive Northern Ireland manager Siobhan Weir (pictured with other delegates) says: “This event was an excellent example of private and public sector organisations coming together to explore how they can all work better together to stop the obesity epidemic. This is a particular issue for NI where one in five adults classified as obese.”
Health Minister Edwin Poots told the conference: “All Departments, agencies, groups and individuals have a responsibility to ensure that the decisions which are made and the actions taken, work in the best interests of the population of Northern Ireland. We cannot work in isolation. Physical activity is a vital part of maintaining and promoting good personal health. Being active is as important as having a nutritious diet when it comes to helping maintain a healthy weight. Participating in physical activity, either for sport or a leisure activity, such as walking or gardening, can also help promote good mental health and wellbeing.”
Dr Hassan from the Ulster Sports Academy discussed the defining features of the Games, a critical interpretation of the much-vaunted concept of ‘legacy’ and the political implication of hosting the summer Olympics in the UK for the first time in over 60 years.
Dr Conor McClean spoke about modern trends in public health such as the increase in chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. The development of these conditions is, in many cases, linked to lifestyle factors as poor diet and physical inactivity.
Conference organiser, Richie Smith of Unify Global Sport, an organisation specialising in community sport festivals, added: “Increased levels of physical activity of the population will not only relieve the financial burden on the health service, but it will also increase and maximise productivity and the performance of Northern Ireland’s workforce. In this Olympic year we have a great opportunity to encourage more people to engage in physical exercise which will enhance the local economy and the life of local communities.”
1500 children benefit from Fitter Schools Games Legacy
28/3/12
Thousands of London schoolchildren participated in Olympic-themed sporting activities on March 22 thanks to 100 newly trained coaches, referees and officials.
SkillsActive, which manages the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, a programme that aims to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, co-hosted the third annual Fitter Schools Games Legacy event with Fit for Sport, the UK's Leading Healthy Lifestyle Activities Provider.
More than 1,500 children from six London schools attended the event, enjoying a range of activities and learning about healthy lifestyles. It was delivered by Fit for Sport Healthy Activity Lifestyle Educators and 100 volunteers who have received subsidised training through the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund in areas such as coaching, officiating and refereeing.
The participating schools were: St Christians, Graze brook, Christchurch Brondsbury, St Stephens, Southfields, and St James St Michaels School
Olympic volunteering roles for Personal Best learners
19/3/12
Two Personal Best learners have scooped prestigious volunteering roles for this year's Olympic Games.
Richard Ross, 47, and Charlie Hefford, 27, both from Surrey, will each volunteer 10 days of their time during this summer's event. Richard will be based at Wimbledon and Charlie will be an events team leader at the Olympic Park.
More than 240,000 applied to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) Games Maker volunteering roles, and only 70,000 were accepted.
Richard said: "It's a dream come true. I have always felt that volunteering is up my street because I think I am good with people and helping others, so thumbs up to LOCOG for having us. It has been a long time waiting to find out but now I am really looking forward to it and can't wait for it all to start."
Charlie said: "I remember when we first found out we would be sitting interviews that only ten per cent of the 100,000 interviewed would get a role. There were ten of us sat around the table who had applied and I remember thinking, 'Oh no, only one of us here is going to get accepted'."
Richard and Charlie applied for the roles after completing SkillsActive’s Personal Best programme. The programme, which ended in March 2011, provided 6000 long term unemployed people with a level 1 award in event volunteering and volunteer experience as well as the chance to volunteer at the 2012 Games. About 15% of those that completed the programme applied to become Games Makers.
Lizzie Kemp, project coordinator at Sussex Downs College, which delivered the programme in Surrey and Thames Valley, says: “We are so excited for them at being given this lifetime opportunity and very proud to have been part of their journey.”
James Emmett, Head of Employer Engagement at SkillsActive, says: “Many of the people that took part in Personal Best struggled to find work because they lacked relevant experience or the right skill set. We’re proud Richard and Charlie gained the confidence, through our programme, to apply for this amazing experience. This will, I’m sure, be the start of great things for them both.”
Richard and Charlie, who are both residents of the Grange, a support centre that helps people with learning disabilities live independent lives, will complete an extensive training course this month to help them prepare for their roles.
To learn more about the projects and programmes SkillsActive is involved with see Projects and Programmes
2012 Games Legacy on show at children's sport event
12/3/12
Thousands of London schoolchildren will be given the chance to participate in Olympic-themed sporting activities on March 22 thanks to 100 newly trained coaches, referees and officials. A true showcase of the 2012 Games grassroots sporting legacy comes to the capital.
SkillsActive, which manages the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, a programme that aims to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, is co-hosting the third annual Fitter Schools Games Legacy event in partnership with Fit for Sport, the UK's Leading Healthy Lifestyle Activities Provider.
More than 1,500 children from eight London schools will attend the event, enjoy a range of activities and learn about healthy lifestyles.
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund hopes to create a grassroots sporting legacy from the 2012 Games. Project manager, Katie Couchman says: “Thanks to the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund, more than 10,000 Londoners have gained new skills and are now supporting people in their local communities – like the children at this event - to get involved, and stay involved, in sport. I’m delighted we can support the Fitter Schools Games Legacy event in such a practical way, and help young people learn the value of a healthy, active lifestyle.”
Fit for Sport CEO and Founder, Dean Horridge says: “Fit for Sport is committed to engaging more young people in the 2012 Games, through participation. We hope this event demonstrates that, with a little effort and commitment, thousands of young people can be given the chance to participate in sport – developing a lasting legacy from the 2012 Games.”
The event will be delivered by Fit for Sport Healthy Activity Lifestyle Educators and 100 volunteers who have received subsidised training through the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund in areas such as coaching, officiating and refereeing.
Interested Londoners can apply online for 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
Apprenticeship funding
Learn how Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to develop a well-trained, motivated and loyal workforce
Take on a new apprentice
40,000 grants of up to £1500 available
Discover more about how your business could gain an extra pair of hands at minimal cost >
Funding to train existing staff
Access thousands of pounds a year in funded staff training
Discover how much funded training your employees could access >
Apprentices can access thousands of pounds a year in funded training – SkillsActive can help your business benefit from this, identify how much your staff could be eligible for and negotiate training that meets your needs. SkillsActive is the issuing authority for Apprenticeships is active leisure and learning, so we are ideally placed to help you develop skilled, motivated staff.
No business is too small to benefit from Apprenticeship funding! SkillsActive’s Account Managers are here to help you understand the best Apprenticeship options for any organisation involved with active leisure, learning and well-being.
Take the lead in all areas of your business – make 2012 the year you take on an apprentice.
Don't fall at the first hurdle – contact SkillsActive and take the lead
Jack maps out sporting career thanks to AASE
A Leeds student has his sporting career mapped out with his dream of competing at the 2016 Olympics becoming a real possibility, which he attributes to the inspirational guidance he has received from the Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).
A Leeds student has his sporting career mapped out with his dream of competing at the 2016 Olympics becoming a real possibility, which he attributes to the inspirational guidance he has received from SkillsActive’s Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).
Jack Bateson from Pool In Wharfedale, near Leeds has been boxing since he was 9 years old, encouraged by his Dad and Uncle who have been coaching the sport as far as he can remember. He recalls the day a letter arrived to invite him to apply for the AASE programme and never looked back, making the move from his new sixth form college to join Bradford College.
“The programme has helped me so much, I’m really sad to be leaving at the end of this year; I’ve had such a strong network of support. I have learned a huge amount about what it takes to reach the top and perform to the best of your ability, the coaching team have been fantastic.
“AASE has helped me to plan for the future and set my career plans, with short, medium and long term goals through to the 2016 Olympics.”
Created by SkillsActive and funded by the Skills Funding Agency, AASE is a sports performance programme for young talented athletes. It’s designed to directly measure an athlete’s ability to plan, apply and evaluate their development in the appropriate technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of their sport. It also addresses wider issues such as lifestyle, career development, communication and health and safety.
Jack enjoyed a unique trip to Tenerife through the AASE Boxing programme last August, training at high altitude with young boxers from all over the UK. They experienced firsthand a different training environment that opened his eyes to training in different ways, including running up mountains.
He is currently training in the England Youth squad and is looking forward to the second stage trials for the GB Senior Development squad that will be selected over the next few months. The GB squad will meet regularly in Sheffield with the ultimate goal of competing at the 2016 Olympics and beyond.
Alongside his career in boxing, Jack Bateson 17 explains that the AASE programme has helped him plan for a career as a PE teacher and he hopes to secure a place at University for the end of this year.
His advice for other young athletes considering a place on the AASE programme to boost their chances of a successful sporting career? Jack said, “I would definitely recommend the AASE programme to anyone, but it’s not an easy ride. It has helped me to juggle my boxing and education in the best possible way and realise that it is only hard work that gets you to the very top.”
Apprenticeship week 2012
This year, SkillsActive challenges employers in England to get people into jobs and get staff trained with Apprenticeships!
Apprentices can access thousands of pounds a year in funded training – SkillsActive can help your business benefit from this, identify how much your staff could be eligible for and negotiate training that meets your needs.
Take the lead in all areas of your business – contact SkillsActive and make 2012 the year you take on an apprentice.
Register your interest in finding our more about how Apprenticeships could benefit your business and how much funded training your staff could access.
Don’t miss out – complete our simple form to register your interest >
SkillsActive aims to help small businesses do big things with our Group Training Association (GTA). If you are a small or medium sized organisation in England, joining a GTA network could help increase the opportunities available to your staff.
Discover more about how our GTA can help your business >
My Apprenticeship Experience
Find out what it's really like to take on and train and apprentice in the first of a series of blogs by Jill Eaton, director of Stevenage Sporting Futures Team, and apprentice Luke Allen.
My Apprenticeship Experience - employer>
My Apprenticeship Experience - apprentice>
Don't fall at the first hurdle – contact SkillsActive and take the lead with Apprenticeships!
Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund subsidises the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in sports and physical activity, and up-skill those already involved, leading up to the 2012 Games.
The programme is part of the London Mayor’s multi-million pound investment into the city’s sporting infrastructure and is managed by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.
Be a part of London's sporting future. Apply for training to support your local community through sport and physical activity and get up to 75% off courses in coaching and officiating, community sport, volunteering, leisure, health and disability sport.
Important note: The Mayor's Legacy Sports Fund is not a reimbursement fund. You need to apply for funding a minimum of 4 weeks before your desired course starts and receive your congratulations email from us before paying. This allows us time to process your application and ensure a place is available on the course. You can not apply for a subsidy from the Mayor's Legacy Sports Fund after paying for your course.
Funding is not guaranteed - it will depend on course availability within project timeframes.
FUNDING APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 31 MARCH 2012.
Legacy pathways
Choose a training pathway to learn more about the types of courses and funding available.
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The Mayor's Sports Legacy Fund is delivered by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.
Projects and programmes
SkillsActive delivers several programmes and projects to improve workforce skills in the active leisure, learning and and well-being sector.
Funded programmes
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides London volunteers with up to 75% off training to deliver a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games.
Nancy Ovens Bursary
The annual Nancy Ovens Bursary, sponsored by SkillsActive, provides paid or voluntary coaches and leaders in the sector with up to £2,000 in innovative training to improve skills.
Yorkshire & Humber Coaching Bursary
The Yorkshire and Humber Coaching Bursary, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides 60% off UKCC coaching qualifications for new and existing coaches. It is funded by Sport England Yorkshire.
Joint Investment Programme
SkillsActive’s Joint Investment Programme helps meet specific skills gaps in the fitness and playwork sectors using training jointly funded by the Government and employers.
Group Training Association
SkillsActive’s Group Training Association enables small to medium sized employers to develop existing employees and recruit and train new personnel, primarily through Apprenticeships.
Activegraduates.com
Activegraduates.com is a free job matching website to help employers find talented, work ready candidates from our pool of successful Future Jobs Fund participants.
Change Gear
Change Gear, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides support to those leaving the Armed Forces to ensure they are aware of the opportunities available to them in the sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravans industries.
Training 4 Volunteers
SkillsActive is working with experts from nine Member States on the Training 4 Volunteers project, which aims to investigate volunteering in sport and broaden ideas about education and training. It is funded by the 2010 Preparatory Action on Sport of the European Commission.
Projects
London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics
SkillsActive is leading on several projects to help deliver the competent, qualified workforce the UK needs for a successful London 2012 Games and a sustainable increase in sport and leisure participation.
Consultation
SkillsActive periodically asks for feedback on sector issues to inform the work we do. You can give SkillsActive feedback by post, email or fax before the time specified on the closing date.
Learn more about SkillsActvie's current and past consultations >
Completed programme and projects
SkillsActive has delivered numerous other successful programmes and projects.
Learn more about our Completed Programmes and Projects >
Training launches disabled instructors into fitness industry
The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund is working with partners to increase employment of disabled fitness professionals and boost disabled sport and physical activity participation.
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