31 March 2009
Aspiring sports coaches have been getting help to pay for their
courses and their tutors supported in getting higher qualifications
- thanks to a programme funded by Sport England.
Access to quality coaching has been identified as a key factor
in getting people playing more sport and making it a life-long
habit. Sport England’s latest survey of people’s sporting
experiences (Active People Survey 2) showed that 7.5 million people
benefited from tuition from a coach in 2007/08.
The £1.8 million scheme has been delivered in partnership by the
National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, SkillsActive
and sports coach UK. People taking an official coaching course
recognised by the national governing bodies (NGBs) of 45 sports
were able to apply for the support.
The programme was set up to fund:
- 3900 bursaries for people taking sports coaching courses
- Support for 1800 coach educators/tutors to achieve further
qualifications
- Support to professionalise coaching schemes such as e-learning
tools, databases and resources.
Phil Smith, Sport England’s Director of Sport, said:
“Increasing the number of high quality coaches in a wide range
of sports will help us achieve our goals of getting one million
people playing and enjoying more sport and helping those with
talent fulfil their potential. Sport England has already committed
to investing tens of millions of pounds in coaching over the next
four years because we need great coaches to create world-leading
grassroots sporting opportunities.”
The National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure
coordinated the programme and presented potential coaches with a
simple package of bursaries, education and training.
Florence Orban, interim CEO of the National Skills Academy for
Sport and Active Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be playing a
significant role in meeting Sport England’s objectives of getting
more people involved in sport, helping those with talent to excel
in their sport and ensuring a quality experience for those who
participate. Our partnership is a significant step towards creating
a larger, more skilled, workforce that will help secure a lasting
sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The programme built on the success of a coaching bursary scheme,
managed by SkillsActive, which has so far led to over 2,700
coaching qualifications being achieved in the South West and
London.
Stephen Studd, SkillsActive Group CEO, said: “Coaches are the
lifeblood of sport in this country and investment of this size will
both support their development and continue to build a coaching
infrastructure for the future. Quality coaching underpins so many
of Great Britain’s sporting ambitions – to be in the top five
sporting nations by 2012 and to raise participation at grassroots
level – so it is important we ensure the right people with the
right skills are in place to support and deliver those
ambitions.”
Dr Pat Duffy, sports coach UK Group CEO, said: “This approach
represents an important step in focusing and streamlining support
to coaches and governing bodies of sport. The partnership approach
is central to the UK Coaching Framework and maximising the role of
coaching in support of grow, sustain and excel outcomes.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The 45 sports involved in the scheme were: Angling, Archery,
Athletics, Badminton, Baseball & Softball, Basketball,
Basketball (Wheelchair), Boccia, Boxing, Canoeing, Cricket,
Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Goalball, Golf, Gymnastics,
Handball, Hockey, Judo, Lacrosse, Modern Pentathlon,
Mountaineering, Movement & Dance, Netball, Orienteering,
Rounders, Rowing, Rugby (Wheelchair), Rugby League, Rugby Union,
Sailing, Shooting, Snowsport, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis,
Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Waterskiing,
Weightlifting, Wrestling.
Sport England
Sport England is a non-departmental public body
and National Lottery distributor. We are committed to creating a
world-leading community sports development system and increasing
participation in sport. Sport England’s annual budget (lottery and
exchequer) is c£250m.
Sport England’s new strategy was launched on 10 June 2008 and
commits Sport England to deliver on a series of demanding targets
by 2012/13:
- one million people doing more sport
- a 25% reduction in the number of 16-18 year-olds who drop out
of five key sports
- improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports
- a measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their
experience of sport – the first time the organisation has set such
a qualitative measure
- a major contribution to the delivery of the five hour sports
offer for children and young people
National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure
The National Skills Academy network is the new
gold standard for industry training, aiming to improve productivity
and tackle skills shortages across England. There are currently 10
active Academies across various sectors with a further six in the
business planning stage.
Each National Skills Academy puts employers at the heart of
skills training for their sector: taking control of the design and
delivery of learning in their industry, working in partnership with
government and top training providers, from both the public and
private sectors. Employers influence the curriculum to ensure it
reflects employers’ needs; are involved in the academy’s
management; set standards; and influence strategic direction.
The National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, part
of the SkillsActive Group, has been created to provide one single,
coherent approach to skills training in the sector. All training,
qualifications and careers will be employer-led and
employer-directed, ensuring better quality, more targeted training
and better access to funds for training.
By 2010 the skills academy will operate via nine regional hubs
throughout England. The first three hubs have commenced operation
this year in London, the North West and Yorkshire & Humber. The
London hub will initially be at Crystal Palace National Sports
Centre, before moving into the London 2012 Legacy Park immediately
after the Games. The others are located at Sheffield United FC and
the University of Cumbria.
People can also access the best training resources virtually.
The new Online Academy will be the first port of call for learners
to find out about the skills needed to enter the sector or to
progress their career. For employers, the website will provide
valuable information about recognised training providers and advice
on how to make the most affective use of staff training
budgets.
More information can be found on the National Skillls Academy
website.
SkillsActive
SkillsActive is licensed by government as the
Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning. Led by
employers, SkillsActive works across the sport and recreation,
health and fitness, outdoors, playwork, and caravan industries –
known as the active leisure and learning sector – to increase the
demand for, the quality and the supply of skills provision, and to
lobby funding agencies and policy makers for improvements to the
sector.
SkillsActive is dedicated to the needs of business and
organisations by helping to improve their competitiveness and
productivity; and aims to bring together employers, educators and
government, and unite them with a common, employer-led agenda for
action on skills.
SkillsActive operates as part of the SkillsActive Group. For
more information about SkillsActive, please visit the SkillsActive website
For more information on the National Skills Academy for Sport
and Active Leisure, please contact Clare Taylor at Promote PR on
01753 740 074 or email clare@promotepr.com
sports coach UK
sports coach UK is a charitable organisation,
jointly funded by Sport England and UK Sport, and is the lead
agency charged with the development and implementation of a UK
Coaching System.
The UK Coaching Framework will put in place a structure to
create an ethical, inclusive and valued coaching system where
skilled coaches support children, players and athletes at all
stages of their development in sport, and which is number one in
the world by 2016. More information can be found on
the sports coach UK
website