Across all our schools there are a large number of young people, who have regularly given up their time as a volunteer to support the delivery of school sport opportunities across the partnership. Whether this is as an event official, an assistant coach or a team leader, we truly have an immense number of young people who are willing to help others.

I feel we need to celebrate these students and acknowledge their excellent volunteer work.
We are therefore launching Sports Leadership Academy this academic year. The Academy is an opportunity for approx 60 young people to join a project that is dedicated to supporting them as young sports leaders, providing them with free training, free access to courses and regular mentoring sessions. We hope we can build a strong team, who will benefit from each others experiences and grow as individuals, with the potential to become 2012 Olympic Sports Leaders.

SSCO’s, FESCO’s and PE teachers will identify 8-10 students from each secondary school to put forward.  Target group : Young Ambassadors should be invoved, CSLA groups, climbing wall leaders, students already volunteering in OOSH clubs in school or in the community.  These pupils should be between 14-19, minimum 50% should be 16+.  Those selected students will meet together with their dedicated mentor where they will learn more about the project, expectations and benefits of the Leadership Academy.

PE departments from respective schools must be informed of selected pupils.  These pupils will be involved in at least one SSP wide event, should be encouraged to develop intra school competition in their secondary schools and after completing young leaders/officials NGB’s these pupils can regularly lead/officiate at intra and Inter school competitions.

Students selected for the Leadership Academy are rewarded as they will be given access to a range of additional opportunities including free training, NGB coaching/officiating courses and national conferences.  Over the year they will work towards completing 25 hours volunteering for Bronze, 50 hours for Silver and 100 hours for Gold.

Go onto resources, under Leadership Academy and download your personal profile.

Kate Devine; email - kdevine@canterbury.kent.sch.uk