AoC East Midlands Colleges have developed a wide range of initiatives, opportunities and programmes to engage their students in sporting activities. Projects have focused on increasing participation in Physical Activity and Sport at all levels and developing invaluable skills through Volunteering. Please see below for examples of best practice case studies from across the region.
If you have any further questions, please contact either the FESCo of the college or Sarah Larnder sarah.larnder@loucoll.ac.uk
If you have any further questions, please contact either the FESCo of the college or Sarah Larnder sarah.larnder@loucoll.ac.uk
College: South Nottingham College
Project: South Nottingham College Community Sport and Volunteering Project
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: South Nottingham College Community Sport and Volunteering Project
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Create a partnership with the St Ann's and Sneinton Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) to jointly develop a sustainable, quality and progressive community sports programme within five targeted areas of Nottingham; St Ann's, Sneinton, Bilborough, Bulwell and Clifton.
- Create a structured Pathway for students from South Nottingham College to volunteer and support the delivery of sport within local communities within the target areas of the proposed community sport project.
- Engage FE students from the college with sport volunteer opportunities in local communities to utilise the skills learnt on their academic courses to make a difference in their local communities in a practical environment.
- Develop a large bank of local FE student sport volunteers and qualified coaches to support the delivery of community sport across the city and provide possibilities for expansion of provision.
- Develop a structured mentoring system for FE students to provide support and guidance throughout their involvement with sports volunteering.
What we did
- Secured a successful joint funding bid between the college and the St Ann's and Sneinton Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) from the Sport England Community Investment Fund to deliver a community sports programme in five city areas of Nottingham.
- Created a new Sport Volunteer Programme at South Nottingham College linked with the community sports programme to provide opportunities for students from the college to become involved in sport volunteering by being deployed into the project as sports leaders, coaches, officials and event assistants.
- Recruited students from South Nottingham College to become involved with the Sport Volunteer Programme via talks in tutorial sessions, recruitment drives around college and the distribution of marketing materials to students.
- Devised an induction training package for all students on the Sport Volunteer Programme to receive prior to commencing volunteering within the community to ensure that they were fully prepared for active involvement with the project.
- Developed a mentoring system for FE student volunteer to monitor progress, offer support and guidance and to direct students to appropriate training opportunities where necessary to aid in personal development.
Impact
- South Nottingham College now has an established Sport Volunteer Programme set up which has created a successful volunteer infrastructure to support the delivery of sport across the community project which is being implemented across five city areas of Nottingham.
- Multi agency partnership working between the college, the EIP, schools, local sports clubs, private companies, professional sports clubs and a number of other local sporting and community partners has meant that a sustainable framework for community sport is being implemented across the five target inner city areas.
- The quality of sport being delivered within the targeted geographical areas has improved significantly as a direct result of the work being undertaken through this project. This has been achieved through the improvement and expansion of sports provision in the areas, including a range of new sports clubs being set up in each of the areas, as well as the development of a skilled workforce to facilitate delivery.
- Over 50 SNC students were actively involved in community volunteering within sport in the academic year 2008/2009. Students have supported the project through a number of roles including sports coaching/leadership, officiating and event assistance in schools, leisure centres, events and sports clubs. There are now over 100 SNC students registered with the Sport Volunteer Programme who are looking to become engaged with volunteering in the community this academic year.
- Students involved with the programme are receiving mentoring and support throughout their involvement resulting in training and development opportunities being highlighted to students to continually improve skills of volunteers.
- Students involved with the programme are working towards gaining accreditation for their volunteering hours through Step into Sport and the V50 Award.
- Students are developing employability skills alongside their academic studies through their involvement with the Sport Volunteer Programme. Students are being able to gain practical experience within the sports industry which is greatly increasing their career prospects and chances of entering employment after their time with us at the college.
College: Loughborough College, Leicestershire
Project: Loughborough Flames- Lighting the Way to London 2012 and Beyond
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do Using the 2012 Games as a catalyst, we wanted to use sports leaders from Loughborough College to increase the levels of physical activity in primary school children across the local area.
Charlie Watts, Loughborough College FESCo explains:
"We recognise the wealth of opportunities presented to us by the 2012 Games and have decided that London 2012 is an ideal vehicle to get young children from the Charnwood area more physically active.
It is also a perfect opportunity to create and leave a sustainable health legacy in the local community."
What we didLoughborough College sports leaders, who have completed the Community Sports Leadership Award (generally as part of their National Diploma in Sport), received the British Heart Foundation's Active Club Pack and associated training.
This provided them with a range of fun and energetic activities for the children. The leaders then planned and delivered enjoyable Olympic themed sport and health programmes in local primary schools over a six week period, which included information on the history and culture of the Games.
The British Heart Foundation 'Physical Activity Pocket Planners' and 'Get Kids on the Go' booklet were distributed to encourage children to be more physically active.
The six week programme culminated in a celebration event at Loughborough College organised by the sports leaders and attended by all participating schools, Steve Cram and the British Heart Foundation mascot, Hearty.
Project: Loughborough Flames- Lighting the Way to London 2012 and Beyond
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do Using the 2012 Games as a catalyst, we wanted to use sports leaders from Loughborough College to increase the levels of physical activity in primary school children across the local area.
Charlie Watts, Loughborough College FESCo explains:
"We recognise the wealth of opportunities presented to us by the 2012 Games and have decided that London 2012 is an ideal vehicle to get young children from the Charnwood area more physically active.
It is also a perfect opportunity to create and leave a sustainable health legacy in the local community."
What we didLoughborough College sports leaders, who have completed the Community Sports Leadership Award (generally as part of their National Diploma in Sport), received the British Heart Foundation's Active Club Pack and associated training.
This provided them with a range of fun and energetic activities for the children. The leaders then planned and delivered enjoyable Olympic themed sport and health programmes in local primary schools over a six week period, which included information on the history and culture of the Games.
The British Heart Foundation 'Physical Activity Pocket Planners' and 'Get Kids on the Go' booklet were distributed to encourage children to be more physically active.
The six week programme culminated in a celebration event at Loughborough College organised by the sports leaders and attended by all participating schools, Steve Cram and the British Heart Foundation mascot, Hearty.
Impact
The 'Loughborough Flames: Lighting the Way to 2012 and Beyond' project is a unique and innovative sports leadership programme piloted by Loughborough College, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation. The project has now been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, following a hugely successful sports festival hosted at the college, attended by special guest and Olympian Steve Cram. Inspired and driven by 2012, the project aimed to educate young people about the history and culture of the Olympic Games, whilst motivating them to be more physically active.
Over 100 young leaders and 200 children have been involved in the pilot, with all the schools involved visiting Loughborough College's facilities to participate in the mini Olympics festival and celebrate the success of the project.
All children involved were educated on the history and culture of the Games. Each coaching session was centred around an activity directly related to London 2012 and leaders facilitated discussions and encouraged enquiry to reinforce the Olympic and Paralympic values.
Part of the project was to encourage children to be more physically active, and sports leaders helped to monitor and acknowledge levels of activity through the use of the British Heart Foundation 'Physical Activity Pocket Planners'. Additionally, children received a 'Get Kids on the Go' booklet to take home to their parents with tips on how supporting their children to be more active.
The resounding success of the Loughborough Flames pilot means that it will continue to be delivered until 2012 and beyond, involving many more young leaders and children.
The 'Loughborough Flames: Lighting the Way to 2012 and Beyond' project is a unique and innovative sports leadership programme piloted by Loughborough College, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation. The project has now been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, following a hugely successful sports festival hosted at the college, attended by special guest and Olympian Steve Cram. Inspired and driven by 2012, the project aimed to educate young people about the history and culture of the Olympic Games, whilst motivating them to be more physically active.
Over 100 young leaders and 200 children have been involved in the pilot, with all the schools involved visiting Loughborough College's facilities to participate in the mini Olympics festival and celebrate the success of the project.
All children involved were educated on the history and culture of the Games. Each coaching session was centred around an activity directly related to London 2012 and leaders facilitated discussions and encouraged enquiry to reinforce the Olympic and Paralympic values.
Part of the project was to encourage children to be more physically active, and sports leaders helped to monitor and acknowledge levels of activity through the use of the British Heart Foundation 'Physical Activity Pocket Planners'. Additionally, children received a 'Get Kids on the Go' booklet to take home to their parents with tips on how supporting their children to be more active.
The resounding success of the Loughborough Flames pilot means that it will continue to be delivered until 2012 and beyond, involving many more young leaders and children.
College: South Nottingham College, Notts
Project: Balls to Poverty
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do Deliver 3000 footballs and put on coaching sessions to under-privileged children in deprived townships in South Africa. Since the project started over 21,000 balls have been delivered.
Take part in U19 football and rugby tournaments
Embark on community projects such as helping to build football pitches
Use the students' positive experiences when they return back to the UK to make them role models in their local communities.
What we did Since 2004 the project has done exactly what it set out to do with a successful tour taking place every year.
It is now established as a registered Charity and Nottingham Forest FC have chosen it as their charity of the year for 2009/10
The project is sponsored by Unite the Union and has been endorsed by the Professional Footballers Association
Project: Balls to Poverty
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do Deliver 3000 footballs and put on coaching sessions to under-privileged children in deprived townships in South Africa. Since the project started over 21,000 balls have been delivered.
Take part in U19 football and rugby tournaments
Embark on community projects such as helping to build football pitches
Use the students' positive experiences when they return back to the UK to make them role models in their local communities.
What we did Since 2004 the project has done exactly what it set out to do with a successful tour taking place every year.
It is now established as a registered Charity and Nottingham Forest FC have chosen it as their charity of the year for 2009/10
The project is sponsored by Unite the Union and has been endorsed by the Professional Footballers Association
Impact Balls to Poverty is a nationally acclaimed project which has won both national and regional awards including an Association of Colleges (AOC) Beacon Award for innovation. Its founder, Joe Sargison was nominated for a Pride of Britain award in October 2009 winning the Midland's heat.
Up to 450,000 South Africans have been directly affected by the College's involvement, either in coaching, receiving a ball, starting up a team
Over 15 different schools (7000 pupils) in Nottingham have benefitted from coaching sessions from the College students. By April 2010, 120 College students will have taken part in the tour. The College has seen an increase in retention and achievement as a result of students' involvement
Nearly a third of Balls To Poverty students from the 2008 tour are currently studying on University degree programmes in USA having earned Soccer Scholarships.
Up to 450,000 South Africans have been directly affected by the College's involvement, either in coaching, receiving a ball, starting up a team
Over 15 different schools (7000 pupils) in Nottingham have benefitted from coaching sessions from the College students. By April 2010, 120 College students will have taken part in the tour. The College has seen an increase in retention and achievement as a result of students' involvement
Nearly a third of Balls To Poverty students from the 2008 tour are currently studying on University degree programmes in USA having earned Soccer Scholarships.
College: Derby College, Derbyshire
Project: Community Links – Mackwoth Estate
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Community Links – Mackwoth Estate
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Support the local community by running holiday sport
and physical activity projects. - Worked in partnership with Derby City Council, and the
Mackworth Estate. - Provide students the opportunity to volunteer their time.
- Improve the local provision of activities for young people.
What we did
- Identified students to volunteer their time to support
the holiday activities programme. - Employed second year students to work as coaches.
- Organised a community sport leader's award to run over
the holiday period, supporting the activities. - Worked in partnership with the local authority in "sign posting"
students to a local Volunteer programme, providing additionalvolunteering opportunities. - Used the activity weeks to promote other "Active" initiatives.
- Shared resources and submitted funding applications.
Impact
- Improved partnership working, got agencies talking, and brought together agencies, such as local authority sport, youth, and local sports charities, and residents group and F.E College.
- Increased local participation.
- Increase volunteering hours.
- Provided employment.
- Provided new resources and opportunities.
- Become a focus for "Sport Unlimited" funding.
- Provided funding for the college leadership group.
College: Moulton College, Northamptonshire
Project: Tag Rugby Coaching/Tournament-Leadership Academy
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do We wanted to create links with local primary schools by placing College Sports Academy Students in each school to deliver tag rugby coaching sessions linked with the Rugby Volunteers programme.
It was hoped that the sessions would help increase students' confidence and improve their coaching skills, whilst also raising the profile of the sport within the local primary schools.
What we did We made contact with the competition manager for the South Northants Daventry area and invited schools from the surrounding area to participate in an organised tag rugby tournament.
In preparation for the tournament, the colleges' Rugby Academy students would deliver three weeks coaching in each of the local primary schools.
On 2nd April, nine primary schools from the local area came together for a tag rugby tournament at the college supported by the RFU.
Project: Tag Rugby Coaching/Tournament-Leadership Academy
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do We wanted to create links with local primary schools by placing College Sports Academy Students in each school to deliver tag rugby coaching sessions linked with the Rugby Volunteers programme.
It was hoped that the sessions would help increase students' confidence and improve their coaching skills, whilst also raising the profile of the sport within the local primary schools.
What we did We made contact with the competition manager for the South Northants Daventry area and invited schools from the surrounding area to participate in an organised tag rugby tournament.
In preparation for the tournament, the colleges' Rugby Academy students would deliver three weeks coaching in each of the local primary schools.
On 2nd April, nine primary schools from the local area came together for a tag rugby tournament at the college supported by the RFU.
Impact Nine teams from local primary schools entered the competition and responded very positively to the three weeks of coaching, commenting that they would like to be part of the programme again in the future. They would also like to see it extended to further sports.
The College coaches have also enjoyed delivering the sessions and the tournament and have said that it has given them increased confidence and helped to improve their coaching skills.
In 2008, only one team entered the competition compared to this year where the college played host to over 100 primary school children.
The College coaches have also enjoyed delivering the sessions and the tournament and have said that it has given them increased confidence and helped to improve their coaching skills.
In 2008, only one team entered the competition compared to this year where the college played host to over 100 primary school children.
College: Leicester College, Leicestershire
Project: Special Olympics Roadshow
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Special Olympics Roadshow
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Raise the profile of the special Olympics and link this with theVolunteering strand of the PESSYP strategy.
- Highlight the importance of SOL2009 and show clarify the
meaning of what it comprises of.
What we did
- Worked closely with Marketing department for SOL2009
and college staff and students. - Publicised SOL2009 roadshow at one of the main college campuses.
- Advertised on the intranet and with city based FESCOs to encourage their students to attend.
Impact
- Students had showed an interest in the SOL2009and completed the volunteering forms required for the volunteering for SOL2009.
- Raised profile of how Leicester College is supporting this project.
- On average 30 students have signed up for thevolunteering and hopefully more online!
College: Lincolnshire Sports Partnership
Project: Lincolnshire FE/HE Coaching Forum
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doThe aim of the project was to develop a programme of coaching and volunteer courses that could provide opportunities not just for students on an individual campus but for the whole student population of the county.
The first course ran in November and 18 students from Lincoln and Boston gained a level 1 NGB qualification.
What we didThe group came together to map out which courses should be run and on which campus. This programme not only included NGB qualifications but also Running Sport and Sports Coach UK courses.
The project has been supported by a Sport England Community Investment Fund Grant.
Project: Lincolnshire FE/HE Coaching Forum
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doThe aim of the project was to develop a programme of coaching and volunteer courses that could provide opportunities not just for students on an individual campus but for the whole student population of the county.
The first course ran in November and 18 students from Lincoln and Boston gained a level 1 NGB qualification.
What we didThe group came together to map out which courses should be run and on which campus. This programme not only included NGB qualifications but also Running Sport and Sports Coach UK courses.
The project has been supported by a Sport England Community Investment Fund Grant.
ImpactTo increase student participation across the county there needed to be an increased number of coaches and volunteers on each campus. In the past courses have been set up by individual institutes and then these have been cancelled due to lack of numbers. By running courses across the county we can ensure that the courses are filled and we can get best value from the resources we have. The coaches are then placed in a mentoring programme to ensure the training they have received will benefit the others on the campus.
Each coach that receives training commits to 25 hours of coaching in either on campus
or in a community setting.
Each coach that receives training commits to 25 hours of coaching in either on campus
or in a community setting.
