M E D WAY A C T I V E C O M M U N I T I E S ( R U R A L ) P R O J E C T
annual volunteer programme report september 04 - august 05 On 25th October 2004, the third volunteer programme to be funded by Sport England’s Active Communities Development Fund commenced in the Medway Active Communities (Rural) project area. Delivered at The Hundred of Hoo School, the aim of this unique personal development programme, previously recognised by Sport England as an example of national best practice, is to enable young people to develop their confidence, motivation and skills whilst promoting access to sports leadership and coaching courses. During this 8-month programme volunteers completed a Sports Leaders UK Level 1 Award in Community Sports Leadership, attended a selection of Sports Coach UK training workshops and an appointed person emergency first aid course and participated in regular activity sessions. Having completed their training, volunteers were given the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they had gained during the course to benefit the local community by supporting the Medway Active Communities after-school sports clubs and the Medway Messenger Mini Youth Games. Whilst undertaking this valuable work experience, volunteers were also invited to attend a 5-day residential teambuilding course involving adventurous outdoor activities in Dartmoor National Park. This dynamic and powerful experience was delivered by Spirit of Adventure, one of the leading providers of adventurous activity and teambuilding courses in southern England.
Volunteer activities Sports Coach UK training workshops attended: What is sport coaching? How to coach sport safely How to coach sport effectively How to coach children in sport How to coach disabled sportspeople Good practice and child protection Activity sessions participated in: Skiing Snowboarding Snow tubing Tobogganing Medway Active Communities after-school sports clubs supported: Table tennis at Hilltop Primary School Netball at Hoo St Werburgh Primary School Hockey at Hoo St Werburgh Primary School Korfball at Temple Mill Primary School Basketball at Wainscott Primary School Netball at Wainscott Primary School Medway Messenger Mini Youth Games supported: Athletics at Deangate Ridge Tennis at Black Lion Leisure Centre Volunteers who completed this challenging programme were ultimately awarded scholarships at their final team presentation to pursue national governing body coaching qualifications. This celebratory event took place at The Hundred of Hoo School on 20th May and was attended by Medway Councillors and senior officers, programme supporters, friends and family.
National governing body courses attended All England Netball Association Level 1 Assistant Coaches Course Badminton England Level 1 Assistant Coaches Course Football Association 1st4Sport Level 1 Coaches Course Lawn Tennis Association Level 1 Assistant Coaches Course UK Athletics Level 1 Assistant Coaches Course Having gained valuable experience and nationally recognised qualifications during the Medway Active Communities Volunteer Programme, it is anticipated that volunteers will now continue to support the work of Medway Council’s Sports Development Team. Exit routes have also been established to enable volunteers to develop their skills further and appropriate career opportunities identified within the local community.
The following table summarises the annual outputs of this highly successful programme. Number of volunteers to enrol on programme
15
Number of volunteers to complete Level 1 Award in Community Sports Leadership
15
Number of Sports Coach UK certificates awarded
79
Number of appointed person first aid certificates awarded
11
Number of Millennium Volunteer 100 hour certificates awarded
14
Number of coaching scholarships awarded
15
Number of volunteers to attend residential teambuilding course
14
Number of activity sessions attended by individual volunteers
96
Number of after-school sports club sessions supported by individual volunteers
92
Number of Mini Youth Games events supported by individual volunteers
20
Total number of volunteer training hours Total number of volunteer hours supporting the local community Number of volunteers to complete programme Volunteer % attendance rate The Medway Active Communities (Rural) Project would like to thank all those individuals and organisations that have contributed to the continued success of this unique programme and to congratulate this year’s exceptional volunteers whose service to the community was justifiably recognised at the 2005 Medway Youth Service Try Angle Award Ceremony. Further programmes are planned for the New Year and hopefully beyond depending on the availability of future funding.
For further information, please contact Jon Rees Medway Active Communities (Rural) Sports Volunteer Project Officer
on 01634 338765 email
[email protected]
1,745 240 15 89%
