Wednesday 8th February 2012 10.39am
Post your Events College provides unemployed with a ‘sporting chance’
City of Sunderland College has launched a new course to help those out of work pick up new skills for a career in the sport and leisure industry.
The twelve-week course provides training for a recognised NCFE qualification, the Level 1 Certificate in Sport and Leisure Studies as well as a coaching qualification in Volleyball.
The programme also provides practical tips on investigating and applying for job opportunities and was commissioned by Tyne & Wear City Region’s Employment and Skills Partnership through Single Programme funding from One North East.
Darren McDonald, 41, from Jarrow in South Shields, was working as an asbestos operative before being made redundant several months ago. He found out about the course at City of Sunderland College through his local job centre and decided to give the course a go.
“I was really interested in the course and how it could be used as a stepping stone to a new career in youth work, so I was quick to sign-up,” Darren said. “It’s a great way to help me get a qualification which will help me to go on to do a BTEC in coaching.
“Our group is really supportive and the activities we do encourage us to work as a team. We are also learning about customer care and the different options that are available to us.”
Explaining how the new course came about, programme leader, Donna Howe, said: “We are keen to develop demand-led pathways which are designed to help people get into the particular sector of their choosing.
“By offering training and in-work support, our learners have a better chance of gaining continued employment, while meeting the needs of local employers. Thanks to funding from Tyne & Wear City Region, advice from Tyne & Wear Sport and referrals made through our partners such as Next Steps and Job Centre Plus, we have been able to launch the new course to answer the growing demand for professionals in this sector, ahead of London Olympics 2012.”
Upon completion of the course, Darren and his peers will leave with recognised qualifications and valuable experience of the sport and leisure industry.
Donna added: “Ultimately, this course will provide learners with the skills, experience and most importantly, the confidence to get back into work and explore the possibilities of a new career. The region’s sport and leisure sector can certainly benefit from what these people have to offer so it’s a win, win situation.”
The College has been building up links with stakeholders and other employment support programmes to ensure there are appropriate progression routes in place for the learners after they have completed the course.
Its team has linked into Future Job Fund opportunities in the area which are Government funded six-month job placements which aim to provide unemployed residents with work experiences.
With roles available locally in the sport and leisure industry, efforts have also been made to ensure that the learners have access to the various volunteering opportunities, proven invaluable in helping people develop the skills they need to access employment.
Cllr Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council and chair of the Tyne and Wear City Region Executive Board, said: “This programme not only offers a great opportunity for young people in the Tyne and Wear City Region to take a positive step towards a career and full-time employment but will help businesses to grow and develop by providing suitably skilled staff.”
City of Sunderland College is currently developing links with volunteer coordinators from various sporting national governing bodies, and with Jigsaw training in Gateshead, who is running the Personal Best programme which aims to support unemployed individuals to access volunteering opportunities linked to the 2012 Olympics.
The College’s new sport and leisure course directly supports the Government’s priorities for sporting success linked to the developments underway as part of the London Olympics 2010 and the Sport England programme which aims to deliver one million people doing more sport, a 25% reduction in the number of 16-18 year olds who drop out of five key sports and a measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their experiences of sport by 2012/13.
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