Sports Leadership for young people
The Blaby & Harborough SSP offers a range of opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills through sport. These skills are developed right from the youngest ages at primary school, progressing through the Leadership Pathway:
Sporting Ambassadors
This locally developed programme is delivered by Key Stage 4 students for pupils across their feeder high and primary schools. A conference is held for each family of schools where selected Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 Sporting Ambassadors attend. At the events, students learn about the Olympic values and plan ways to inspire other pupils from their school to enjoy sport and physical activity through the Olympic theme. The pupils are trained to be ‘ambassadors’ for sport in their schools, and are tasked to develop an action plan for their school to inspire other young people to get involved in sport, for example, holding assemblies, developing newsletters and launching a Sports Council.
The Sporting Ambassadors sports leadership project has won a regional ‘Leading the Legacy Award’ for work with young people in promoting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Through Sporting Ambassadors our young people are learning so much about health and activity, leadership and advocacy and about the high ideals of Olympism." Gaynor Nash - Regional Coordinator for the Children and Young People's Legacy.
Key Stage 2 Super Leaders is a locally developed programme where selected Key Stage 2 pupils are trained in leading playground activities with other pupils at their school. The programme has run since 2005. Pupils are encouraged to work alongside lunchtime supervisors to make their playgrounds an inclusive and active place for everyone.
Key Stage 3 Sports Leaders UK Young Leaders Award. Every high school in the Partnership runs each year the Young Leaders Award, enabling pupils to gain a nationally recognised qualification in Sports Leadership. Around 250 young people each year complete the course in the Partnership, either as part of a curriculum or extra curricular activity. Once qualified, the young people are involved in a range of leadership opportunities within their own school, and often within their family of primary schools.
Key Stage 4 & 5 Generic leadership and sports specific opportunities. At Key Stage 4 & 5 young people are given the opportunity to take part in a range of leadership qualifications, including the Sports Leaders UK Level 1 & 2 certificates in Sports Leadership, and national governing body of sport leadership qualifications.
Step into Sport Key Stage 4 students are given the opportunity to take part in the Step into Sport programme, which links the young people with community sports clubs. The young people attend a Conference with other students from across the area, and challenged to complete 50 – 200 hours of community sports volunteering over the course of a year.
2012 Young Ambassadors Each year 3 young people from the Partnership are chosen for their outstanding contribution to sports leadership to be part of a national leadership programme linked to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They attend a nationally led conference and then work locally to inspire other young people to get involved in sport and physical activity.
The Blaby and Harborough SSP Young Ambassadors recently attended the Midlands Young Ambassador conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. The Ambassadors worked with ex-Olympic and Paralympic athletes in workshops looking at how they can utilise their role effectively within the partnership. The ambassadors will now lead conferences in their respective upper schools in conjunction with KS4 ambassadors for Key stage 2 and 3 ambassadors from the local primary and high schools.
"The School Sports Partnership Conference was a wonderful experience, and I felt privileged to be one of just thirteen young people attending. Exploring the exhibitions showed us how much there is to get involved with, and this is a message we can incorporate into school life: there is a sport for everyone! My personal highlight of the day was leading some wheelchair basketball drills with Jade. We were humbled at the dedication of the boys who give their all to this sport, despite some difficult circumstances. It was something neither of us had experienced before. Presenting to delegates from SSPs countrywide was quite nerve wracking to begin with, but I soon found the confidence to speak freely about my experiences as a Young Ambassador. The gala dinner was a great way to round off an inspiring day; it was a celebration of the work people do throughout sport, and I am proud to be a part of that effort." Sophie Bingham Young Ambassador Robert Smyth School.
The Ambassadors for our schools are as follows:
The Robert Smyth Academy - Platinum: Sophie Bingham, Gold: Lorna Grubb, Adistar: Vicky Amos
Lutterworth College - Platinum: Fiona Jones-Gerrard, Gold: Melissa Royer and Charlotte Weemes
Countesthorpe Community College - Jonathan Chinary, Jack Barber, Emma Lenton
Sporting Ambassador Profiles
Sophie Bingham
Young Ambassador
The Robert Smyth School
I am currently studying AS levels in PE, Biology, Psychology and Geography at The Robert Smyth School. As well as my academic studies I am fully involved in sport in both my school and local community. My main interest is netball and I enjoy coaching at Market Harborough Youth, officiating events at RSS, bringing women “Back to Netball” as well as captaining my own team of 14-18 year old girls who regularly compete in a ladies league. I love playing the game but it is equally rewarding to pass on this passion, and see netball being enjoyed by all.
However, as a Young Ambassador I realise the importance of inspiring children in their chosen sport, whatever that may be. During my time as a KS4 sports ambassador I worked as part of a small group who provided sports afternoons for non-GCSE PE students, selected for being enthusiastic within their core lessons. The focus was on enjoyment, although there was a definite competitive spirit throughout! I was also part of a Mini Olympics where the Paralympic mascot made a popular appearance, and worked with many primary school children at various multi skills events.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far as a Young Ambassador, attending workshops at Aston Villa FC and a School Sports Partnership Conference in Telford. Both these events have made me realise how I can impact on the children I work with, and how our continued promotion of sports is so vital in the run up to London 2012. I look forward to working with Jade further and, with the support of Mr Scully, am certain we can provide opportunities for many more young people through sport.