PE and Sport in schools - SASP, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership


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Step into Sport

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Background Information

As part of the Government’s PE and School Sport and Club Link (PESSCL) Strategy, Step into Sport is a National programme, which is aimed at 14 – 19 year olds to encourage their involvement in Sports Leadership and Volunteering Opportunities, which hopefully continue beyond school years.

Sports Leaders UK, Sport England and The Youth Sport Trust, are working collaboratively to coordinate opportunities nationally, establishing a framework for young people and adults to begin and sustain an involvement in leadership and volunteering through sport.

Locally, the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership works together with the three local School Sports Partnerships; Sedgemoor and Mendip, South East Somerset and Tone Schools, to ensure there is a structured pathway to the Leadership and Volunteering process across Somerset.

What does it involve?

The programme is based around 5 stages which allows young people to get progressively involved in leading and volunteering within their own leisure time, in schools, clubs and the local community.

Step 1	Sport Education
	Young people learning how to plan, organise and evaluate their own PE sessions.
Step 2	JSLA
	Moving on to the Junior Sports Leaders Award either in or out of Curriculum time, developing skills of organising activities, communicating and motivating others.
Step 3	Top Link Festivals
	JSLA students have the opportunity to organise and run their own festivals, usually for local primary school children. Further training is available to help with the management of these activities.
Step 4	CSLA, HSLA, Sports Specific Leaders Awards
	The opportunity to take Leadership understanding a stage further by undertaking Community Sports Leaders and Higher Sports Leaders Awards from 16 years and older. Both these courses require voluntary time to be committed, 10 and 30 hours respectively. Alternatively there is the option to follow sports specific awards run through National Governing Bodies of Sport
Step 5	Community Volunteers
	Students from Step 4 engage in a programme of volunteering in local community and sports clubs, supported by mentors, over a 12 month period. They also attend a Volunteer Conference to provide them with further coaching information and how to get the most from their placements. Nationally recognised, Step into Sport Awards are given for completing 50, 100 and 200 hours in the twelve month period of volunteering.

Students

If you are interested in starting any of the Stages in Step into Sport, then your first option should be to speak with your PE Department who will let you know what is available within your school or college. Alternatively, contact Hayley Whittock 01749 341552 for more information.

Once you are registered for Community Volunteering you can use the following form to outline the details of the placement.

Volunteer Placement Details Form

Forms should be returned to Hayley Bullock, Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5BT e-mail: bullockh@mendip.gov.uk

Schools and Colleges

Support is given by Sports Leaders UK, Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust to develop Step into Sport courses and volunteering through your institution. Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership will support Community Volunteers in finding their placements as well as offering training for these students at an annual Step into Sport conference. There is also training for mentors within colleges to help students through the Volunteering process.

For further information, contact the Partnership Development Manager (PDM) for your School Sports Partnership for more information

Sedgemoor and Mendip: Stuart Collins - 01278 784881
SE Somerset: Rob Treacher - 01963 32368
Tone Schools: Dave Bullock - 01823 274073

Clubs

Volunteers make a difference to clubs every day. Without their presence, most clubs would not exist. Their role doesn’t just have to be coaching however. Officiating, administration, publicity, and even web page design are all volunteering possibilities, which could help develop your club.

Volunteer Co-ordinator Training is organised through the County Sports Partnership to help Volunteers make the most of their talents.

Should you be interested in having volunteers supporting your club then various Club Volunteering forms are available as downloads:

	Registering your opportunity Form
	Registering your organisation Form

Forms should be returned to Hayley Bullock, Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5BT e-mail: bullockh@mendip.gov.uk

Step into Sport Conference

Wednesday 16 th February 2005 Millfield School, Street, Somerset.

31 students from across the county attended the SASP Community Volunteer Conference to receive further coaching ideas and tips on how to get the most from their forthcoming placements. The theme of the conference was set around the Long Term Athlete Development programme and the delivery of Multi skills style coaching which can be used in all sports. Other sessions included Child Protection and Styles of Leadership to assist with their development as Young Leaders.

College lecturers were also present and received a briefing on how to support their students during the volunteering process. At the end of the day students were then given guidance on completing the necessary planning forms and further opportunities for volunteering which exist in and out of the county.

4 students were then selected to go to the National Conference in March where they received further help and tuition in aspects of leadership and volunteering. One of these four, Jonathan Dicker, was selected as one of four lucky volunteers to go to the International Conference in the U.S.A. later in the year!

Step into Sport Awards

Once you have completed a set number of hours volunteering you become eligible for various levels of Step into Sport Award.

	Bronze Award Completion of 50 hours volunteering
	Silver Award Completion of 100 hours volunteering
	Gold Award Completion of 200 hours volunteering.

The number of hours completed can be inclusive of time spent attending the one day conference, ten hours leading as part of the Community Sports Leaders Award, and any further bolt-on courses attended voluntarily through the programme.

To make hours eligible, all time must be signed off by your Volunteer Co-ordinator.