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Coaching session in Judo
The College's Further Education Sports Co-ordinator Update 2010
15th May 2010
It’s been a great second year in the job and I hope the students at the College have enjoyed it as much as I have. This year I feel good progress has been made with the continuation of successful clubs, the introduction of some great new sports and especially working with students who are keen leaders and volunteers. There are sporting clubs firmly established both on and off the campus. The Archery Club has been a huge success running on Thursday lunchtimes with two groups operating on alternate weeks due to high student numbers. Pictured are some of the students taking aim. The club also incorporates competition with a scoring system to see who is most accurate on the day! We hope that the Archery Club will be able to move outdoors now that the days are getting warmer so look out for it in the summer term.
A key part of my work this year has been to establish the Hereford Sixth Form College Leadership Academy which now has over 20 students subscribed. The Academy supports students already involved in volunteering and helps them find new placements in their chosen sport or school. As well as placements, these students are also given the opportunity to volunteer and lead at one-off events throughout the year. This year six of our top leaders are helping organise the Hereford Youth Games. These six students are involved in the running, organisation and delivery of the Games which attract over 1000 primary school pupils. Not only will they be co-ordinating the event, they will also be mentoring other leaders on the day.
Students involved in the Hereford Sixth Form College Leadership Academy have signed up to the Youth Sport Trust’s Step into Sport initiative which awards young people who volunteer in sport. I am also hoping to link with V-involved to get students further accredited for their hard work.
As a result of the new Leadership Academy one of our students, Amy Graham, was given the opportunity to attend the British Colleges Sports National Championships as a Regional Ambassador. Amy will be representing the West Midlands and will be involved in the behind-the-scenes work that goes on at such a large scale event. She will also be given the opportunity to apply to be a National Ambassador for next year which would be a first for the College and provide Amy with some invaluable volunteering opportunities as well as the chance to travel to India to volunteer out there.
This term has seen some excellent coaching sessions really supporting the fact that Herefordshire is fast becoming a great place to participate and work in sport and Physical Education. Great coaching sessions really inspire students to continue in, or get back into sport. Sessions by Sixth Sense Fitness, high diving and water polo at Halo Leisure Pool, Gerald Meek taking judo and John Holding teaching badminton have resulted in a real boost in the number of students taking part in enrichment activities. Hopefully we are establishing good links with local clubs and we will see these students competing in events around Herefordshire long after they leave College.
Next year I hope to be more involved in British Colleges Sports and in particular their National Ambassador project. I am also looking forward to working with Pete Reed (Competition Manager) to set up several local leagues/competitions for 16-19 year olds as well as creating an enrichment College website.
Thank you to Hereford Sixth Form College staff, the PE department and senior management who are always extremely supportive. Thanks also to the school sports partnership for their teamwork with the programme and to everyone who contributes to the College clubs including instructors, organisers, bus drivers, kit washers and many others. Additional thanks to Huw Pritchard, Further Education Sports Co-ordinator at Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts who helps provide facilities, equipment and general assistance on a regular basis. With over 350 students engaging in activities to date the combination of all these staff and organisations have helped create enjoyable experiences for a large number of people.
