London community sport gets £3million skills boost

A £3million programme will increase the capacity and skills of Londoners working and volunteering in sports in time for the 2012 Games. The Mayor's Legacy Skills Investment Programme provides subsidised training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved.

A £3million programme will increase the capacity and skills of Londoners working and volunteering in sports in time for the 2012 Games.

The Mayor's Legacy Skills Investment Programme provides subsidised training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved.

Led by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, the scheme is part of the Mayor's plan “A sporting future for London” which ensures Londoners benefit from a genuine grass roots sporting legacy from the 2012 Games, by encouraging more people to become active and strengthen community sport facilities.

National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure chief executive Florence Orban says the programme rewards the sector’s paid and unpaid workforce without whom London community sport would grind to a halt.

“Whether they be a coach, official or club treasurer, these people play a vital role in encouraging and supporting people to get involved, and stay involved, in sport. This programme aims to support the growth and sustainability of local sports clubs, recruit, retain and upskill the workforce, and up the number of volunteers so we can take community sport to the next level in London.”

Interested Londoners can apply online for up to 75% off the cost of nationally recognised qualifications in areas such as coaching and officiating, community sport, volunteering, leisure and health. Funding is also available for people with disabilities to get the skills they need to get involved in their local sports scene.

All individuals need to do in return is volunteer their new found skills in their local community for an agreed number of hours.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “As many successful sportsmen and women will testify, it is often the encouragement of their first coach that inspires them to pursue sporting prowess. 

“With London 2012 just around the corner, we want to inspire and encourage more Londoners to get active and take advantage of the opportunities that hosting the Games will offer.”

To find out more about the programme and how you can get involved visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk/mayorslegacy or email mayorslegacy@sportactivensa.co.uk  or call 020 7632 2000 and ask for the legacy team.

For more information please contact Mandy Smith from SkillsActive’s media team on: 020 7632 2000 or email mandy.smith@skillsactive.com.

Notes to Editors:

The Programme

The Mayor's Legacy Skills Investment Programme will train people who wish to become coaches, activity leaders, get involved in the sports industry and volunteer for community sports clubs.

The Mayor's Legacy Skills Investment Programme is part of the Mayor’s commitment to deliver a sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The programme is an integral part of ‘A Sporting Future for London’. The Mayor’s aims to get more people active, transform the sporting infrastructure, build capacity and skills, and maximise the benefits of sport to our society.

The SkillsActive Group

SkillsActive Group is the government licensed Sector Skills Council responsible for setting the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravan industries.

The National Skills Academy for Sport & Active Leisure, part of the SkillsActive Group, is delivering the Programme on behalf of the Mayor’s office.