A four day Young Sports Leadership Academy supported with funding by the Holywood Trust has been taking place in Annandale and Eskdale delivered by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Active School and Community Sport team.
Following an application process 28 young people from Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat and Annan were selected from their associated Secondary Schools and brought together in Lockerbie Academy for four days of intensive training.
The four days included a serious of workshops and courses which would provide the young people with the necessary skills to deliver organised sporting sessions in their school and local community. The courses the young people participated in during the four days included UK Sports Leaders, First Aid, Positive Coaching Scotland, Lets Motivate, Top Play/Sport, Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Volunteering and professional development courses in football, rugby, netball, tennis and badminton.
The course was aimed at enhancing the skills of young people’s to further increase levels of physical activity and support the development of young sports people in schools and communities across Annandale and Eskdale. The programme grouped together pupils from S4 – S5 to provide skills and training which would also support their progression in further education or employment in the field of sport and sports coaching.
Councillor Ronnie Ogilvie, who is Chairman of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, said of the programme;
“This is a fantastic programme that meets many of our Council’s priorities including the best start in life for our young people and improving the level of skills within our community. Our Active School and Community Sport team have delivered a range of certified training opportunities for these young people that not only demonstrate their commitment but can open doors to further education or employment. The young people will gain immensely from this programme as they’ll be provided with the skills, knowledge and confidence to organise and support the delivery of sport and physical activity programmes.”
Helen Turner, Assistant Director with the Holywood Trust who was in Lockerbie to present the cheque for £2,510 to the Council said;
“The Trust is pleased to support this training programme and commitment from young people. The young people are interested in helping in their community, have given up time in their holidays and will then help schools and sports clubs in the area throughout the year to come.”
Abi Roberts, Development Officer in Annandale and Eskdale for Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway was also in attendance to present Young Sport Leader from Annan, Bradley Wilson with his 50 hour Volunteer Saltire Award for his voluntary work with the Active School and Community Sport Team.
