One of our early projects was to deliver a holiday activity programme in the deprived parts of Sandwell in the West Midlands. This project identified that very few coaches came from within the borough itself, and therefore did not invest their resources back into their home borough. In addition to this project, we managed the Pathways to Employment programme on behalf of Sandwell Borough Council. This consisted of a number of small projects which sought to develop a range of opportunities to reduce unemployment levels and increase skills. We identified a small budget of £20,000 to start a programme of developing coaches from the Sandwell area and Coaching Communities was born!...
About Us
Prior to starting the programme, we undertook research which identified that we needed to provide interventions which focused on a foundation level of coaching. The programme therefore offered minimum standard for deployment workshops, assistant coaching courses and placement opportunities for coaches to apply their learning. Additionally, we supported learners through providing employment advice and guidance. We sought other funding from the children’s fund, Sport England community investment fund grant, other local grants and DWP funds which at the end of the project totalled in excess of £750,000....
In 2008, we were successful in winning the sports Coach UK national award for “Coach Intervention of the year”. Following this, we were also a finalist in the National Regeneration Awards and recognised by Sandwell Borough Council for being a part of an ‘excellent project’. Through the six years of the project, we trained over 500 people. Individuals also gained new skills and improved their confidence which led to a high number of employment outcomes. These included social enterprises, small coaching companies and other people taking up employment as a result of the programme....
From this project there was one key outcome which we learnt. This project showed that the power of sport enables people to gain a broad range of skills, these skills provide them in good stead and often lead them into the appropriate employment opportunity. As a result of this project we went onto deliver further work in this area, including successfully working with World Skills UK to deliver the Skills Show Volunteer Development Programme....