Following the coaching communities programme, we were well known in the West Midlands for our work with unemployed people. Through working on the Olympics in 2012 we were able to form a consortium of colleges that enabled us to put together a programme that sought funding for the European Social Fund through the Department of Work and Pensions. The project was led by Wolverhampton College and we were a major provider in two of the three strands of the programme....
We took a lead on the provision of identifying training opportunities for unemployed people to get into coaching. This led to the coaching qualification in voluntary placement and also led us to deliver the personal best programme. This programme provided unemployed people with the skills and preparatory knowledge to become a volunteer at a major event such as the Olympics. We trained over 450 people and through evaluation, recognised that the high-quality connection that we provided for the unemployed people through the education and skills into a placement superseded any work ever done before....
We had the celebration event of this landmark project which was recognised by major sporting and non-sporting bodies; it was a huge success in leading to the Olympic Games and recognised the difference that had been made. The programme won the national podium award for the best volunteer programme. Some of the volunteers gained volunteer placements at Coventry City football club where two of the Olympic games football programmes were being run, a number also gained voluntary placements to support the torch run....
The key outcome from this event has been providing the opportunity for unemployed people to learn skills which has enabled events to have a more diverse volunteer workforce and motivated people to gain volunteer opportunities and employment. Following on from Inspiration 2012 this led us to work on similar projects, for example the volunteer development programme for three years with skills show....
