University of Cumbria helps 24,000 new participants into sport!!

7th June 2010

Research has shown that additional coaches are required across NW England, especially to support aspiring sports' people motivated to participate in sport by London's hosting of the Olympics and Paralympics.

The University of Cumbria, with the support of various partners including Cumbris Sport Partnership, are working to equip our coaches to meet this demand.  James Pearson from a Cumbrian baseball club achieved his Level 2 baseball qualification with the help of Get Qualified 2, enabling him to deliver practice sessions for his club and its members.  James went on to be selected as an assistant coach to the Great Britain Cadet (U15) National Baseball Team and hopes to continue coaching in the GB programme and to develop his coaching skills further.

Following the London 2012 announcement and the success of the previous coach development programme, namely 'Get Qualified' which supported over 300 coaches 'get qualified' in outdoor sector NGB qualifications in Cumbria, Get Qualified 2 was approved (2008-2010) and funding received from Sport England.

This programme, managed by Rachel Walker at the University of Cumbria, has exceeded all expectations and targets, supporting in excess of 1,500 NGB and MOS qualifications across Lancashire and Cumbria, resulting in nearly 24,000 new participants to sport and more newly qualified coaches delivering over 40,000 coaching hours. This project has been a tremendous success and goes someway to increase the numbers of coaches available to support new participants and existing players inspired by 2012.

The success of Get Qualified 1 and 2 has led the University to secure ESF funding to support a further 800 coaches progress to Level 2 and Level 3 NGB sport qualifications, and expand the project, now called 'Get Qualified NW', to support coach development and skills across the whole of the NW region in sport, outdoors and fitness.

Further details: Get Qualified NW is currently accepting applications from those in the North West for level 2 and 3 qualifications is sport, outdoor and fitness qualifications These projects have accessed funding from the Learning & Skills Council (now the Skills Funding Agency), European Social Fund and Sport Lottery and have continued to expand as sport and physical activity grow with the progression towards 2012.