3 March 2008
TOP Link conferences see Sporting Champions inspiring future leaders and volunteers across the country
Some of Britain’s most inspirational sporting personalities, whose achievements include Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and world championship medals, are supporting a national leadership and volunteering programme for thousands of young people.
The team of elite performers, all representatives of Sporting Champions, an athlete mentoring scheme funded by Sport England, from across 15 sports are taking part in 35 TOP Link “Young people leading the way” conferences which are being held all over the country to inspire young people into leadership and volunteering.
The conferences, which are organised by the Youth Sport Trust, are designed to encourage 14 to 16 year olds to develop and utilise their leadership and volunteering skills through organising and running sport or dance TOP Link festivals for local primary schools as well as helping out at sports clubs, events and intra-school competitions.
The Sporting Champions will share their own experiences and challenges at the conferences before the young people take part in workshops and practical elements of the day.
In previous years, more than 5,000 young volunteers have helped organise 1,200 TOP Link festivals for tens of thousands of primary-aged children.
This year, a record number of young people are set to take part in TOP Link, which forms an integral part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Step into Sport programme – the leadership and volunteering strand of the PE and Sport Strategy for young people which is delivered by Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust.
To emphasises the theme of these events being “for young people, led by young people”, each of the TOP Link conferences are being run by Higher Education Students who will use the experience to develop their own leadership and management skills.
Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive, Steve Grainger, said: “In this Olympic and Paralympic year we’re aiming to use the power of sport to give thousands of young people across the country training, skills and experience which will be invaluable for them in later life.
“We want these young people to start a life-long involvement in leadership and volunteering in sport either as volunteers, players, coaches, officials or sports administrators and what better way to achieve this than by empowering other young people to deliver the programme and share the positive impact sport is having on their lives.”
Olympic medal winning swimmer and Sporting Champion, Nick Gillingham who is supporting the programme, said of his involvement: “These conferences are a fantastic opportunity for people like me, who have got so much out of sport, to use our life story and sporting achievements to motivate others.
“Sport – at all levels – is dependent on volunteers and organisers, so if I can inspire the next generation to get involved and channel their enthusiasm into organising events for young people in their local area, I will be helping to secure the future of sporting events.”
The remaining 11 conferences will take place at Universities or sporting venues across the country and feature a mixture of theory and practical workshops – all helping to give those attending further qualifications in sports leadership.
The Higher Education students will set a variety of challenges during the day to test the 14 to 16 year olds’ skills of planning, time management, people management, decision-making, problem-solving, budget control and communication.
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To view the profiles of all Sport England’s Sporting Champions please visit www.sportingchampions.org.uk
For more information:
Please contact Lizzie Jones, Youth Sport Trust Press Assistant, on 020 7278 7208 or by emailing lizzie.jones@youthsporttrust.org
Notes to Editors:
- Media wishing to attend an event must contact the above numbers to confirm their visit.
- The TOP Link “Young people leading the way” conferences are part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Step into Sport programme, funded through the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People. The PE and Sport Strategy for Young People aims to increase the numbers of young people taking part in high quality PE and school sport. In 2007, 86% of young people were found to be taking part in at least two hours of school sport per week, a year ahead of the 85% target for 2008. The Government’s long-term ambition is to offer all young people the opportunity to participate in five hours of sport per week, both within the curriculum and outside the school day, by 2012.
- Step into Sport is a leadership and volunteering programme delivered through the network of School Sport Partnerships and managed by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England with support from Sports Leaders UK.
- The Youth Sport Trust is a registered charity established in 1994 to build a brighter future for young people through sport. Its mission is to support the education and development of all young people through sport. For further information please visit www.youthsporttrust.org
- Sporting Champions, developed and funded by Sport England, brings world-class athletes face-to face with young people to motivate them to take part in sport. It aims to inspire young people to participate in sport as a lifelong activity and works alongside a range of other measures to help create a new generation of physically active people.
- The scheme consists of an annual programme of 450 visits made by Sporting Champions, organised through the County Sports Partnership and School Sports Partnership networks. A small number of other visits are also available to help promote community sport to young people.
- The Champions deliver a range of different activities in the community and schools, including coaching workshops and interactive sessions, as well as targeted activity such as supporting gifted and talented pupils, and contributing to curricular work around citizenship and leadership.
For more information, visit www.sportingchampions.org.uk