The first graduates from the Stirling area celebrated on completing Scotland's first joint sport vocational programme at a reception in Stirling's Sports Village, The Peak.
Active Stirling worked in partnership with Raploch Urban Regeneration Company Limited (RURC) Sustainable Community Enterprise delivering the pioneering joint sport vocational programme. The partnership’s successful bid was awarded funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and additional funding from Fairer Scotland Fund.
The 8 week course delivered two very exciting, innovative, employment, health, sport and fitness training programmes in coaching and sports opportunities, and environmental improvement and sports opportunities.
Bill Bourke, Stephen McAulay and David Kindreich, all completed the 8 week course and achieved certificates in manual handling, abrasive wheel, first aid, employability skills and a certificate from Active Stirling covering all the activities they took part in including a personalised health check, gym induction, yoga and circuit training to name a few. They also gained practical skills in monoblock laying, concreting, slab laying and also some soft landscaping.
Bill Bourke, who has struggled with arthritis, has embraced the fitness side of the programme and has been attending additional classes in Tai Chi on the days he was off and is going to continue with this. The course has given him the opportunity to go on to a full time course with the Raploch Community Enterprise that will help him on his way back into the workplace and off benefit.
Dr Campbell Christie CBE, Chair of Raploch Urban Regeneration Company, said: “Both, Community Enterprise and Active Stirling believe that a programme open to such a wide range of people is an advantage to all. Particularly in terms of learning from each other and understanding people from new perspectives and overall improving attitudes across the community.”
The aim of both programmes are to target those people in areas of deprivation who are excluded not only from the labour market but also from many mainstream organisations and activities such as health, fitness and sport. Sport and personal improvement combined with vocational and employability skills will impact greatly on people’s self-esteem and confidence. Enhancing their ability to secure and sustain employment.
The second programme starts in November, will see successful candidates learning skills to become a sports coach and the chance to take part in physical activity throughout the programme. Active Stirling will equip and train the participants in a wide range of recognised leadership and coaching certificates whilst giving them the practical experience of coaching within the community.
Active Stirling’s Chief Executive, Andrew Bain, explained: “The very natures of team working, sport and coaching are perfect examples of transferable principles into the world of employment. Health and employment are inseparable in that to secure a job a person has to be physically and mentally fit but very often it is the securing of a job that can bring about physical and mental well-being.”
Stirling residents are the first in Scotland to be given the opportunity to train for a sport related career though a programme made possible through the DWP disadvantaged area funding.