SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Leading the way in sport in Yeovil

YEOVIL College is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Leadership Academy status by Sports Leaders UK for the second time.

It is one of only two colleges in Somerset to receive this prestigious status, which highlights the centre as a beacon of good practice which offers its students a pathway of additional opportunities and a package of initiatives which motivate and inspire them.

Through the Leadership Academy, students complete the Community Sports Leaders and Higher Sports Leaders qualifications.   These courses give students the skills they need to provide sports and recreational activities in the community.

The college has provided Leadership courses for more than ten years and, to date, students have spent more than 10,000 hours voluntarily working with groups ranging from toddlers to the elderly as part of their training.

Many students continue their volunteering long after they have completed their qualifications, making a valuable contribution to the whole community and gaining valuable work-related skills that prepare them for future careers.

To date, Yeovil College students have helped with disability sports events at the Royal Bath and West Show, the Tag to Twickenham rugby event for local primary schools and the Big Toddle fundraiser involving nursery children to name but a few.  The students often coach and officiate, taking a key role in proceedings.

Instructing exercise and fitness student Tom Willis, 19, of Yeovil, said: “I’ve got involved with lots of different events through the LeadershipAcademy.

“My favourite was a tag rugby competition for 17 local schools.  About 200 children in years five and six took part and it was great fun.

“I’d recommend being part of the Academy.  It’s definitely helped me with my confidence and to become well known in schools, which is great because I’d like a career in education.  I want to coach primary school children, working as a PE teacher or teaching assistant.”

The Leadership Academy is one of a number of high profile sports academies run by the college to train, develop and inspire elite and talented sportspersons to achieve their full potential.  As a result of this specialist support, many Yeovil College students have been selected to play for county, regional and national teams and even competed at prestigious international competitions, such as the Olympic Games.

Yeovil College’s curriculum area manager for Sport Matt Hann said “Yeovil College first gained academy status for leadership from Sports Leaders UK two years ago and we’re thrilled to have it renewed.

“It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by both staff, including Andrew Mitchell and Andrew Roda, and of course our fantastic students.”

For more information about volunteering and enrichment opportunities at Yeovil College, please visit www.yeovil.ac.uk.

PHOTO – TOP: Members of the current Yeovil College Leadership Academy, pictured left to right back row, are Curriculum Area Manager for Sport Matt Hann, Kieran Bailey, 18, of Crewkerne; Liam Norris, 19, of Yeovil; Charlie Guppy, 20, of Yeovil; Daniel Ogden, 19, of Yeovil; Jamie Craig, 18, of Stoke-sub-Hamdon; and Alex Voss, 18, of Yeovil, and front row from left to right, are Nick Murray, 18, of Yeovil; Dom Scammells, 18, of Ilchester; Kerri Wheeler, 17, of Yeovil; Tom Willis,  19, of Yeovil; and Will Carlisle, 19, of South Petherton.

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