Access, Engagement and Employment are the key focuses of our “Ignite Coaching Academy” programme, developed internally by the Dream Big Sports team. Our aim is to positively impact the lives of young people aged 16-25 who already aren’t or are at risk of not being in employment, education or training (NEET) through a specific sports coaching programme that develops social skills, prepares for the workplace and provides a fantastic opportunity to complete accredited qualifications.
We are delighted to share that this project has been recognised by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as a perfect fit for their Community Grants Programme, resulting in a recent funding award to deliver a specific project in Tameside, tackling the following borough priorities:
- Post-16 provision with support specifically for 16-17 NEET who are not ready for employment.
- Economically inactive individuals, particularly non-working partners.
The Community Grants Programme funds community projects that engage with individuals from some of the region’s hardest to reach communities; supporting them to remove barriers that prevent them engaging with education, training or employment.
Our “Ignite” programme will be delivered as a two-day intensive programme with a core focus on community sport & leadership skills development with sessions based on:
- Team Building & Social Skills
- Careers in Sport
- Personal Development
- Employment Ready
With a successful track record of delivering our community based initiatives via the Coaching Academy, our feedback shows that 83% of participants improved their social skills whilst on the programme and 80% of participants stated that they felt better prepared for employment upon completion of the sessions.
Adam Sunderland, Head of Training & Coach Development, said:
“Receiving this funding award is testament to the continued development of our Coaching Academy programme aimed at supporting the most vulnerable and disengaged young people within our local communities. We are delighted to be recognised amongst some of the very best community organisations from across Greater Manchester and we can’t wait to get started on this project very soon. We are confident that we can make a huge difference to the aspirations and prospects of participants with a view to providing clear pathways into further education, training or employment upon completion.”
If you’d like to know more about this fantastic opportunity in the Tameside area or feel like you can support the delivery of our project, please contact us via email adam@dreambigsports.co.uk or call 0161 669 5818 (option 1).
#TeamDreamBIG