Bursary for Coaches and Leaders in 2010

Applications for the Nancy Ovens bursary, aimed at coaches or leaders working in the active leisure and learning sector, will be considered for 2010 although details are not yet on their website. SkillsActive will probably continue its sponsorship and management of the bursary, on behalf of the Nancy Ovens Trust. The bursary aims to support coaches and leaders from across the active leisure and learning sector in undertaking innovative training experiences that are beneficial to their career or voluntary activity. Up to £2,000 will be awarded to allow individuals to enhance their own skills and knowledge by undertaking studies, work experience or activities outside of their day-to-day jobs. Offering applicants the opportunity to tailor their own training, bursary applications should show intuitive ideas that demonstrate the motivation and drive of applicants. Applications are therefore flexibleas long as they match the application criteria. The bursary is open to all coaches or leaders within the UK who work in the active leisure and learning sector who have limited access to training in their work. Previous awardees have used their funding in a number of ways, some to work with mentors, while others have used the funding to find cover for their day job in order to work voluntarily in the community. Roger Pickering used his bursary to take a three month sabbatical from his work to engage with a local Schools Sport Partnership. Speaking about the experience, Roger said; “One of the schools that I spoke to wanted me to come in and run a breakfast club, which included literacy and numeracy taught through sport. It helped in targeting some of the kids that play sport but weren’t necessarily top of the class.” To find out more about 2010 and how to apply, as well as information on previous recipients, visit the link below for the latest updates

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