Worcester Angling has just been awarded an ESF grant of £11,820 to deliver a new initiative in Worcestershire. The project is aimed at over 19`s and not in employment, training or employment. This initiative will start on May 12th, with the aim of REMOVING BARRIERS, teaching SOFT SKILLS and providing both ACCREDITED and NON-ACCREDITED LEARNING.

The Academy is offering up to 48 places for this project using both the Sports Leaders Level 1 and also the Day certificate to fulfil the accredited learning outcomes.

The project will aim to hold first contact meetings (2 per week over 3 months) and cover the four compass points of Worcestershire.

Participants will then be encouraged to set up their own volunteering hub, with aims and objectives. Each hub will meet regularly to build confidence, improve communication and presentation skills. The hubs will be encouraged to access accredited learning programmes which will give them leadership qualifications. First aid courses will also be available to the hubs. The leadership qualifications give them the opportunity to assist/run sporting activities under the umbrella of more qualified tutors, who act as mentors to the volunteers.

The volunteering hubs will also approach local businesses and communities with the intention of providing trained volunteers. Target groups may range from commercial fisheries that need maintenance doing to the pools, catering establishments, tackle manufacturers, local shops, community schemes, or taster days as part of National/Local fishing initiatives.

Each hub will be encouraged to make these contacts, set up meetings, and also carry out the volunteering works themselves, which meets the non-accredited learning element of the project aims.

Some of the participants may wish to take the opportunity to enrol on an accredited course.

First Aid 1st response will be offered to suitable candidates.

This will be the half day First Aid – Appointed Person course, delivered by First Aid Techniques whose trainer is Alain Parsons (Cert Ed,C.Mgr, MIFL)

Successful completion of this, will enable the candidate to deal with situations from `carrying out basic life support` to `communicating with the emergency services` and from dealing with `profuse bleeding` to filling out an accident report form.

There is also an accredited pathway that some may wish to take -

Sportsleaders (www.sportsleaders.org) offer 3 leadership courses. These courses are designed to give progression from a Level 1 assistant through to a Higher Leader Award which is delivered over 120 tutored hours.

The courses will be delivered by accredited tutors and assessors, with internal and external verification part of the assessment processes.

All tutors, assessors and verifiers are fully trained and associated with an accredited delivery body.

For each of the initial contact meetings, 2 qualified tutors will attend each of the sessions, to deliver a brief résumé of the project, and this will be via Power point, group discussions and simple questions and answers.

Once the hubs are set up, 1 tutor will attend each meeting initially for the first 6 meetings, and then as requested by the hubs management.

Work parties will also be accompanied by 1 tutor (insurance and risk assessment requirements)

Records will be kept in accordance with the Data Protection act, and stored securely as per our security policy.

These will include registers, time sheets, daily risk assessments, mileage records, expenses, accidents, reports and evaluations.