Christmas comes early with County Sports Partnership new look website

 

Santa has come earlier to Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent and delivered a brand ‘new look’ website.  Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an information network that attracts over 15,000 individual user hits a year. Why not use our website to promote sport, activities, clubs, coaching and volunteering opportunities.  Or what about local sports events, news, jobs and much more?

 

If you are interested in placing information on our website ( www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk ) please click here or alternatively telephone 01785 619349.

 

Naomi Bird
Research & Marketing Officer
T: 01785 619585
E: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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Olympic medallist joins County Sports Partnership team

The team, dedicated to boosting sport and physical activity across Staffordshire, has pulled off a major coup after adding a five-time Olympian to their ranks.  Olympic medallist Alison Williamson has taken up a role with Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  The former world number one has represented her country at five Olympics - winning bronze at Athens in 2004. She was also part of the Great Britain team in Beijing earlier this year.

 

Alison Williamson at Beijing

Wolverhampton-based Williamson, 37, took on the role as Active Recreation Manager on 16^th December that will see her helping develop sports and physical activity opportunities for people across Staffordshire.  Williamsons’ international career has spanned more than 20 years in which time she has also been World and European silver medallist. She plays an active role behind the scenes of her sport and is currently the Chair of the International Federation’s Athletes’ Commission.

Alison said: "I am extremely pleased to have been appointed as the Active Recreation Manager for Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  It is a very exciting opportunity for me to be able to assist and support SASSOT partners and people within their local communities to become more energized, active and healthier through sport and physical activity.  Prior to working for SASSOT, I was training full-time as a member of the British Archery team.  I have been competing internationally for twenty years and have represented Team GB at the past five Olympics.  The pinnacle of my career so far was winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. 

 

"I started my ‘full-time’ Beijing Olympic training in 2006, but prior to this I was working as a full-time teacher at Marian Vian primary school in south-east London.  I really enjoyed all aspects of the job and would encourage the children to participate in all different types of sport and physical activity.  Through teaching I was able to undertake a number of coaching courses in a variety of different sports including volleyball, netball, basketball and athletics.  For the past two years I have been a member of Team B & Q promoting their projects in the local communities and mentoring aspiring Olympians, and prior to teaching I worked for two years at the sports management agency, Nuff Respect, based in Twickenham.

 

"I am a member of Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club and often run in local road races and I am planning on entering the Stafford half-marathon in the spring.  I still get to train with my team-mates on Monday and Wednesday mornings at the High Performance Centre at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and am planning on competing at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the Olympic Games in 2012."

 

Partnership Director, Mark Thornewill, said: "It is great to know the work the partnership is doing to boost sport across the county can attract someone with Miss Williamson’s talent. She has been a big name on both the national and world stage and her experience will be invaluable to us and the role she will be performing."

 

Alison's contact details are:

 

Alison Williamson
Active Recreation Manager
T: 01785 619695
M: 07800 619695
E: awilliamson@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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Train to Gain

Train to Gain is an initiative to raise the skill levels of people who are in work but do not already hold at least one Level 2 qualification. The aim of the initiative is to have all skilled employees trained to a minimum of a Level 2 certificate.  There are also opportunities for employees to gain a range of qualifications up to Level 3.

Those who sign up to the initiative will receive a free needs analysis for their business and will be given advice on qualifications, training providers and ways to pay.  There is a whole range of funding available including; free training to help your employees gain their first full level 2 qualification, a wide range of free training for low skilled employees, the possibility of a contribution to wage costs to cover the cost of the time spent in training and additional funding support from the County Sports Partnership.

 

We are holding a free Train to Gain event on 4^th Feb 09 at the Britannia stadium in Stoke.  It is aimed at Sports organisations across Staffordshire and we are hoping to attract as many as possible to take advantage of this training opportunity.

 

To register your interest in attending the event or if you have any questions about Train to Gain please contact:

 

Andy King
Acting Workforce Development Officer
T: 01785 619317
E: aking@staffordbc.gov.uk

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Workshops

The SASSOT website is now up-to-date with details of the Education & Training Programme for 2009. If you need to discuss any workshop, please contact Kam Webster on the contact number below.

We are currently working to produce a detailed programme that will contain information on the above, and much more with regards to areas related to Coaches and Volunteers.

Please note that an “Analyse Your Coaching” workshop is planned for the 19^th January 2009 at Cannock.  Bookings, to-date, have been slow which may result in the workshop having to be cancelled; so if you are interested in attending, please contact Kam on the number below.

As always we do advise that as some sports have more stringent First Aid requirements for Clubmark and coaching purposes, all delegates should check with their NGB before enrolling on these workshops in order to avoid disappointment after the event.  


Please be advised that in cases of cancellations, a 5 working day notice period is required.  Delegates can opt to change to another workshop or alternatively send another representative.


If you find that you cannot attend the workshops we have planned, contact Kam and she may be able to help you find alternatives.

For more information please click here 

Kam Webster
Education and Training Officer
Tel: 01785 619695
Email: sassotadmin@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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