College Sports Leaders receive awards from champion gymnast

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Former British gymnastics champion, Craig Heap, has presented The Manchester College's Sports Leadership Academy with a host of awards. Craig presented the awards at the City of Manchester School Sport Partnership annual awards evening.

The Leadership Academy won the coveted award for Leadership and Volunteering in Further Education. Sports Leader, Matthew Cullen, won two awards; one for Special Volunteer Recognition and one for FE Volunteer of the Year. The awards were presented by former gymnast, Craig Heap; a gold medallist at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Sports leader, Matthew Cullen, won two awards

The Manchester College Leadership Academy gives students interested in sports leadership and volunteering the opportunity to organise sporting events and gain national coaching qualifications. The qualifications they can work towards include FA Level 1 and 2 coaching certificates and the RFL Rugby League Leaders Award.

Head of Sports Academies at The Manchester College, Paul Bright, said: ‘The aim of the Academy is to provide regular, high quality, support, training and development for the best young leaders in the local area who are committed to actively volunteering and developing themselves as Sports Leaders and supporting college and community sports events.’

Recently, the Leadership Academy has organised the Greater Manchester Homeless World Cup Football Trials and helped plan and run events on match days with Manchester City Football in the Community. It has also run a host of tournaments and events across the college’s own campuses.

The Academy has given our students the chance to gain industry-recognised coaching qualifications

Paul continued: ‘The impact of The Manchester College Sports Leadership Academy has been fantastic and has given our students the chance to gain industry-recognised coaching qualifications and also use these new skills to promote sport and healthy lifestyles across the college and local communities. It’s fantastic that our work has been recognised by the City of Manchester School Sport Partnership.’

The Leadership Academy is also linked into National and Regional leadership projects including The FA’s ‘Football Futures’ programme and Youth Sports Trust’s Step into Sport programme as well as the Manchester Volunteer Bureau.

The Manchester College Sports Leadership Academy is currently recruiting Sports Leaders. If you’re interested in becoming a part of the Leadership Academy, contact Paul Bright on 0161 920 4811 or email Paul.Bright@themanchestercollege.ac.uk

What next? Find out more about sport at The Manchester College.