Title of case study

							                    Learning and Teaching Strategy update 2008


Name of Service: Sport & Recreation Service (SRS)

Contact name and email address: Euan Smith (euan.smith@admin.gla.ac.uk)

Title of case study: Sport Outreach Project

Keywords: employability, student mobility

Description

The Sport Outreach Project was introduced in the 2007-2008 academic session to provide
opportunities for students to coach primary aged children in sport and physical activities.
There is a constant need for volunteers in sport and research has identified that those who
volunteer between the ages of 16-23 acquire more new skills through volunteering than at
any other age. Students from all faculties across the university were invited to take part in
this pilot venture.

From the pool of 23 students who registered their interest, 9 students completed Disclosure
Scotland forms to confirm their suitability to work with young children. From this group, 3
students were successfully placed in schools according to any coaching experience they
had, and their interests from the after-school clubs in the Active Schools activity programme.
One student in particular proved to be particularly influential in the school where he was
volunteering and such was his impact, the school is investigating the possibility of paid
employment in the future.

Initial feedback from Active School Coordinators has been extremely positive and we have
already begun the process of recruiting students for the 2008-2009 academic session.

Conclusion

Three students have been able to volunteer and help deliver opportunities for school children
to engage in a number of physical activities.

Building on this, a revised and more comprehensive range of opportunities will be offered to
students in the 2008-2009 academic session. In addition to placements in primary schools
via the Active School network, a number of sport coaching courses are being organised
alongside sport specific volunteering opportunities. Staff from the Sport & Recreation Service
and the GUSA Charities & Outreach Convener will liaise with Sport Governing Bodies and
Culture and Sport Glasgow to provide coaching and volunteering opportunities. Initial
publicity has drawn interest from circa 35 students to date, and we expect this number to
grow still further. We envisage an increase in the numbers of students involved in developing
their skills, and undertaking voluntary work in the community, and hope to reflect on their
successes next year.