News
On Friday 12th September 2008, The Worcestershire Leadership Academy Launch took place at The University of Worcester. 200 leaders from Year 10 through to Year 13, were selected from schools across the county to attend the event.
Leadership Academies have evolved from the Step into Sport programme which is part of the Government’s Physical Education and Sports Strategy for Young People (PESSYP).
A Leadership Academy will:
- Signpost or deliver appropriate qualifications and awards for young leaders.
- Provide opportunities for young leaders to learn from their peers.
- Share with young leaders a wide menu of volunteer opportunities (in school sport, in community clubs, events and organisations) and prepare and support them to undertake appropriate placements and volunteer experiences.
- Provide mentoring support for young leaders on a group and individual basis.
- Celebrate and profile the contribution young leaders make to school and community sport.
As part of the launch, leaders listened to an inspirational talk from Phil Brown.
Phil was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 400m. He was a fantastic anchor leg relay runner, anchoring the British team to a number of medals. Phil competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Olympics which were held in Los Angeles. In the 4 x 400m relay he won the Silver medal with his team mates Kriss Akabusi, Garry Cook and Todd Bennett. The team also won silver in the European Championships in 1982 and the World Championships in 1987.
During the day the leaders also took part in some team building activities, and attended workshops on funding, time management, volunteering and the online passport.
Each local area academy then designed a logo to be used for the Worcestershire Leadership Academy. All leaders voted for which logo they liked the best, with the winning logo being designed by the Wyre Forest Leadership Academy.
Each Leadership Academy will now meet in their local area to train, develop, and organise activities for local young people to take part in.
