Commonwealth training triumph

12th April 2002, 1:00am

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Commonwealth training triumph

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/commonwealth-training-triumph
This summer’s games in Manchester have been used to entice thousands into learning, reports Michael Prestage

When the Queen sent the Manchester Commonwealth Games baton on its 58,000-mile relay around the world last month, it marked the start of the countdown to the event. And none is awaiting the July 25 opening more than the 6,000-odd graduates of a unique volunteer training programme.

The project aims to use the games to get people across the North-west back into education. It targets the disadvantaged, promising them a role in the games, the largest multi-sport event ever held in the UK.

On completing a 30-hour training course the graduates get an Open College Federation (Level 1) Qualification in “event volunteering”. The students can then progress to a further 60-hour FE course and receive a new qualification, a BTech in “volunteering”.

It is hoped those taking part will gain the confidence and skills to gain employment or go into further education. The supermarket chain ASDA, for one, has promised all those who complete the course a job interview. And at a recent conference a range of employers were on hand to meet graduates.

“It has been incredibly successful,” said Mumtaz Bashir, volunteer programme manager. “We hoped to engage 3,000 individuals across the region and we have involved nearly double that number. No other international sporting event has been used in this way to break down barriers into learning and improve skills.”

Core skills were identified that the volunteers need. They include health and safety issues, basic first aid, customer care and the ambassador role the job entails.

Guidance officers worked at grassroots level to identify suitable individuals. Many of the courses were taught in the community.

Heath Cole was one of 23 co-ordinators for the programme. He worked in east Manchester where more than 200 people enrolled for the courses in church halls and community centres.

“Many who took part would have had a negative view of education and underachieved when they were at school,” he said. “This was a nice stepping stone back into education. My target is to get at least 80 into jobs or further education and I’m confident that will be achieved.”

Colleges have also been at the forefront of the programme. Hopwood Hall College, in Rochdale, has been one of the most successful in recruiting students. John Hall, the programme tutor, said the idea of working at the games has proved a big attraction and 450 have taken part, many with a poor employment history. “It has raised awareness for them of what is happening in the big wide world,” he said. “For some the certificate is the first qualification they have ever had.”

The excitement of the volunteers is obvious. Sarah Davis, 17, from Rochdale, hopes to work in the games village and meet athletes. “I’m normally shy but I’m hoping the experience of working at the games will encourage me to speak out. It’s also exciting being behind the scenes at such a huge event.”

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