Step into Sport is one of the eight strands of the joint Department for Culture, Media and Sport/Department for Children, Schools and Families strategy for School Sport and Club links (the PESSCL Strategy)

Step into Sport focuses on young people aged between 14 - 19 years and aims to encourage them to undertake an involvement in sports leadership and volunteering that will continue later in life. Community Volunteering Part Two is the section of Step into Sport is where young people aged between 16 - 19 who have undertaken some leadership training previously, go on to undertake a further National Governing Body/leadership award and they will also begin or continue their volunteering placement. The volunteering placement must be undertaken at an after school hours club, in a local community sports club or other community group, hours can be accumulated from a variety of volunteering experiences in the community, e.g. coaching, administration, event volunteering, publicity, IT/media, team manager, fundraising, officiating.

There are a variety of awards that the Young People can achieve:

Bronze - 50 hours Part One (school-based volunteering) and Part Two (community-base volunteering)

Silver - 100 hours = Part Two Only

Gold - 200 hours = Part Two Only

Young People can sign up to this programme through their school and all of the signing process now takes place on the new online passport system recently launched by the Youth Sport Trust. This passport is located here

By signing up to be involved in this programme it is of great benefit to the young person themselves to develop new and further existing skills, it is of benefit to their school and it provides recognition of the number of young people who are volunteering and representing them. Finally great benefits are also provided to the local community where the young person is volunteering and specifically to the club who are receiving the services of the young person.

For more information please contact sportessex here.