OLYMPIANS LEAD YOUNG SPORTS LEADERS

LOCSP Press Release: Monday 6 July 2009

OLYMPIANS LEAD YOUNG SPORTS LEADERS
LOCSP youngsters join over 200 youngsters at national event.

Four Olympic athletes led 200 young people, including Bushara Hamida from Newham and Zaq Mohammed from Leyton, both young coaches from Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP), at the first Sports Leaders UK national convention at MK Dons stadium on Saturday. (July 4)

‘Leaders for Life 2009’ took the young Sports Leaders through a range of practical activities to develop leadership skills and show paths to further education, employment and volunteering. Also on offer were work and volunteering opportunities and five scholarships to summer camp jobs in the USA.

Sports Leaders UK is the Milton Keynes-based charity that delivers sports leadership awards and qualifications for over 200,000 young people every year in schools, colleges, youth clubs, prisons and community groups. The ‘Leaders for Life’ convention is part of a development programme that boosts Sports Leaders UK involvement in community delivery of sport and physical activity.

Olympians leading the day’s activities were: Katharine Merry (400 metres), Steve Parry (swimming), Sarah Pavely (Fencing), and Brendan Reilly (high jump).

Katharine Merry said:

“There’s no difference in the skills and disciplines needed to be an Olympic athlete than to be best at college, best in education, best in the workplace.

“Hard work, dedication, teamwork, communication: that’s what sports people do on a daily basis. That’s why the Sports Leaders UK convention here today is so important because there is no line between sport and those skills for life.”

Sports Leaders UK chief executive, Linda Plowright said:

“The day was a great learning experience and a lot of fun for the all participants. For some it will offer real opportunities to further careers or widen volunteering horizons As well as creating activities for young people, we hope the convention provided an opportunity to listen to what they have to say about sport, education and employment.”

For more information please contact LOCSP on 020 8556 5973, email enquiries@locsp.org or visit www.locsp.org.