As part of Lancashire workforce development offer- Coaches and volunteers who support LSP programmes such as Challenge through Sport Initiative (CSI), Workplace Challenge, Satellite Clubs, and Coaching Academies can receive mentoring, 1-1 support from our Workforce Development Manager Jayne Wilson
The individual, bespoke support has been very well received from our CSI workforce and the Activators from the Workplace Challenge project with Lancashire Care Foundation Trust (LCFT).
The Challenge through Sport Initiative is an ambitious innovative partnership project to encourage more active and healthier lifestyles for adults in drug and alcohol recovery by getting involved in regular sport and physical activity. Since July 2015 the programme has engaged over 100 volunteers and employed 25 support workers to deliver sessions who previously had been volunteers.
LCFT Workplace Challenge Activators volunteered to be champions and as part of the programme they attended bespoke training delivered by Lancashire Sport. Continued individual 1-1 mentor support was offered by LSP CDM. Some of the key areas of identified support was around how to understand what staff wanted and when, Compiling and utilising surveys, how to run effect sessions in smaller confined spaces and how to create some internal team competition
Volunteers and Coaches who have taken up the offer of support, received initial mentoring and then a discussion of the best route to take with bespoke and specific guidance provided.
Goals and objectives were discussed and set between CDM and volunteers/coaches and they were provided with a journal to write down successes, challenges and areas for improvement.
Raising awareness and signposting volunteers to courses and workshops is part of the offer and to encourage sustainable individual behaviour change. With most of the volunteers having such complex needs one of the biggest areas for development was to develop confidence, self-belief and personal skills as well as gaining qualifications.
The mentoring has really allowed LSP to develop and work with a more diverse workforce by working with individuals in workplaces and in recovery to deliver sport and physical activity to groups they understand and are reflective of. A real emphasis from our mentoring offer is to engage with the audience and have that real personal understanding of each participant and volunteer and their journey
With the CDMs support we have developed a number of CSI volunteers who have progressed into achieving a paid support workers role on the CSI programme. Alan who can be seen on the video is our latest support worker. Alan was previously a volunteer on the programme and had limited confidence and knowledge of sport and physical activity. 1-1 meetings, using a journal and attending training courses had provided Alan with a clear direction in how to progress as a volunteer. This support and guidance has really allowed Alan to flourish and reach his potential and as mentioned is now a paid support worker.
Each individual is different and therefore our offer of bespoke and unique 1-1 support really allows LSP to create a diverse workforce meeting the needs of the individuals.