Academy volunteers leading the way...

At the beginning of this year, four successful Community Leadership Academies in Northamptonshire were awarded funding from Northamptonshire Sport to offer training and development opportunities for leaders to support their sports volunteer roles.  

Leaders in Corby, South Northamptonshire and from Northants Basketball Clubs and Northampton Town Football in the Community have benefitted from accessing training such as National Governing Body level 1 Leadership, Officiating and Refereeing awards as well as Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Sport Makers and Sports Equity and Equality to name but a few.

Russell Lewis, organiser of the Northampton Town Football in the Community Leadership Academy said that : '' Some of our leaders lacked vision and confidence but they have really enjoyed their experience and gained a vast amount of knowledge from the training opportunities they have undertaken and all are demonstrating the ability to be fantastic and inspiring leaders ".

Felicity Drake, Volunteer Development Officer at Northamptonshire Sport added that "Leaders of all ages across the county had reaped the rewards from the Community Leadership Academy programme which in return with strengthen our valuable volunteer workforce that ensures sport continues to happen in Northamptonshire day in, day out ''.

All of the leaders will now be putting the skills and knowledge they have gained over the past year into action at local sports club and community settings and we wish them every success in the future.