Community Coaching Programme

The Community Coaching Programme is focused on assisting unemployed people to gain employment, coaching, volunteering and further education opportunities in the sports sector for example as coaches, referees, physical activity leaders etc. It will provide the participants with practical and theoretical sport-related skills and help them find relevant work experience in their local community. It will also contribute to the promotion of both physical and mental health amongst participants and in the community through the subsequent employment and/or volunteering work carried out by participants.

The course will provide specialised sports-focused training and education for jobseekers. Work experience opportunities in NGBs, Clubs, Schools, etc will be built in to the programme. LSPs will be rolling out the courses locally with Local Employment Offices, Education and Training Boards, NGBs and other partners. The Community Coaching Programme is funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Objectives of the Community Coaching Programme:     

- Assist unemployed people to become qualified as coaches, referees, physical activity leaders etc

- Improve the participants’ job prospects within the sports industry

- Motivate participants to pursue the progression routes which have been identified (employment, coaching, volunteering, further education, etc)

- Promotion of positive mental health through participation in sport; both for the participants themselves and in the communities in which they are based

- Provision of coaching in disability, school, community and youth club settings

Provision of coaching in sports where there are no full-time development officers

Programme Outline:

The Community Coaching Programme will focus on the following themes:

Strand 1               Job Readiness Skills Development (includes Business Development)

Course focusing on CV writing, job seeking skills, IT skills, office skills, telephone skills etc. 

Strand 2                               Personal Development

Courses to identify progression routes in terms of employment/self-employment, further education and training, coaching, volunteering, aspects of personal development including confidence-building, leadership and language skills etc.

Strand 3                               Sports Coaching Training

Coaching awards will be offered in various sports, with a focus on sports where there are no full-time development officers within the county. Courses can also include intros / tasters etc.

Strand 4                               Physical Activity Training

Range of courses to be offered including for example; Active Leadership Award, Child Protection Course, Disability Awareness Training, Occupational First Aid Certificate, Walking Leader, Fit4Life, Go for Life PALs etc.

Strand 5               Job Placement Experience

A job placement programme (unpaid) will be incorporated into the course structure. NGBs, LSPs, clubs, schools, community centres, etc can provide work experience opportunities to the participants on the course.

We are now inviting applications from jobseekers. Courses will take place nationwide and will be commencing this Autumn. Each course will have a maximum of 12 participants to encourage full class engagement.

For general information on the Community Coaching Programme please contact Gillian Costelloe, Sport Ireland on 01 8608826.

To apply for a place on a course, contact your Local Sports Partnership directly: http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Participation/Local_Sports_Partnerships/LSP_Contact_Finder/