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Bolsover Leadership and Coaching Academy awarded the Inspire mark

24 November 2011

The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Bolsover District Council-led scheme provides a two-tiered approach to raising the aspirations and skill base of local people across the District. Since it started in July 2010, the BLACA scheme has been going from strength to strength and has already seen 11 people from the course offered employment in the leisure industry and over 1,500 hours of community and voluntary work has been undertaken across Bolsover District.

Bolsover District Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Councillor Ann Syrett, said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Inspire mark and it shows that our approach to grassroots participation will lead to a lasting legacy and get more people involved and active in sport in the lead up to the 2012 Games. In fact, we have already seen one of our participants, Laurisa Robson, go onto bigger and better things after being chosen as an FA Leader to coach youngsters in Trinidad and Tobago - a true lasting legacy thanks to the BLACA programme.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of any athlete’s career and by providing individuals with the opportunities and the right skills through our BLACA scheme, we are hopefully putting them on the right track and inspiring them to reach their goals.”

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said, “We want to use the power of the Games to inspire change. The Inspire programme is recognising the work our partners all round the UK are doing to help us achieve this vision now – one year away from the start of the Games. I congratulate everyone involved in Bolsover District Council’s Leadership and Coaching Academy for securing the Inspire mark and wish you every success with your work.”

BLACA - funded from The Working Neighbourhoods Fund, with additional support from Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust - aims to help leaders, coaches and volunteers in sport, leisure and active recreation develop their skills, knowledge and confidence to become qualified in the leisure industry.