Leona Trimble's Fundraising Event - The Activity-a-Thon

On the 12th of February 2016 Leona Trimble took part in a twelve hour activity-a-thon at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre which was inspired by the untimely passing of her family member who was only 22. Leona's second cousin passed away due to cancer thus inspiring her to take part in the activity-a-thon for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust. Leona was able to take the day as a Time to Shine day due to her fundraising efforts.

The activity-a-thon fitted around the classes at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and consisted of:

8am morning blast
12.30 tai chi
4pm boxercise
7pm Zumba

The activity-a-thon was alsosupported by the sports clubs and societies who held sessions in the sports halls/studios such as netball, 5-a-side, handball, ultimate Frisbee, women’s basketball, badminton and table tennis. There was also a spinning bike challenge to keep two spinning bikes going continuously throughout the 12 hours. All activities were of course supported by staff who helped in person by doing some of the activities with Leona and gave generous donations. The Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre offered free staff passes to staff who wanted to support but are not members of the sports centre.

The event was organised in 7 days by the sport foundation year students taking the TLC115 (planning and evaluating a sports event) module.  Fundraising was supported by Teenage Cancer Trust regional fundraising team and we were delighted to welcome Michelle White the regional fundraising officer into the university to celebrate us raising an excellent £1130 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

International career opportunity

Debrecen FC is offering the chance to gain valuable international experience at their Elite Football Academy in Hungary.

The successful candidate (s) will have the opportunity to improve their coaching under the supervision of UEFA 'A' qualified mentor coaches, participating fully in official club training, goalkeeping training, individual training and physical training.

There will also be scouting opportunities under the supervision of the PSV Eindhoven official scout. Although this is an unpaid role students can apply for the Erasmus grant from UCLan.

For further information about the traineeship please click here. To express your interest please email international co-ordinator Sandor Nagy stating 'referred by Rachel Gee' within the email.

Volunteer opportunities

R9 FC Soccer School is offering volunteering opportunities for students to work as Level 1 or 2 football coaches.

Essential requirements are FA Level 1 minimum, at least one year coaching experience, enhanced DBS within the year and available on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings.

Volunteers will become a valued member of the R9 FC family, as they strongly believe in professional coach development.

You will have the opportunity to work with a group of talented football players willing to learn and develop, with the possibility to take on a paid position in the future.

If anyone is interested please email your CV.

Graduate uses sport to change lives

UCLan Sports Coaching graduate Richard Steele is helping people improve their lives through his work in an educational role at a professional football club.

Richard is employed by Leyton Orient Trust as a Tutor for BTEC Sport Level 2 & 3, and also coaches football to students from the BTEC programme along with community coaching in the London area.

Students taught by Richard are provided with a pathway through the coaching programme to join Leyton Orient Academy. One recent example of this is winger Sandro Semedo, who was recommended to the Academy and has now signed a two-year professional contract with the club.

The Trust aims to positively impact on the lives of disadvantaged Londoners through sports, educational and leisure projects.

Since its creation in 1989, over £30 million has been invested in local communities and touched the lives of over 100,000 young people during that time.

For more information about the Trust please click here.

Students continue to make a difference in Africa

UCLan Sport students joined colleagues from across the campus to visit Zambia to support the delivery of key health messages to young people about the dangers of drug abuse and HIV through the power of sport.

More than 40 undergraduates from a range of sports, media, law, physiotherapy and sexual health courses spent a total of eight weeks across three cohort visits in the African country as part of the UCLan Sport for Development Project.

The scheme involves students working with peer leader volunteers from Sport in Action, a Zambian based Sport for Development NGO, to deliver key health messages and life skills through sport and physical activity.

Sports Therapy student Sam Heap took part in the trip and said it was an eye-opening experience: "HIV, AIDs and drug abuse is a massive issue in Africa. We had to teach and educate the children about these problems through the use of sport. It was challenging at first because of the language barrier, but with the help of other peer leaders we managed to overcome this.

"We spent the first week in a community school with three of us looking after over 200 children. The trip was a big culture shock but also very life-changing for me. In the UK you can donate to charity, but to be able to actually go there and see what the problems are was an enlightening experience."

The UCLan Sport for Development Project was established in 2008 by Senior Lecturer Cliff Olsson. It gives students the opportunity to study the global value and contribution sport can make towards supporting wider international development such as the Millennium Development Goals and gives them a better informed perspective of global challenges.

Cliff commented: "This programme continues to go from strength to strength and is essentially about coaching at a community level and the differences it can make to the lives of these young people in improving life quality. It takes learning beyond the classroom and provides an experience that we believe underpins real learning for the real world.

"The project is led by final year undergraduates who develop leadership, management and problem solving skills over a three week period in Zambia. It's a unique opportunity that reinforces UCLan's commitment to providing real life experiences for our students."

In the past few years UCLan students have raised nearly £20,000 towards buying basic sports equipment and supported the building of basketball courts in local rural schools in Zambia.

The project has also provided the opportunity for local voluntary sports leaders from Zambia to come to Preston and share their skills and knowledge with community volunteers and children from local schools.

To view pictures from the trip please click here.

Career opportunity

ESPZEN Soccer School in Singapore is looking to recruit a Senior Coach to join their team of international coaches.

Their soccer school sees over 600 young players per week and is still growing, with the intention to expand throughout South East Asia.

Applicants need a degree in sport coaching, sport science or related subject, UEFA B License Certificate and Youth Coaching Certificate. Experience of working with players from 4 - 16 years and a First Aid qualification is also necessary.

Please email James Gow for further information.

Graduate enjoys double celebration

UCLan Sports Coaching graduate Sarah Nickless is celebrating after securing her dream job and winning a prestigious prize for academic excellence.

Sarah has been appointed as Football Development Officer for Somerset Football Association, where she will support the delivery of the National Game Strategy in partnership with key stakeholders.

She has also been rewarded for her efforts as a student after winning the S08 Sportswear Award for Academic Excellence 2015 on a programme within the Division of Sports Coaching and Development.

During her time at the university Sarah gained a wealth of additional experience, including being chosen to attend the BUCS Deloitte Leadership Academy, travelling to Rwanda as part of the FA's Changing Lives Programme and working as a Football Activator to help increase provision of the sport at UCLan.

Division Leader Leona Trimble said Sarah had reaped the rewards for going the extra mile during the course of her studies: "We are absolutely delighted for Sarah in graduating top of her divisional year group and then landing her dream job.

"She epitomised all that we advocate at UCLan - working hard academically, gaining additional qualifications and voluntary work to enhance her employability skills, and gaining relevant international experiences to enrich her learning.

"All the divisional staff are proud to have guided and supported Sarah along the way and wish her every success in the future."