Sport for Health: Bringing sport into people’s lives

The Royal Society for Public Health and the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund have launched a new two day course for sports leaders who would like to extend their experience and improve the health of their community.  The courses have been designed specifically for people who work or volunteer in sport.  

Sport for Health equips people with the skills to increase the level of physical activity of those who do not normally take part in sport and physical activity.

Participants will learn how an active lifestyle promotes good health and why behaviour change is so difficult for some people. They will also gain the practical skills to help people overcome these barriers and take part in physical activity.

Londoners may be eligible for up to 75% off the cost of the training in exchange for volunteer hours thanks to the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, which is managed by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure. This £3 million fund provides subsidised training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector, and up-skill those already involved, leading up to the 2012 Games.

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH, comments “Sports leaders will gain a clear understanding of the key factors affecting health and well being, and the ability to communicate the benefits of sport and physical activity to others. They will have a better understanding of why many people are unwilling to get involved, and come away with practical ways to encourage a change in behaviour.”

National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure CEO Florence Orban says: “A key goal of the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund is to remove barriers and engage Londoners who haven’t traditionally been involved in sport and active leisure, and the Sport for Health course clearly delivers on this. We are pleased to support this programme and encourage all eligible Londoners to apply for funding and help create a sporting legacy for 2012.”

The full price for each one day course is just £200 per participant and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials.  The Mayor’s Sports Legacy fund will consider applications from people who commit to volunteering their skills with London communities.

To find out more about this course, available funding and other programmes offered by RSPH, please click here, call Nicolette Boustaoui on 020 3177 1625 or email sportforhealth@rsph.org.uk.