The Dorset Leadership Academy provides support and development for young leaders and volunteers who would like to be actively involved within their school or community. The event today is part of the wider leadership, coaching and volunteering programme running in Dorset which provides suitable pathways for children and young people to learn, enrich and extend their leadership skills, and support them in deployment through a wide range of opportunities.
The calendar for this academic year consists of fully inclusive county-wide events, sport specific leadership training for School Games events, Primary Bronze Ambassador Leadership Academies, Step into Sport events and the Young Coach Academy aimed at providing a pathway and coaching qualifications for young people aged 16-19. The programme offers training and deployment opportunities to over 2000 children and young people each year.
Through a range of leadership experiences, young people acquire new skills and learn behaviours, which not only develop them as individuals but prepare them to be drivers of change for others. Our collective mission is to create a movement across schools, unifying young leaders with a passion for increasing participation in sport, physical activity, and play.
Leadership Training is provided at the Dorset Leadership Academy for the following roles:
Sports Leaders
Sports Leaders will be developing leadership skills through a range of games and activities. The workshops are based around 6 key principles: Communication, Co-operation, Responsibility, Safety, Organisation and Enjoyment. The workshops are 100% practical and the sports leaders learn though games related to the theme. Sports leaders will be tasked with setting up intra-school competitions back in their schools to increase physical activity levels, and provide opportunities for other young people to enjoy and develop through sport.
Young Ambassadors
Young Ambassadors are role models advocating PE and Sport in their schools. The Young Ambassador role will form a vital link between the students and adults in each school. Young Ambassadors are the foundation of the leadership academy and will lead activities back at their own schools and at the Dorset School Games County Festival.
School Games Events Team
The School Games Events Team will have the opportunity to experience workshops on event management, led by Bournemouth University and Active Dorset, and sports reporting, led by Paralympian and Sky Sports broadcaster Kate Ager. The Events Team will take on responsibilities at the Dorset School Games Finals in their mission to create the best possible experience for all participants.
School Games Dance Team
The School Games Dance Team will work with dance teacher Christina Binney to prepare a dance for the opening ceremony at the Summer Dorset School Games County Festival. Dance students will learn the dance today and then be sent a video of the dance to practice in the lead up to the School Games Finals. You will get to see the performance in the closing address.
Dorset Young Coach Academy
The Dorset Young Coach Academy aims to provide an opportunity for young people aged 16-19 to gain greater insight into the requirements of being an ‘outstanding’ coach, in a sport of their choice. The Academy aims to be the pinnacle of opportunity for young coaches within Dorset. Young Coaches will have the opportunity to attend sessions delivered by expert practitioners in sports coaching.
The programme offers training and deployment opportunities to almost 2000 young people across the county each year, and provides support for schools to promote suitable leadership, coaching and volunteering pathways for all young people. For more information please contact your School Games Organiser.
The DLA programme is based on the YST Leadership Framework which recognises that leadership development should help young people to realise their full potential. The ambition is that through play, PE and sport every young person should have the opportunity to lead, to be supported in that journey, and to practice their leadership skills.
