Active Lincolnshire is driving a positive transformation in the East Lindsey and South Holland areas through its new Skills Fund initiative.
This aims to equip local coaches, volunteers and sports professionals with the essential skills to foster physical activity in their communities.
Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) for Southeast Lincolnshire, the Skills Fund is part of the broader Active Communities project—a comprehensive effort to make physical activity more accessible, engaging, and beneficial for local communities.
The Skills Fund has been designed with inclusivity at its heart.
Active Lincolnshire recently opened applications for individuals who live or work in East Lindsey, providing opportunities for; individuals considering a career in sport and physical activity who want a head start in acquiring industry-relevant skills, volunteers who wish to deepen their understanding and expertise in physical activity to better serve their local clubs and community programmes, established professionals working in the sports sector who are looking to enhance their existing skills, whether for advanced coaching qualifications or specialised training.
This approach to skill development supports a more robust and adaptable sports and physical activity workforce in the region, enabling Active Lincolnshire to expand its impact significantly.
The Skills Fund is already starting to make a difference.
Through funding and support from Active Lincolnshire, several coaches from the Magna Vitae School’s Out Programme have started training courses. The combined £1,700 funding allocation for these coaches’ development has enabled Liam Fay, Sport & Physical Activity Development Officer, to begin the SAQ International Diploma Distance Learning Course, focusing on speed and agility, Scarlett Norman, Sport & Physical Activity Development Assistant, to the UEFA ‘C’ License and Community Sports Coach, Ella Hudson to take part in an introductory course for football coaching and Libby Hudson, to access a Level 1 Award in Coaching Gymnastics.
These training opportunities will enable the coaches to deliver higher-quality, more diverse programming in sports. With these new skills, they’re better prepared to support clubs, engage communities and promote sport and physical activity.
As Paul Bryson, Sport & Physical Activity Manager at Magna Vitae, explains,
“This funding will have a massive impact on programmes and activities we deliver, it will increase the knowledge and skills of the coaches enabling them to support clubs, communities and deliver activity to the residents helping meet their wants/needs”
Active Lincolnshire’s Skills Fund aligns with its larger vision of improving quality of life in the East Lindsey and South Holland districts by increasing the communities access to engaging, high-quality physical activities. By funding training and qualifications for individuals across various skill levels and backgrounds, it will also ensure that there are sustainable opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get active.
Laura Spurr, Skills Manager at Active Lincolnshire, comments,
“We’re delighted to have received funding to support the development of Sport & Physical Activity related skills in East Lindsey and South Holland. By funding training and qualifications, we are not just helping individuals, we’re helping to support increased opportunities for residents in these communities to be more active, more often. The diversity of applications offers some exciting advancements in the ability of the sport and physical activity sector to cater to the needs and requests of our residents”.
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Applications remain open for those who are eager to benefit from the Skills Fund. Active Lincolnshire encourages a broad range of applicants to apply. So, if you are looking to upskill, look at what the Skills Fund may be able to offer you.
Active Lincolnshire’s Skills Fund represents a significant step forward in promoting healthy lifestyles and community cohesion in Southeast Lincolnshire. By empowering individuals with the tools to make physical activity accessible, fun, and sustainable, this initiative ensures a legacy of wellbeing for future generations in East Lindsey and South Holland.
