What is Step into Sport?

Step into Sport is a key part of the Government’s National School Sport strategy. Managed nationally by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England it has been designed to establish a simple framework of coordinated opportunities at a local level, to enable young people to begin and sustain an involvement in leadership and volunteering through sport.

Each year, circa 6,000 young people aged between 16–19yrs commit to undertaking 50–200 hours of volunteering as part of the Community Volunteering programme. These hours can be accrued through many different roles including volunteering as an assistant coach, official, administrator, team manager or as an event volunteer.

There are a number of clubs already benefiting from the Step into Sport programme. Here are some quotes from clubs currently involved;

“There are now more volunteers who are keen to learn and support the club”

“Step into Sport has allowed us to create a monthly newsletter that we couldn’t do previously because of a lack of volunteers”

“We have identified young role models for our new junior section”

“Our existing coaches have picked up new ideas and some have become mentors”

“It’s helped my club to develop best practice in volunteer management”

“It has inspired our existing members to become involved in volunteering in the club”

“Step into sport offers a great way of working with schools and other local partnerships that opens the doors to other opportunities”

Young volunteers already involved have said that Step into Sport has helped them to achieve the following;

“It helps me to develop and improve my ‘life skills’ (i.e. confidence, communication, self esteem), and ‘work skills’ (time management, organisation, leadership) in an environment that I enjoy”

“I have been given the opportunity to attend further training courses”

“Being involved in Step into Sport has allowed me to complete my Millennium Volunteers Award and be recognised for my voluntary work”

“I have gained part-time work with the sports club and am able to use my experience and new skills to show future employers what I have learned”

By the time the young people are ready to volunteer with a club they will have undertaken and achieved their Sports Leaders UK Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership, and for those aged 16 and above, they may also have completed their Sports Leaders UK Level 1 Award in Community Sports Leadership and a specific National Governing Body qualification. Many will also have received training around generic topics such as Child Protection, First Aid and Working with Children.

Click here to see a diagram that illustrates the training that takes place at each step in the programme.

If you would like to find out more about how to become involved in the ASA’s Step into Sport programme please read the information pack available below or contact Yvette.Heywood@swimming.org. 

As part of the ASA programme there are two promotional flyers, one that explains to clubs how they can become involved in the programme and a second for the young person to explain what opportunities there are for them.   See the links below to download.