A joint initiative between the Department of Community, Culture & Leisure and the Department of Education & Children has seen the recent voluntary appointment of two Year 12 students from Castle Rushen High School to act as Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR) Liaison Officers.
The purpose of the post is to work alongside the Community Sports Development Officer (CSDO) from Manx Sport & Recreation to ensure Castle Rushen High School students are kept well informed of sports activities taking place in the South of the Island but also to have an input in the development and planning of future sports opportunities for Castle Rushen High School students.
Year 12 students, Katie Gilson and Tom Collins were the successful candidates for the new role. Both are keen sports people involved in a variety of different sports in the southern community. Emma Callow, Southern CSDO said “I’m confident Tom & Katie will do a fantastic job in their new roles and I’m very much looking forward to working alongside them in the future. Their enthusiasm for sport and their confident, outgoing personalities are exactly what we are looking for in the MSR Liaison Officer role”.
The main duties of the role will involve using appropriate marketing tools to promote forthcoming sports opportunities to students; setting up focus groups with children in Year 7 – 9 to research what kind of activities these students would like to participate in; and keeping PE staff informed of all forthcoming MSR initiatives. As Katie is involved in the Sports Leader Programme currently running at Castle Rushen High School, she will also have the additional role of keeping the other students in the Programme up to date on forthcoming courses, meetings and deadlines. The Sports Leader Programme is an initiative launched by MSR in all secondary schools across the Island in September 2010 whereby senior students receive free training in a variety of sports coaching courses in return for delivering after school sports sessions to children in nearby primary schools.
Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure said “I am pleased to be further strengthening the links we have with Castle Rushen High School through the appointment of the MSR Liaison Officers. I think this is a great initiative that will improve the provision for sport for this age group tremendously in the South of the Island”.
The MSR Liaison Officer role is a pilot initiative at Castle Rushen High School this year which, if successful will be rolled out to the other secondary schools on the Island in future years.
Head teacher from Castle Rushen High School, Andrew Cole said “Encouraging participation in sport and physical activity for our pupils is high on our priority list at Castle Rushen so I am delighted for us to be a part of this pilot initiative. I’m certain Tom & Katie will gain many valuable skills and experience through their new roles that will support them in their chosen career pathways”.
Tom & Katie will work together on a number of projects over the next 6 months under the guidance of the Southern Community Sports Development Officer.
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Thursday 3rd, February 2011 02:48pm.
