2012 Olympic and Paralympic College Champion Training Day Posted 19 January 2010 With less than 1000 days to go before the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the time is now for Colleges in the East Midlands to engage with the Games, and ensure that the diverse opportunities available are fully exploited.

In order to support you in doing this, we would like to invite a representative of the College to attend a free training day on Friday 5th March at Derby College, The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8JE. 11:00 am-3:00 pm.  This person, with your support, would then become a 2012 Champion with the ability to widen your College’s access to 2012 Opportunities.
 
Podium, the Further and Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games and the Regional Sports Strategy Co-ordinator for FE wish to work with Colleges in the East Midlands to help each one set up an 'Olympic and Paralympic Group' chaired by a nominated 'Champion'.  This will ensure that your College capitalises on the opportunities for departments and learners right across the College.
 
The driving principles for establishing such a group are:

  • Education –capitalizing on the diverse opportunities presented by the Games to enrich the Education of all students at the College (everything from catering courses and sport)
  • Co-ordination – a conduit for collaborative working, bridging the physical and practical divisions of the College by using the excitement of the Games amongst staff and students.
  • Business Opportunities – ensuring the College is best-placed to compete for new business opportunities; both those directly presented by the Games and otherwise.

The excitement of the Games, in line with the opportunities presented by them extends across subject areas; it's certainly not just about sport!  These are examples in Colleges nationwide:
 
Bridging the Gap – a consortium of over 50 Colleges has developed a 'mega-event’ module to be delivered as part of level 2 security courses. Course graduates will work at London 2012.
Make Your Mark Challenge – national enterprise and innovation competition, which carries the London 2012 'Inspire Mark' (involvement can be part of a 'Get Set Network' application).
Get Set and the Inspire Mark – Get Set is the official London 2012 Education programme, based on the Olympic and Paralympic Values and offering the London 2012 Education ;ogo to Colleges. The Inspire Programme accredits non-commercial, collaborative projects inspired by the Games.
 
Additional 2012 opportunities/benefits for Colleges:

  • Membership of the ‘Get Set Network’, the London 2012 Education Logo and 2012 'pot of gold'.
  • Running London 2012 'Inspire Programme’ projects (including the award of a non-commercial London 2012 logo – the prestigious ‘Inspire Mark’).
  • Alignment of the Olympic & Paralympic values to Every Child Matters in College: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being.
  • National exposure through Podium's publications, newsletters and online media.
  • Education enrichment, co-ordination of activity across College, new Business Opportunities.
  • Best placement of the College for future involvement in the Games (opportunities for learners)
  • Tutorial package development – new resources from Vancouver 2010 to London 2012.
  • Information on access to Olympic and Paralympic sites and programmes.
  • Creating a clear contact point for external agencies to the College in relation to the Games, extended by internal contacts for internal dissemination of information (staff and students).
  • Be part of Regional publications/promotions promoting College Olympic inspired activities.

The model of a College steering group is one which Podium has seen to be effective in other regions and has reaped great rewards. For that reason, and in partnership with the East Midlands group of Colleges, we would like to assist all Colleges in the region set up their own groups. We aim to provide and develop a model, information, support and training to these groups - which we hope can be nationally replicated.
 
How to proceed?
 
Given your support, the first step is to find and appoint a '2012 Champion'. This person will ideally be someone with an interest in the Games (not necessarily from a sports-related role) and a relatively senior person within College. Ideal examples include: a Vice Principal (perhaps with area responsibility for sport or enrichment), a team leader, a Marketing Manager, a Business Development Manager or similar.
 
The 2012 Champion will be responsible for establishing your College's group, chairing its meetings and being a key contact for Podium and London 2012 within the College.
 
‘Olympic & Paralympic Group’ Makeup
 
Although the makeup and remit of each College's group will vary, there are obvious synergies with ‘Every Child Matters' targets, and the 'Healthy FE' agenda.  Although this will be discussed at the meeting, as a starting point, the group may include the following:

  • Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCO)
  • Business development
  • Enrichment Manager
  • Student representative
  • Student Services representative
  • Senior department representatives eg arts, sport, sixth form, media, access
  • Marketing Officer

As the Further and Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games, Podium is anxious to ensure that your College doesn’t miss out on the opportunities arising from the UK hosting the Games. Sadly we have already seen examples of this. We hope that the establishment of 2012 Groups in the East Midlands Colleges will ensure that all areas of Colleges benefit and wish to support you.

For more information on how your college can get involved or to book your place on the above training day, please contact sarah.larnder@loucoll.ac.uk



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