THE search is on to find the next generation of young sports coaches in Glasgow as the city’s award-winning Coach Core employability and training programme kicks off its third year.

Organised by Glasgow Life in partnership with the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the programme gives 16 to 21-year-olds the chance to learn coaching skills and deliver events across the city.

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Participants come together twice a week to learn new skills, receive mentoring and be trained through various recognised qualifications and workshops.

Since its launch in April 2013, the young students have provided support at some of the city’s biggest sporting events including the World Gymnastics Championships, the Davis Cup and the IPC Swimming World Championships.

And all 40 recruits from Glasgow have gone on to secure jobs or higher education places.

Nineteen-year-olds Sultan Haneef and Tally Lui graduated from Coach Core last year.

Sultan, who is now a sports disability coach leading multisport, fitness and swimming sessions for Glasgow Life, said: “Coach Core has helped me in so many ways, increasing my skills qualifications and confidence.

“This programme has helped me to develop into a more rounded sports coach.”

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Sultan, who was nominated for Coach Core by his head coach at The Griphouse, a mixed martial arts gym in Maryhill, had previous volunteering experience but needed additional support.

Glasgow Life worked in partnership with Glasgow City Council’s Social Work Supported Employment Service to provide this support, which in turned helped Sultan achieve a number of recognised qualifications through Coach Core. These included his National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Level 1 Swimming Coaching.

Sultan said: “I have gained new experiences from learning and shadowing other experienced coaches, trying new sports and working at major events.”

Tally was nominated by her head coach at Glasgow Fever Basketball Club for her commitment to volunteering and inspiring others.

During her time on Coach Core Tally developed from assistant coach to a UKCC Level 2 Basketball qualified coach, leading a number of schools programmes that helped attract new club members for Glasgow Fever.

Tally, who has been offered an unconditional place at Glasgow Caledonian University to study Occupational Therapy full-time, still volunteers in her spare time as the head coach of the under-15s section at the basketball club.

She said: “Coach Core helped me to gain experience and confidence, which in turn helped me to become so involved with my basketball club Glasgow Fever. It gave me the skills for a sports coach but also provided me with many life skills, especially confidence.

“I am now going to study Occupational Therapy at university. I feel like Coach Core was a great stepping stone for me to decide what I wanted to do, even though it wasn’t sport related. I will still continue to coach as it is a massive passion for me to see others thrive in and enjoy basketball.”.

Depute leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham OBE, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to help inspire the next generation of coaches.

“Sport has the power to change lives and that is exactly what Coach Core has been doing since its launch three years ago. It has made a real difference to young people across the city and we are building on that over the coming months.”

Coach Core Programme Manager Gary Laybourne said: “Since 2013, Glasgow Life has changed the lives of many young people who might not have had the opportunity to gain fulfilling employment and further education in an industry and vocation that they all love and believe in.

“Thanks to the Coach Core programme and the hard work of the Glasgow Life team, and the clubs it has affiliation with, all of the young apprentices have achieved exactly that.

“The effect they will have had on the communities in which they coach is huge as they educate and inspire other young people through sport and this new way of ‘child centred’ learning and social development.

“We are extremely excited to help Glasgow Sport make even greater progress with the programme in 2016 and support their ambitions to ensure Coach Core has a lasting and bigger impact on the sports coaching industry as a whole.”

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Over the next three years, The Royal Foundation’s goal is to establish Coach Core as a national programme in 10 sites across the UK, building upon the success of the pilots in Glasgow and London. Recruitment for year three is now open and closes on Thursday, June 9. Visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/coachcore for more information.