A unique opportunity for a local student to spend a year working for the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man (CGAIOM) is being created.
 
An internship, starting in September, represents ‘a wonderful chance for a graduate or undergraduate to gain experience at the heart of this prestigious organisation’, said Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children.
 
CGAIOM, a registered charity run by volunteers, is responsible for sending teams to the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
 
The successful student will work on projects such as building the profile of the organisation, raising funds and enhancing its links with sports’ governing bodies, education and business.
 
The intern will develop a database of competitors’ achievements that will assist in promoting the Isle of Man on a world stage. Exploring ways the CGAIOM can enhance participation in sport will be another task of the successful student.
 
The internship has come about as the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education expands its higher education offering and seeks to extend HE-related opportunities to local students.
 
The intern will receive a ?10,080 bursary – with the position jointly funded by Isle of Man Sport, the body that promotes and advises the Isle of Man Government on sport, and eqUIP, a Commonwealth Games Federation initiative.
 
eqUIP is creating internships all over the Commonwealth and the local intern will join others for a week’s training in Europe when they take up the position.
 
The internship is open to local students who graduate this summer, or who are mid-way through a degree in a related subject, such as marketing or sport, business or events management.
 
An interest in sport is an advantage but not essential.
 
Minister Crookall said: ‘This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a local student interested in working with this volunteer-run organisation to expand their skills in communication, marketing, event organising, digital media development and many other areas. The experience they gain during the year will greatly enhance their employment opportunities.’
 
Juliet Holt, President of the CGAIOM, said: ‘We are delighted to be involved in this project and thanks Isle of Man Sport for its very generous fund matching. It will allow us to expand the work we do taking the sporting and Commonwealth message to the Manx community. It is a fantastic opportunity for a student to gain experience in a range of disciplines and allow them to put into practice some of the theory they have learnt.’
 
Details of the internship can be found at www.cga.im/
 
To apply for the internship, email a CV and covering letter to cgaiom2014@gmail.com or write to Ms Juliet Holt, President, Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man, National Sports Centre, Groves Road, Douglas, IM2 1RB.
 
The deadline for applications is Thursday 16th April 2015.
 
The next Commonwealth Youth Games take place in Samoa in September 2015. Australia’s Gold Coast will host the next Commonwealth Games in 2018.