A sports camp for school leavers will equip them with skills they need for the workplace.

Forty-five 16-year-olds who are leaving school this summer will embark on Manx Sport and Recreation’s second Sure Sports Leader Programme at the National Sports Centre next week.

Over a week, they will attend sessions on leadership and organisation; safeguarding and protecting children; first aid; teaching and disability inclusion.

They will receive grounding in coaching tag rugby, athletics, cricket, hockey, netball and badminton, in some cases receiving national governing body awards that will boost their CVs.

The teenagers will also have the option to take part in lifeguard training at the NSC swimming pool.

Following the camp, participants will be mentored by MSR coaching staff during the Summer Holiday Sports Programme, to further increase their confidence in delivering sports activities for children.

Then, from September, participants can begin completing their Sports Leader Coaching Logbook, accumulating points at schools’ after-school and community clubs, MSR Step into Sport sessions and Manx Youth Games training sessions.

At 25 and 50-hour milestones they will receive the opportunity to attend further sports-related training, which will ultimately provide all the relevant qualifications they need to apply to become an MSR seasonal sports coach.

Paul Bridson, Temporary Head of Youth, Sport and Recreation with the Department of Education and Children, said: ‘Our Strategy for Sport 2014-2024 identifies that we should use sports training programmes to improve young people’s chances of gaining employment.

‘Participants in the Sure Sports Leaders Camp will learn skills that will stand them in good stead whether they seek work in the sports industry or other areas important to the Island’s economy.

‘Wherever they end up working, the camp will hopefully lead to them staying involved with, and coaching, sport.’

Telecoms company Sure sponsors the camp and rewards the young leaders who log the most number of hours each term with vouchers to spend in Sure stores.

Sarah Jarvis, Marketing and PR Manager of Sure, said: ‘The first summer camp for sports leaders last year was a great success and so we are delighted that Manx Sport and Recreation is continuing with this initiative. Both the pupils of the primary schools and the young coaches involved benefit hugely from the experience of coaching and Sure is delighted to once again be their sponsor.’

For more information on the summer camp, please contact Community Sports Development Officer Emma Callow via Emma.Callow@gov.im or 688557.