An exciting opportunity to be part of Team Isle of Man’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games has been announced.

The Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, in partnership with Isle of Man Sport, is looking for an intern to spend almost a year working with the organisation.

The full-time placement will be an opportunity to gain invaluable work experience assisting the Association build links in the local community, develop marketing plans, deliver fundraising events and enhance online presence.

Starting in September, it will be an exciting time to join the Association as it prepares for the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas next year and the XXI Commonwealth Games, hosted by Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.

Association Vice President Basil Bielich said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for a student who wants to gain genuine workplace experience in a variety of roles, working alongside the Association as Team Isle of Man prepares for some of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

‘This will be real, hands-on work, supporting the Management Team on specific projects aimed at improving the Association’s external relationships, for example with the local governing bodies of sport, businesses, education centres and the wider Manx community.’

He added: ‘It will be an important role as we prepare for the upcoming Games, so we will be looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic about Manx sport, possesses excellent IT skills, is confident giving presentations and running workshops and is able to assist with the organisation of events and projects. We need them to have good communication skills, both written and oral, be self-motivated and confident, be reliable and accurate and, importantly be willing to get involved in a wide variety of work supporting the team.’

The 44-week internship is open to Manx students at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education and the University of Chester and includes a placement allowance of more than ?10,000. It would suit second year students studying subjects such as marketing, sports management, event management and business, although students of any subject can apply. It may also appeal to graduates who wish to undertake worked-based postgraduate studies.

The placement is part of the eqUIP programme, an initiative of the Commonwealth Games Federation run in partnership with education centres across the six continental regions of the Commonwealth. The eqUIP programme is part of a larger move by the Federation to assist local Associations to strengthen organisational capacity and develop plans which will improve team management and lead to the delivery of world-class teams to the Games.

Meanwhile, the Association is hard at work preparing for next year’s Commonwealth Youth Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games. While the athletes are training in hope of selection for Team Isle of Man, the Association is organising the logistics. Fundraising is a major element of the work; more than ?100,000 is needed to meet the cost of sending the team and officials to the Gold Coast Games. While individual sports undertake their own fundraising, it’s down to the Association committee to raise the majority of what’s required to pay for kit, travel and accommodation. There has been very generous support from companies and organisations in the Isle of Man in previous years and it is hoped those relationships can be built on, and new ones formed, in preparation for 2018.

A number of fundraising events and opportunities have already been arranged, but if you would like to find out more about supporting Team Isle of Man contact Juliet Holt by emailing juliet.cgaiom@gmail.com. 

Students or graduates interested in applying for the internship should submit a resume and covering letter by 25th May by emailing cgaiom2014@gmail.com or by post to Basil Bielich, Vice President, Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man, National Sports Centre, Groves Road, Douglas, IM2 1RB.