Last updated 06:37, Sunday, 16 November 2008

MANY young people reduce the amount of sport they play once they leave school while some stop altogether.

SPORTS FAN: Barrow Sixth Form College Sports Co-ordinator Jon Mason wants to encourage young people into sport

MANY young people reduce the amount of sport they play once they leave school while some stop altogether.

Jon Mason is working at Barrow Sixth Form College to encourage 16 to 19-year-old students to get involved in sport at all levels.

The ex-Barrow sixth former is one of just 31 further education sports co-ordinators piloting a national programme.

He is helping the Youth Sport Trust develop a scheme which is now building a network of 377 FE sport coordinators across England.

Jon makes sure there are plenty of opportunities at the Rating Lane college for those who want competitive clubs, but he also wants to get more young people back on the courts and pitches playing recreational sport.

Jon, 22, said: “This is a brand new role across the country. The aim is to increase participation in sport across the board. It’s not just getting people on sports teams, but also an emphasis on non-competitive sport.

“I’m putting together a programme of lunchtime sport. The emphasis is on having fun.”

The sports coordinator’s badminton sessions have proved popular with as many as 40 students, and some staff, attending an after-college session over a few hours.

From speaking to students about their views on sport, Jon found there was a big interest in the trampoline so a 10-week course is being arranged. Other fun activities being organised include dodge ball and ultimate frisbee, which students said they would like to try.

Jon said: “A lot of ideas have come from an audit I have been doing. I went into classrooms and asked students how much sport they play and what ideas they would like to see.”

Jon admits that setting up bungee jumping, which some adventurous students came up with, might be a bit difficult.

One club that is being established is a women’s rugby club. This also came about from student demand and Jon is working with Furness College and Ulverston Victoria High School to arrange the coaching.

Jon, who graduated from St Martin’s College (now University of Cumbria) in sport studies, is also involved in arranging college fixtures for the competitive teams.

The college has successful sports teams in boys and girls football, basketball, badminton, netball and rugby.

Another part of his role is encouraging students to get involved in voluntary sports work in the community, arranging for students to take coaching qualifications and take part in the sports leaders course.

Jon said: “I can see this being a positive thing. The role is getting up and running. It was quite daunting at first because it is new.

“Furness College is also getting someone in this role so we will be able to work in partnership.”

Jon also works in partnership with a team of local sports co-ordinators.

Cressida Allwood, the development manager for Furness School Sport Partnership, said: “Jon has got quite a big challenge on his hands, but he is enthusiastic and he is heading in the right direction.

“It’s about delivering high quality sport. Part of the role is also about networking and partnership work.”

A Youth Sport Trust spokesperson said: “Since April 2008, the Youth Sport Trust has been working with 31 colleges selected to be part of a pilot and already, in a short space of time, have started to see some fantastic progress.

“The introduction of a network of around 377 Further Education Sport Co-ordinators (FESCos) since September 2008 has been an exciting addition to the network of 450 School Sports Partnerships across England.

“The FE sport co-ordinators form part of the new Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) which forms part of a Public Service Agreement.”

The aim of the agreement is: to deliver a successful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with a sustainable legacy and get more children and young people taking part in high quality PE and sport.

The sports strategy is the joint overall responsibility of three government departments working together – the Department of Children, Schools and Families, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The spokesman said: “During the next three years a total of £755m will be invested into this strategy.

“The main aim of the FESCos will be to increase opportunities for young people aged between 16 and 19 within their college to participate, perform, lead and volunteer in sport within their FE college.”