Sports Leaders Celebrate Success at Glasgow Convention

More than 120 Sports Leaders from schools, colleges and community groups across Scotland joined sport and leisure professionals at Reidvale Community Centre on Thursday 25 November to celebrate their contribution to grassroots sport. MSP for Glasgow East, Frank McAveety attended the convention, which took place in Glasgow’s East End, the venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village and new Velodrome, where he met with local Sports Leaders and helped celebrate the success of sports leadership in Scotland. A Dragon’s Den style challenge took place throughout the day, where Sports Leaders gathered into small groups to deliver games to their peers. The groups pitched their games to a panel of guest judges, including the Chair of Sports Leaders UK, Margaret Peggie OBE, Chief Executive of Sports Leaders UK, Linda Plowright, Iona Smillie and Laura Jones from the Young Person’s Organising Committee for the Scotland Convention, and Sports Leaders UK’s Ambassador for Scotland Laura Pollock. As well as celebrating their successes, Sports Leaders had the opportunity to take part in workshops run by Sport Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Young Scot and Create Ltd, where they learnt skills to enhance their employability. 14 sport and leisure exhibitors were also on hand to discuss potential employment opportunities and training programmes that Sports Leaders could progress onto following their Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications. Chief Executive of Sports Leaders UK, Linda Plowright said: “The Leaders for Life conventions enabled Sports Leaders from across the UK to benefit from the further information and opportunities that are available beyond their sports leadership awards and qualifications. “The Sports Leaders did a fantastic job in organising such a successful and productive event. I am thrilled that so many connections were made between Sports Leaders and potential employers, and Sports Leaders UK is proud that it has been able to work with the Reidvale Community Centre to deliver this convention.” Note to editors: Sports Leaders UK is a charity delivering sports leadership awards and qualifications to more than 200,000 people a year, through 4,000 schools, colleges, local authorities, prisons and young offender units. It acts as an Awarding Body providing nationally recognised qualifications, and has a Foundation to deliver free or subsidised courses in areas of greatest need. A Sports Leader is anyone that has gained a Sports Leaders UK award or qualification. They organise, communicate and get people involved in sports activities. Sports Leaders are role models; helping others to achieve their goals and encouraging their communities to lead fit and healthy lifestyles. Sports Leaders UK Anne Compton, Public Relations T: 01908 689212 E: media@sportsleaders.org