Support and Development
One of the main aims of Loughborough’s Coach & Volunteer Academy is to provide & deliver a high-quality programme of student development through sport that includes personal & professional development, employability skills and career progression for all volunteers.
Introduction
The Coach & Volunteer Academy offers a range of additional opportunities for volunteers to develop outside of their voluntary roles at Loughborough with the idea of making sure our student volunteers are as equipped as they can be, for when their time at Loughborough comes to an end.
Our offer
Masterclasses and Workshops
Throughout the year, the Coach & Volunteer Academy aim to bring in a number of industry experts to deliver a range of engaging workshops. Some of these workshops are specific to their section of the industry and our strands, but many of them are put on to increase our volunteer’s employability skills in the sport’s industry.
These sessions are also a great way to network with other volunteers and leading professionals in the sports industry!
Industry Recognised Qualifications
Many of our strands will offer internationally recognised qualifications to our volunteers, all of which will be provided at a subsidised rate, but with the vast majority being completely free of charge!
Over the past few years we have offered an array of Coaching and Officiating qualifications in a number of different sports, we have also offered qualifications and accreditations in our performance support strand such as ISAK.
Talk Sport Conference
Each year, we work in partnership with the University’s Careers Network to deliver a student conference based around starting a career in the sports industry called Talk Sport. We invite a number of Loughborough Alumni that are working in the Sports industry to deliver a range of engaging workshops to our students, as well as housing a traditional sporting career fair.
Work Experience & Industrial Placements
The Coach & Volunteer Academy work in partnership with a number of organisations and national governing bodies to provide opportunities for our students to gain work experience and industrial placements in the sporting industry.
The Coach & Volunteer Academy staff are there to provide all volunteers with support and guidance, whether this relates to a specific voluntary role, placement opportunities, or external work experience.
Come and speak to one of our staff or email CVA@lboro.ac.uk to find our more.
Articulate Your Skills
Personal Best is an exclusive development programme for Loughborough’s students. It provides the opportunity to develop, recognise and better articulate your own skills and attributes, leading to greater self-awareness and success, both academically and in your future lives and careers. It is structured in 3 dimensions around the University motto Veritate, Scientia, Labore with each word recognising development in a particular dimension of a student’s life at Loughborough: academic, professional and personal. Each dimension has 5 elements, (15 elements in total) and presents a range of skills, behaviours and areas of opportunity for your development in the 3 dimensions.
Careers Advice
Working closely with the University's Careers Services, and in particular, the SSEHS Careers Adviser, we help students prepare and make their way into the sports industry.
Make the most of the support available, from online resources, to mock interview appointments online on the Careers Service Wesbite.
CVA Bursary Scheme
Did you know that as a volunteer you have the opportunity to get funding toward qualifications, accreditations and other Continuing Professional Development opportunities?
Check out our Bursary Scheme Page to find out more!
How to get involved
To get involved in the Coach & Volunteer Academy you need to create an account on our volunteer management programme, the CVA Portal. This applies to both student volunteers and community volunteers as this is the online tool we use to advertise our opportunities, and volunteers will use to apply for any opportunities they’re interested in.
If you have any queries, please contact us at cva@lboro.ac.uk.