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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leadership Academy
Page last updated:
The Leadership Academy is an employability and leadership programme aimed at students who want to develop their skills and experience in coaching and leadership by supporting the delivery of our social sport, junior, and strength and conditioning programmes.
On this page you’ll find helpful information about the programme and how you can get involved.
What is The Leadership Academy and what's involved?
The Leadership Academy is a part of Sport and Active Lifestyles, where we have created programmes for current students and alumni to gain experience in a work environment alongside their studies. There are a variety of roles available to apply for, such as Senior, Lead or Assistant Coach, Sports Activator or Strength and Conditioning Intern.
Students must have prior experience of coaching, leading or organising sports activities. They must also want to gain additional qualifications whilst developing their skills in a sporting environment. Honorarium payments, kit, sports membership and CPD financial support is available for different coaching ability tiers.
We are also allowing volunteer students to work alongside us this year and for this they can receive some CPD support from the Leadership Academy.
What positions are a part of the Leadership Academy?
Sports activators are students of Leeds Beckett University who have an interest in Sport and Active Lifestyles and are enthusiastic about developing and promoting sport, and its associated experience to other students.
Activators are responsible for delivering our Social Sport programme. It is expected that activators will deliver a minimum of four hours per week that will include planning and leading the sessions, social media, promotion activities and planning.
You do not need to be a part of one of our sports clubs to become an activator. You just need to be passionate and interested in sport and committed to getting fellow students engaged within our programmes. These are aimed at students of all abilities.
Craig Robinson is the lead for the sports activators. He will lead on work programmes and payments, and will also meet with activators on a regular basis to mentor and ensure that the student is getting the most out of the opportunity.
Benefits:
- The main benefit of working with us is the experience and connections that students will make while with us. It is great for career development and will also enhance students' CVs
- £500 honorarium payment at the end of the academic year
- Free sports membership, worth £126
- Free kit bundle, worth £75
- Up to £200 towards a CPD (to be discussed with your lead contact in your one-to-one meetings)
- Free tickets to university sports events throughout the year
- Funded places and travel towards student sports leadership and development events around the country
A select number of sports coaching scholarships are available to students each year who are looking to gain additional coaching experience by delivering sessions within Sport and Active Lifestyles. The programmes run from mid-September and run during school term time until the beginning of July.
Senior Coaching Scholar
Qualified to either a Level 2 or 3 standard, dependant on the sport, with a minimum of a year’s experience of coaching at this level. Will lead sessions and will also provide mentoring to Assistant Coaching Scholars. Senior Coaching Scholars will be paid £15 per hour rather than have access to the benefits package and will receive a free coaching kit bundle*.
Lead Coaching Scholar
Recently qualified to a Level 2 or 3 standard, but with less than a year’s coaching experience at this level. Will lead sessions but will not provide any mentoring of Assistant Coaching Scholars. Lead Coaching Scholars will be paid £10 per hour rather than have access to the benefits package and will receive a free coaching kit bundle*.
Assistant Coaching Scholar
Qualified to a Level 1 standard, with previous experience of coaching at this level. Will assist with sessions under the guidance and supervision of Senior Coaching Scholars. As an assistant you will be required to deliver up to four hours per week. Assistant Coaches will have access to the benefit package.
*NB Senior, Lead and Assistant Coach kit bundles may differ.
The strength and conditioning internship is an excellent programme which involves assisting the delivery of strength and conditioning sessions to focus sport teams, scholarship athletes and Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) athletes supported by our university.
Who will I report to?
The strength and conditioning internships are led by our Head S&C Coach Dane Mitchell. You will be led by him and the newly appointed Assistant S&C Coach.
Do I need to hold a qualification?
Yes, you will be required to have your qualifications that allow you to work with athletes safely in the gym, so as a minimum you would require your fitness instructor qualification.
What are my main responsibilities?
The main responsibilities will be working with Dane to create sport-focused programmes for the athletes and sports teams based at Leeds Beckett University and then assisting with the delivery.
Student Marketing and Communications Ambassadors’ main role is to help enhance the sporting experience at Leeds Beckett University and raise the profile of sport at the institution. This is an excellent opportunity to gain work experience for those considering a career in marketing or communications.
Main responsibilities
- Sourcing and writing content for our members, including the AU newsletter, website and news articles
- Working on our social media accounts, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram ‘student takeovers’
- Producing short pieces of film content
- Assisting the Sports Office staff with the promotion of major Sport and Active Lifestyle events, including the annual Varsity calendar, Freshers’ Fair and our university’s
- Sports Awards Evening
- Developing opportunities for students to feed back, helping us measure the effectiveness of our services
How do I apply?
Applications usually open in mid-May, these are usually done through MyHub, but the link can also be found on our Sport and Active Lifestyles web page. All successful applications will then be required to do an interview. For all successful applicants there will then be a training day in September, where you will meet the team and meet fellow students who are a part of the Leadership Academy. Here we will go through the main information that should help set you up for the year ahead.
the team
Kirsty Mcphee
- Lead of the Academy. Kirsty is also responsible for managing and mentoring the coaching scholars
- K.M.Mcphee@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Craig Robinson
- Manages the sports activators and marketing and communication intern
- Craig.Robinson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Dale Bottomley
- Manages and mentors the American football coaching scholars
- D.Bottomley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Dane Mitchell
- Manages and mentors the strength and conditioning interns
- D.B.Mitchell@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Paul Johnson
- Manages and mentors the tennis coaching scholars
- P.A.Johnson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
