Association of Colleges Re-affirms it's support for the West Midlands Community Sports Awards

The Association of Colleges (AoC) West Midlands reaffirmed its support for the development of regional sport by signing up for a second year as principal supporter of the West Midlands Community Sports Awards.

The West Midlands Community Sports Awards are being held on Thursday 27th November at Villa Park in Birmingham and promise to be the best celebration of sporting talent in the region.

The awards are being organised by the network of six County Sports Partnerships across the region, and are designed to showcase community sport at its very best. Local community Clubs, Coaches, Newcomers, Projects and Unsung Heroes will be honoured in a glittering celebration in front of over 400 of the West Midlands' finest sporting representatives. AoC will be presenting the Inspirational Sports Student of the Year award to the student from a further education college who has made an outstanding contribution to college sport and the wider college community over the last year. All the award winners will be featured on BBC Midlands Today and BBC Local Radio in the West Midlands.

Representing the principal supporter, Steve Sawbridge, Regional Director of the Association of Colleges – West Midlands spoke about its involvement with the awards.  He said:

"AoC is delighted to be joining with the regional sports network for the second year to celebrate sporting achievement across the region. These awards are testament to the highest calibre, commitment and dedication of grassroots sport across the West Midlands.  And not least in colleges, where involvement in sport either as a participant, coach or volunteer can play a vital role in the development of the wider skills that are essential for life and work.

"The place of sport in the further education curriculum is growing substantially year on year, backed by a national investment of £25 million from Sports England to support sports development in colleges up to 2017.  And not only are more students taking part in physical activity, but colleges nationally train approximately 80,000 students each year in industry-related sport and leisure qualifications, and 30,000 students regularly volunteer in college sports activity.

"We aim to make the West Midlands the leading region for sport in colleges working closely with the County Sports Partnership network and sports associations.  We know that through the outstanding teaching, learning and coaching available at our colleges we can fully support all young people whatever their background to raise their aspirations and achieve their goals.  Our involvement with the West Midlands Community Sports Awards is a symbol of that commitment.

"We look forward to sharing news of award finalists and the overall winner on the night and congratulating all other participants on their sterling efforts, achievement, dedication and commitment - wishing them continued success.”

During the ceremony, AoC will be profiling the further education sport sector through the Inspirational Sport Student of the Year Award. This accolade recognises an individual student who has achieved success not just in their academic studies but who has also used their involvement in sport as a source of inspiration to other students and the wider college community.

Chris Child, Chair of the West Midlands Community Sports Awards Organising Committee, commented "we are again delighted to welcome on board the Association of Colleges West Midlands as principal supporters for the West Midlands Community Sports Awards, we know that they share our passion for community sport and also recognise the important role local colleges play in the delivery of grass root sports activity"

For further details of the awards evening, or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at www.westmidlandscommunitysportsawards.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @wmsportsawards.

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The Association of Colleges (AoC) represents the interests of over 350 further education, sixth form, and specialist colleges in England including 45 in the West Midlands region.  Together colleges:

• Educate 853,000 people aged 16 to 18, almost twice as many as school sixth forms. This includes 185,000 young people taking A-levels;
• Train over one quarter of the total 240,000 apprentices aged 16-18;
• Educate and train over two million people aged 19 and over;
• Account for 33% of entrants to higher education and for 11% of those studying at undergraduate or higher national (for example, foundation degrees).

AoC Sport, an AoC subsidiary company is the lead membership organisation for college sport and physical activity.

County Sports Partnerships (CSP) are primarily funded by Sport England through the National Lottery to:

a. ensure the effective and efficiency service delivery of Sport England and Government contracts – ensuring that National Governing Body of Sport programmes are delivered efficiently and effectively in local communities
b. work in partnership to ensure that there is a long term West Midlands Sports legacy from London 2012
c. ensure that sport contributes to community life and is able to evidence a wider social impact
d. support the professional development of all involved in sport – whether it be for sport or wider development outcomes

For more details on the event please contact Andy Knowles on andy@westmidlandscommunitysportsawards.co.uk