BACKGROUND INFORMATION

At the recent AGM, Gabby Williams, Development Director spoke about the December 2014 targets that Sport England has set for British Fencing and the work that is underway to increase the number of people participating in fencing activities. This work is very targeted and importantly insight led, with the aim of testing new British Fencing projects and systems. It involves: 

1. Pilot projects for young people in London (Camden, Kings Cross, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets) and Sunderland.  These projects have been designed in light of recent research undertaken by British Fencing that tells us what type of young person is attracted to fencing. The two adverts for coaches below link to these projects.
2. A Participation Strategy to ensure there is a robust and insight led plan in place for growing our sport from 2015 to 2017.  This will absolutely focus on community and grass root activity, as opposed to performance and talent.
3. An online tool to measure regular participation in fencing.  It is being tested in two local authority areas.  It aims to ultimately help British Fencing and its delivery partners measure the impact of new projects and see how many more people are participating in existing and new fencing activities.

British Fencing and London Youth Project – Camden, London

Fencing coach needed for November 2014 to December 2014 (with a view to extend)  

THE PROJECT

This is an exciting development project between London Youth and British Fencing aimed at attracting more young people into fencing through a sport, social and fitness offer developed with the input of young people within a youth setting. The project will start with 8 weeks of activity at two youth centres in Camden – one session per week at each site from November through to December 2014. The end goal is to encourage regular participation by young people in fencing either within the youth setting or within a local fencing club.

THE COACH

We are seeking a dynamic, inspiring coach who has a sense of fun and experience of working with young people. You need to be prepared to work collaboratively with others in the development of this project, including with a stage combat coach, with youth workers and with the local fencing club to develop the project and session content and to lead the coaching of sessions to young people who may have not tried fencing before. Sessions need to be adapted each week to suit the ability and mindset of the young people attending and based on their feedback. There must be an emphasis on fun and enjoyment to ensure the young people want to return each week.   

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We are looking for someone who can teach quickly, employing standard and non standard teaching strategies. These sessions are to emphasize the social, inclusive, participatory and fun elements of fencing.
• We want to deliver just enough technique to get people fencing and intensely enjoying it.
• We are looking for someone who has coached fencing previously and has a BF coaching qualification.
• You will be working with young people and using their feedback to develop and refine the ‘fencing offer’ and session content, so previous experience of youth work, along with an understanding of what makes young people want to take part in sports and social activities would be an advantage.

Please let us know if you have current first aid certification and/or a DBS (previously CRB).

DATES

Start date: early November 2014

Duration: Up to eight weeks, through to late December 2014 or early January 2015 depending on start date, with potential for follow on.

NB: If you are not available these dates but feel you would be a good match for this work please still send in your CV as there may be similar opportunities available from January 2015 onwards. Please clearly mark your availability.

SESSION DAYS & TIMES

These have yet to be confirmed but will involve evening and/or weekend work.

PAY & EMPLOYMENT

This is a self employed engagement on an invoice basis. Pay will be an hourly rate consummate with club coaching rates.

TO APPLY & FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Please send a cover letter with CV, confirming how you meet the requirements for this role, your hourly rate and availability to: Louise Voyce, London Youth at [email protected]. If you would like to have an informal discussion first please contact Louise on 07983 566363.

British Fencing and the University of the Arts Project, CSM Kings Cross

Fencing coach needed for October – December 2014 (with a view to extend)

THE PROJECT

This is an exciting partnership project with British Fencing aimed at attracting more art students into the sport through a social and fitness offer of fencing. It will be linked to the new Arts Active programme that SUARTS and UAL have received 3 years of funding from the Sport England University Activation Fund.  Arts Active aims to get more students participating in sport.

The project will start with 8 weeks of activity – one session per week from October through to December 2014.  The goal is to develop a Fencing Club at the University that is open to all students (including recent University of the Arts graduates) from 2015.  All club kit will be provided.

THE COACH

We are seeking a dynamic, inspiring coach who has a sense of fun and experience of working with young adults.  You would lead the coaching of potentially large drop-in sessions to people who may have not tried fencing before.  Sessions may need to be adapted each week to suit the ability and mindset of the students attending.  There must be an emphasis on fun and enjoyment to ensure people return week after week.   

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We are looking for someone who can teach quickly, employing standard and non standard teaching strategies.  These sessions are to emphasize the social, inclusive, participatory and fun elements of fencing.  
• We want to deliver just enough technique to get people fencing and intensely enjoying it.  We are looking for someone who has coached fencing previously and is a current British Fencing registered coach.  
• Also important to have insight into creative individual – how they work and learn – even perhaps some insight about what it means to attend art school.  
• We especially welcome applications from coaches with experience working with young people, especially youth work and working with people with dyslexia and other SLDs.

DATES

Start date: w/c 20 October 2014

Duration: Eight consecutive sessions until week of 8 December 2014

NB: If you are not available these dates but feel you would be a good match for this work please send in your CV – this project aims to be sustainable and therefore will require a permanent coach from January 2015 onwards.

SESSION TIMES

Currently we are considering either a Wednesday lunchtime session, or an evening session on a weekday.

PAY & EMPLOYMENT

This is a self employed engagement on an invoice basis.  Pay will be an hourly rate consummate with University Associate Lecturer rates.

TO APPLY & FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tim at: [email protected]. Cover letter, CV, photos, video etc welcome.