Youngsters train in Weymouth

Sailing and Watersports Entry to Employment course to be run in Weymouth

Like many coastal areas, Weymouth and Portland has its fair share of youngsters ‘not in education and not in employment’. As part of a strategy to meet this challenge, an initiative called “Entry to Employment (e2e)”, run by Weymouth College, has been established to provide an avenue for these youngsters to access local work schemes through a wide ranging education program. As part of the college’s curriculum for Sailing and Marine Studies, it was decided to introduce a sailing and watersports e2e course, to be run out of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in association with Sail Laser.

The e2e programme, developed by Holly Henderson, Sailing Curriculum Development Officer, is an eighteen-week course based around sailing and watersports for young people aged 16-18. The course provides a combination of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications in sailing, windsurfing and powerboating, and adult skills qualifications. The course developed aims to increase personal and social skills and the employment potential of its students as well as to improve literacy and numeracy levels.
Critical to the success of the course is the built-in element of work experience for the students. The course provides important opportunities to gain work experience with companies such as Sail Laser; Windtek; the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre; GB Yachting; and Portland Marine Training. In addition, with the course being run at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, there are opportunities for the students to gain event experience during major international sailing events such as the Sail for Gold Regatta and Weymouth Speed Week.

Progression routes for the students after they finish the course are varied. Weymouth College has developed links with local providers so the students can enter employment locally. Weymouth College is also running BTECs at Level 1 (Introductory), Level 2 (First) and Level 3 (National) in Sailing and Watersports, as such students have the opportunity to re-enter education.

Dr Henderson comments, “The prospectus has just been published for the September 08 courses which will expand on the ones we currently run. We will be offering BTEC levels 1,2 and 3 in Sport (Sailing and Watersports) and as well as two further foundation degrees - one in Sports Performance and one in Marine Leisure. It is natural progression for Weymouth College to increase its portfolio of sailing and marine courses. The ongoing curriculum development of Further Education and Higher Education programmes is essential and the opportunities for students who choose to enroll on our courses are phenomenal given the continued developments here at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Osprey Quay and the Borough. It is really fantastic that these youngsters who otherwise may not have had access to employment or training schemes, now have the chance to participate in them.”

Mark Stubbings, Chief Executive of WPNSA adds , “It is fantastic that we are able to provide the facilities for these young people to help them with their personal development. It shows, once again, that here at the Academy we cater for individuals across the social spectrum.”