Apprenticeship Spotlight: Level 2 Community Activator Coach

How does improving the health and wellbeing of the nation sound?

For all novice Sports Coaches, Community Workers, or anyone interested in making a difference through coaching, STS’s Community Activator Coach Level 2 Apprenticeship combines tutorials and experiential learning with on-the-job training. This year-long apprenticeship opens doors for continued study to level 3, and extremely rewarding career opportunities.

What is a Community Activator Coach?

A Community Activator Coach is similar to a Sports Coach but with more emphasis on inspiring the behavioural change necessary for participants to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle. By delivering fully inclusive and engaging sessions, a Community Activator Coach can instil lifelong activity habits. Understanding the basic principles of behavioural change through sport, building rapport and motivating groups of people, including the most vulnerable, are central to the broader skillset required for this type of coaching. Developing listening skills is also key to shaping programmes that align with the needs of the individual, enabling active habits for life.

Why you should consider becoming a Community Activator Coach

Whether supporting families to train together, working with sports clubs or running larger-scale community activation events with a host of equipment and activities, Community Activator Coaches play a crucial role in improving physical ability, mental health and wellbeing for individuals, families and wider communities. A Community Coach Activator role is a hugely rewarding career that makes a significantly positive impact by giving people the opportunity to access sport and overcome personal barriers.

Behavioural change from leading a more physically active lifestyle has been particularly beneficial following the impact of the pandemic. Sport England’s Active Lives Active Lives | Sport England surveys for adults and young people have reported a return to pre-pandemic levels of physical activity which meet the daily recommended guidelines; which according to the NHS is 60 minutes per day for children and young people, and 150 minutes per week for 19 to 64 year olds. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/

While this headline data is positive, physical literacy levels, which are linked to higher levels of activity and psychological wellbeing, have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and remain a significant area of concern across the population. For example, women’s activity levels have recovered slower in comparison to men’s, and the long-term decline in young people’s participation in sport and physical activity continues. Further, the least affluent in our society are less likely to be active and inequalities between the physical activity levels of some minority ethnic groups have widened.

Employers seeking Community Activator Apprentices

STS and employers work in partnership to maximise an apprentice’s ability to attain the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become an effective Community Activator Coach. Organisations we work with provide sports, outdoor activities, cycling, swimming, dance and other active pursuits that surround communities to get people more involved in sport.

If you are a Levy paying employer there is no additional cost to fund apprenticeships. Non-Levy paying employers pay just 0-5% of the cost, depending on the organisation’s size.

How STS’s Community Activator Coach apprenticeship works

Developing the necessary skills and knowledge is essential in being both an effective and inspiring coach. Working in partnership with employers and practicing on-the-job, applicants will learn a huge amount through face-to-face teaching, e-learning and tutorials. Modules covered include:

How to plan and deliver sessions

The principals of coaching

Engaging and supporting participants

Identifying the barriers to physical activity

Project planning

Inclusive coaching

Working collaboratively with partners

Understanding risk assessments

What sets our services apart is the experiential learning aspect, whereby apprentices have the opportunity to build confidence and resilience in a residential outdoor adventure setting at Skern Lodge in Bideford, North Devon, or at one of our 11 activity centres across the UK. This added value opportunity embeds the learning across all modules through real-life, practical experiences. Residential activities are designed to address the learning needs of the apprentices, and as a result, tangible outcomes can be achieved.

Who should apply for this apprenticeship

The right applicant will likely be coaching sports, such as, football or dance, or have an interest in coaching within a community. They may also be involved in outdoor learning, but not necessarily involved in this sector. Overall, a Community Activator Coach will have a desire to uplift communities and engage people in living healthier, more physically active lifestyles.

Career opportunities with a Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship

Following the year-long apprenticeship, career opportunities include becoming a Sports Coach, Community Engagement Officer or Activity Leader. Professional recognition on successful completion of the standard includes being given a CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) at Affiliate Member level. Further study includes the Level 3 Team Leader or Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor qualification.

Behavioural change from sporting lifestyles

At a time of increasingly sedentary and online lifestyles, and when poor mental health is on the increase, being ‘physically literate’ can have a profound impact on wellbeing and physical fitness. According to Sport for Life, physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.

A Community Activator Coach is key in improving physical literacy within communities, championing lifelong sporting habits and overcoming barriers to change. Sport England’s recent consensus shows how physical education plays a huge role in supporting young people in their development, and how our relationship with exercise is influenced throughout life. Ultimately influencing individuals to have a positive and meaningful relationship with movement and physical activity can create the behavioural change needed to live happier and healthier lives.

Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England published | Sport England

Why choose STS?

Operating nationally, our experienced team offers high quality training ensuring an apprentice attains the specific knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in the role. Our apprenticeships are tailor-made, and we really mean it. Every aspect of delivery is unique, we cater specifically to the agile needs of each organisation to ensure objectives are met. We take the time to get to know business needs so that we can incorporate individual culture, vision and values into activities to ensure each apprenticeship fits in seamlessly.