AoC Sport’s Student Leadership Programme is made an accredited award

The AoC Sport’s Student Leadership Programme has become an accredited award through the Leadership Skills Foundation.

This is the second year of the programme, after an extremely successful 2023/24 which saw 386 students become ambassadors and activators for their colleges. So far, in 2024/25 around 430 students from colleges across the country are enrolled.

Through the programme, students develop their volunteering and essential leadership skills in sport and physical activity, create and bid for money to make their own projects a reality, and get the chance to attend national event to develop key skills whilst networking with others.

Using their leadership skills, students influence their peers to increase levels of physical activity, developing active citizens, advocates, influencers and activists. This enables a bigger and better student enrichment offer and experience by supporting through an increase in delivery resource that maximises staff capacity.

To achieve the accredited award students will be completing the activities and requirements of the programme, evidencing through a bespoke workbook which will allow them to reflect on their achievements and act as a log for future showcases and experiences.

Sarah Nickless, Partnerships and Programmes Development Officer, Association of Colleges, said: “We are so excited that our student leadership programme will be officially accredited this year. Colleges consistently tell us that their students grow so much in their time in the programme, and this is recognition for the leadership skills students develop.”

Lucy Supperstone, Director of Innovation and Standards, Leadership Skills Foundation, said: ‘‘We are thrilled to be working with AoC to accredit their Student Leadership Programme. Students will now be recognised with an accredited award that acknowledges their endeavours through the programme, including the development of their leadership skills. This recognition offers them the opportunity to showcase their experiences, evidence their progression and will support their onward journeys. We are excited to see what the next cohort of ambassadors and activators achieves this year.’