GIYM PLUS
Who?
Young people aged 11-18.
Where?
Our sessions run on a 24-week after school programme in close proximity to the child’s school, typically at the local community tennis courts.
All current sites are operated by our GIYM Primary coaches in the same area. This allows for continuity and enables children leaving primary school to retain their relationship with the coach and continue to progress their tennis development. We plan to roll this programme out to all of our sites by 2023 but we currently operate GIYM Plus in the following areas:
- Northampton
- Birmingham
- Lewisham
WHAT?
As well as improving mental health and wellbeing our GIYM Plus programme promotes an active lifestyle, creates new opportunities, and encourages aspirations. Within the programme we offer the Give Your Max Leadership Award which includes the LTA Leaders course, a two year module based, voluntary and all inclusive programme which offers the candidate the opportunity of work experience and access to webinars, hearing from some of the leaders in the world of tennis. With the knock-on effect of the pandemic and the rising number of unemployed young people, it is our hope that through this programme, students will gain greater knowledge of the opportunities that are available through the game of tennis and some will pursue a career in sport.
In 2022 the Give It Your Max Leadership Award will become an integral part of the GIYM Plus programme.
Give It Your Max Leadership Award
The aim of the GIYM Leadership Award is to help teenagers to develop fundamental skills in leadership, receive a recognised qualification, and inspire them in developing skills for the future workplace.
The programme has 4 key components over 2 years.
Year 1
- Complete the LTA Leaders course
- Practical experience
- Complete GIYM leadership booklet
Year 2 (webinars)
Developing knowledge around the sporting industry/opportunities for work.
WHy?
We could see that there was a need to support children transitioning from primary to secondary school. It can be quite a turbulent time for so many and has always has been, and continues to be, a challenging age group to keep children engaged and retain them in sport at a time when there are many other distractions in their lives.
We wanted to provide consistency and stability for the children from our programmes during this period and so the idea of an extension programme was launched.
By doing this we have created a complete cycle; we are there at the child’s very first tennis experience at 4 years old and we can now continue to support their tennis journey into young adulthood.
With the knock on effect of the pandemic and the rising number of unemployed young people, it is our hope that through this programme and the newly developed Leadership Award, students will gain greater knowledge of the opportunities that are available through the game of tennis and some will pursue a career in sport. Our aim is to offer an achievable career path to some of the young people we work with.
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Step 1
School Programme (4-11 years)
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Step 2
After Schools Programme (4-11 years)
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Step 3
GIYM Plus Programme After School (11 years +)
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Step 4
Children Selected to Take Leaders Course (12 years +)
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Step 5
Leaders Become Assistants and Support at After Schools Programmes
