Goals: It targets 16 to 25-year-olds, with the aim of "drawing out the life skills of young people through practical application of sport and leadership to assist their successful transition to adulthood". Participants work towards achieving accredited training, with the support and mentoring of Inter-Action staff.
Funding: 77,000 has come through the European Social Fund, via the Learning and Skills Council. This runs from October 2002 to December this year.
Young people from all backgrounds in Oxfordshire are given the opportunity to identify and develop their personal skills, with the emphasis on those who have been low academic achievers. Inter-Action staff have an informal discussion with the participants to nip any concerns in the bud.
Team-building days are held to help target the content and delivery of the project.
A series of timetabled weeks using outdoor education, sports and other activities help to develop leadership skills. The main focus of the project is completion of the British Sports Trust community sports leader award.
Activities include canoeing on the Thames through Oxford (pictured above), which encourages teamwork. Blindfold rock-climbing is aimed at developing trust and communication skills, while orienteering further develops leadership abilities.
After five weekends of training, the first group of young people to take part - who started in October - put their skills into practice and led community sports sessions for 15 local young people aged six to 12. Feedback has been positive, with one participant commenting: "The worst thing about the course is knowing it will soon be over." But once it is over, Inter-Action staff support participants in their future plans, with the setting up of voluntary or paid work, and other training and educational opportunities.
Each participant maintains a portfolio during the project that will act as a record of achievement and a reference for prospective employers.
