A group of 24 HNC Sports Coaching students based at Ayrshire College’s Kilmarnock Campus have collectively delivered more than 2,000 hours of volunteer coaching hours during the past academic year.
Their efforts were part of the Scottish FA’s Volunteer and Inspire Programme (VIP), which allows young people aged 16-24 to gain hands-on coaching experience while working towards the Scottish FA’s ‘Introduction to Coaching’ qualification.
Ayrshire College has worked in close partnership with the Scottish FA for several years to deliver the VIP programme. The year-long initiative offers a tailored pathway of development via a series of workshops that enhance the students’ overall college experience and finesse their coaching skills.
Core sessions include planning, communication and goal setting, which is delivered in partnership with Scottish Sports Futures. Participants are also required to complete e-learning modules on ‘Children’s Wellbeing in Scottish Football’ and ‘Mental Health in Scottish Football’ to earn the coaching qualification.
Students gain practical experience assisting professional coaches in delivering football sessions, running summer camps for children and young people and helping at national football club match days. The programme also includes support in developing key employability skills such as CV writing and public speaking.
Abi Thomson and Liam Dorans have recently completed their HNC in Sports Coaching and are progressing onto the HND after the summer.
19-year-old Abi Thomson, from Kilmarnock, volunteered with the Rose Reilly Centre and at Waterriggs Primary School. She is due to start a four-week placement ahead of gaining work with Killie Communities. Abi said: “The coaches are really friendly and encouraging. They want everyone to get involved.”
Liam Dorans, 20, from Stewarton, volunteers with Stewarton United and has recently gained paid work with Coerver, a global football coaching company. He said the VIP Programme encouraged him to approach local employers. Liam added: “Doing the programme with the SFA has been a great way to learn different coaching styles and it also gave me the confidence to seek out these opportunities.”
The VIP programme is supported by CashBack for Communities, a Scottish Government initiative that reinvests funds recovered from criminal activity into free programmes for young people, particularly in underprivileged areas.
Johnny Sinclair, a Sport & Fitness lecturer at Ayrshire College, who works closely with the Scottish FA to deliver the programme, said:
“The Scottish FA’s VIP programme is an outstanding initiative. This year alone, our HNC students have clocked-up an incredible 2082 hours of voluntary coaching.
“We’re grateful to the SFA South-West team, who provide expert mentorship on-site at our Kilmarnock Campus to help develop our students’ coaching techniques, improve their confidence as coaches and intensify their passion for sport.”
John Brown, Regional Manager - South-West at the Scottish FA, added: “The main objective of this programme is to bring young people together to help develop a range of practical and personal skills that will be useful in their future life and career. By engaging in team-based activities and real-world challenges, participants gain confidence, improve communication and build resilience - qualities that are essential both on and off the pitch.”
The programme is part of the Scottish FA’s ongoing commitment to youth development, aiming to empower the next generation through sport, education and community engagement.
The students’ efforts have also been formally recognised through The Saltire Awards, a national scheme that celebrates the dedication and impact of young volunteers across Scotland.
Two of those students - Monica Wilson and Donny Rorison, both 18 - received their Saltire Volunteering Awards earlier this week, which also marked the completion of their HNC Coaching qualification.
Troon-based Donny Rorison accumulated an impressive 369 volunteering hours this academic year, primarily volunteering at Kelvinside Handball Club in Glasgow, and is moving to Denmark this summer to play handball professionally.
Monica Wilson from Dreghorn, who spent 124 volunteering hours working with Ayr United FC’s Girls’ Academy and supporting the Rose Reilly Centre at our Kilmarnock Campus, during her time at Ayrshire College, is moving to America to undertake a football scholarship.
John McTaggart, Curriculum Manager for Sport and Fitness (Kilmarnock), added: “Volunteering through sport is such a powerful way to build connections, and partnerships like this allow us to reach more people, create more inclusive opportunities and ensure that the benefits of the programme continue when their college journey comes to an end.
“The success of this initiative is testament to the dedication of people like Johnny and the efforts of our students. Staff members play a crucial mentoring role to support and guide students throughout their volunteering journey. Due to this, our students have embraced these opportunities not only as a way of furthering their own career ambitions but also with a genuine desire to make a difference.”