The Legacies Are A Hit With Sport, Northumberland College

The Legacies Sign for Northumberland College

Northumberland College have signed a unique agreement with The Legacies to create the Northumberland Sports Development Centre (NSDC) to provide competitive sporting opportunities for all students.

The NSDC is for all college students who would like to take part in sport and develop their skills and techniques to reach their fitness and performance goals, whilst studying a qualification in the subject of their choice.

Members of the NSDC will benefit from up to 9 hours of professional training each week from some of the best coaches, sports scientists and teaching staff in the region, the opportunity to play in local, national and international competitions, a personalised training, development and nutrition programme and access to train using facilities at the Hirst Welfare Centre in Ashington.

Interim Principal Viv Gillespie said: “This unique partnership marks a new chapter for sport at Northumberland College and demonstrates how we are building relationships with new strategic partners to benefit our students.

“The College is committed to providing a range of enrichment activities and stretching challenges to develop students and build a sustainable legacy of education and healthy living.”

Managing Director of The Legacies, James Clark said: “We started working with the College in September and so far we have set up a series of sport academies for the current students. There is now a football team currently competing in the North East Colleges League (NECL) and a woman’s football team. Rugby and Basketball teams will also be developed soon.

“Sport is a proven way of connecting people and bringing communities together and The Legacies believe this is an opportunity of empowering the local community through the passion created by sport.

“The partnership will bring the private and public sector together to form a new way of curriculum delivery, enrichment formation and Apprenticeship training and employment in the sports sector.”

Sport student Cole Moscrop was one of the first students to join the football team. He said: “I get to study for my sports course and train and play competitive football in College; it’s the best of both worlds! This is my favourite year in education so far; I can’t wait to learn and train with the College and The Legacies every day.”

Moving forward, the partnership sees a new curriculum for the 2013/14 academic year with split delivery between Northumberland College and The Legacies.

As part of the partnership, from September 2013 talented sports students will have the opportunity to study a new specialist sports curriculum called the Northumberland Academy for Sport (NAS). This bespoke curriculum will offer each performance level individual the best opportunity of combining training and studies through a dedicated training programme running alongside a 3 A-Level equivalent qualification.

Students will study the Level 3 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Performance and Excellence and select the routeway from men and women’s football, golf, rugby league and union, basketball or netball, depending on the sport that they excel at.

Trevor Benjamin ex-Premier League Footballer and spokesperson for The Legacies said: “I have seen a lot of good individual people taking part in a variety of sports since moving to Northumberland. Through the NSDC and the NAS we hope that Northumberland College can provide the perfect home and platform for them to sharpen their skills.”

For further information about the open events and learning opportunities offered by Northumberland College visit www.northumberland.ac.uk or call 01670 841200.