Support
We are committed to working with all sports and clubs in the Scottish Borders to help provide a high quality network of clubs, coaches, pathways, volunteers, facilities and sporting opportunities.
We also have target sports that we work with national governing bodies to fund an officer/ programme or support services to develop the sporting infrastructure in the Scottish Borders.
For more information on any of the following please contact our Club Development Officer. Contact details are at the bottom of this page.
Coach education
The role of the coach at all levels of sport is crucial, regardless of what age and stage you coach. Coaches and volunteers play a vital role in community sport across the Scottish Borders. Without the time, energy and commitment of dedicated coaches and volunteers, many clubs and coaching sessions would not be able to run.
Courses
Emergency First Aid at Work
Emergency First Aid At Work – including sports injuries (EMFAW+).
This course meets and exceeds the current standards set out by the Health and Safety Executive. Our trainers follow the most recent guidelines on adult basic life support published by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and follow rigorous quality assurance processes. The EMFAW+ course certification is assessed by continuous observation as well as a short written test and will be valid for a period of three years. Course applicants should be aged 16 or over.
The course is delivered face to face, in small groups, and the content can be delivered over one full day or two sessions, which must be completed within three weeks. Over seven hours the course will teach or refresh skills for dealing with people who:
- Have become unresponsive but are breathing
- Have become unresponsive and who are not breathing (we deliver training on how to use an AED)
- Are suffering from shock
- Are choking
- Have severe bleeds
- Have become seriously ill (heart attack, angina, stroke etc.)
- Sports specific injuries and minor injuries
We also equip learners with basic skills on how to deal with: burns, electrical accidents, seizures, broken bones, sports injuries specific to the learner’s sports, the assessment and monitoring of casualties as well as how to get help.
The course delivery and assessment includes both practical and written or spoken elements. It is vital that any learners who may require reasonable adjustments to the delivery or assessment let the course organiser at the time of booking.
Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport
This workshop aims to increase awareness of safeguarding and protecting children, helping coaches to recognise signs of abuse and poor practice, and deal sensitively and effectively with issues that arise. It also prompts a review of coaching practice to ensure that sport provides a positive and enriching experience for children. The course is targeted at all practitioners working with under 18 participants; coaches and volunteers working directly with children and young people.
This new course offers a blended learning approach of an online module (module 1) which is theory based followed by a face-to-face learning intervention (module 2). The online module (module 1) must be completed prior to the course. On completion of both module 1 and 2 you will receive a sports coach UK certificate of attendance. This workshop is a basic requirement for coaches for many governing bodies of sport.
Please note the minimum age to attend is 16 years.
Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer Training
This three hour workshop supports clubs to put child protection policies into practice. It is most suitable for those acting as a club Child Protection Officer but is also relevant for those responsible for managing or organising the club. This workshop is a requirement for clubs looking to achieve club accreditation.
Coaching and volunteering
Volunteering can be a rewarding activity which helps you to meet new people and take on new challenges through roles such as coaching or administration.
Without volunteers, many people would not have access to sports and physical activates, they are an integral part of sport in the Borders.
If you interested on becoming a volunteer with sports clubs or with our Active Schools team, or if you are a club looking for more information on recruiting and sustaining volunteers, please get in contact with our Club Development Officer.
Coaching Scholarship
The Coach Scholarship Scheme offers financial support to coaches/officials within the Scottish Borders. It has been introduced to encourage new people to get involved in coaching and officiating, as well as motivating existing coaches to progress their careers by awarding financial support.
More information can be downloaded from our website on the scheme.
Club accreditation and benefits package
We aim to ensure that sports clubs are an integral part of the local community, focusing on improving the infrastructure, capacity and quality of each club.
Our club accreditation and benefits package rewards clubs who are a safe, well organised and an effective club in the local community.
Accreditation is a simple step-by-step process that has been designed to make it as easy as possible for clubs to gain recognition for the work they do in improving their quality and infrastructure that lasts for two years.
We are always on hand to take you through the process, ensuring your club can quickly make the most of the benefits.
Over 60 clubs are now accredited having all achieved the required standard to join the scheme. The clubs are now entitled to a host of special benefits including discounts when booking our facilities and priority status for certain funding and scholarship applications.
Application forms for individuals and clubs can be downloaded from our website.
Community Sport Hubs
Community Sport Hubs are a way of supporting clubs and organisations to work together to achieve more. A ‘hub’ is essentially a group of progressive sport clubs working together in a local community. A community sport hub is focused on the clubs.
A community sports hub could be located in a number of places, or it may simply centre on a single-venue hosting many clubs.
An effective hub model has tangible benefits opportunities for clubs to save money by sharing resources.
The specifics of each hub and what it offers will vary according to local need and local resource. However all hubs will work to the following five principles:
- growth in participation
- engage the local community
- promote community leadership
- offer a range of sporting opportunities
- bring all appropriate (key) partners/groups/people together.