Leaders and coaches working with young people and children can apply for a bursary to develop their skills.

The Nancy Ovens Bursary, managed by SkillsActive is aimed at the active leisure and learning sector.

One of last years awardees Roger Pickering, used the bursary to take a three month sabbatical from his work at Diageo, who matched the funding he received, to help push sport into schools through the local Schools Sport Partnership. This involved spending a day in each school in the local area, delivering sports-related sessions to children up to the age of 11.

Speaking about the experience, Roger said; “I wanted to learn more about the curriculum as a whole so I can then transfer that knowledge and improve myself as a coach. It was an opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge of a range of sporting activities that I don't have experience of, such as dance.

“One of the schools that I spoke to wanted me to come in and run a breakfast club, which included literacy and numeracy taught through sport. The kids saw this big ugly guy who not only plays rugby, but can actually read and write as well. It helped in targeting some of the kids that play sport but weren't necessarily top of the class.”

The bursary will be worth up to £2,500 and may be used by the selected individual(s) to undertake an alternative work experience or training within the UK or EU. The Nancy Ovens Trust and SkillsActive will appoint a mentor for the period of the bursary.

More information and application details are available at: www.skillsactive.com/nancyovensbursary The closing date for applications is: Tuesday 29 May.