Volunteers rewarded as Link4Life launches new training academy

Link4Life employees (left to right) Ashley Barker, Laura Carty and Stuart England with the Mayor, Cllr James Gartside

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Hard-working Link4Life volunteers were rewarded for their valuable efforts as the organisation launched its new Training Academy at Heywood Sports Village on Friday 20 April 2013.

Presentations were made by the Mayor, Councillor James Gartside, to those who had volunteered more than 100 hours of service to many different groups in the region through Link4Life.

One volunteer to be rewarded was 23-year-old Special Olympian Jamie Kelly, who takes swimming lessons for adults with learning difficulties and young children.

“I was an engineer before I came here,” he said. “I started volunteering three years ago and I have been doing it ever since.

“I’m still enjoying it – it’s something new every day. It’s really challenging but really enjoyable and I’ve made some great friends too.”

Fellow volunteer Ray Donohue, from Middleton, believes his experience with Link4Life has been an eye-opener, making him more aware of groups he has helped such as the homeless.

He added: “It has been amazing. It has helped me learn too. My daughter helps out at an after-school club and I was giving her advice on what to do – I was telling them something I had learned through Link4Life without even realising.”

Also rewarded for their volunteering work were Nick Wilson, Jess Stewart, Paul Donald, Stephen Roberts and Andrew Jackson.

Also speaking at the new scheme’s launch were three people whose training took them from being unemployed to enjoying a vast array of new life experiences.

Ashley Barker, 21, explained how she had been ‘dossing’ after finishing college but thanks to her training managed to obtain a place helping at Camp America.

Ex-builder Stuart England, 32, admitted he feared volunteering would see him stuck litter-picking but the coaching work he did eventually landed him a job at Heywood Sports Village.

“It’s the best job I have ever had,” he said. “It’s all down to the lovely ladies I met at Link4Life, which is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Laura Carty, 26, who came to England from Portugal to join the army, started with Link4Life after being medically discharged from her position as a Combat Medical Technician.

She revealed how volunteering gave her a vital opportunity at a crucial stage in her life.

“It’s had a very big impact on my life,” she said. “Leaving the army left me with nothing. I was willing to do anything to get myself going.

“Through Link4Life I started doing lots of volunteering – coaching youths, marshalling running events, the Feel Good Festival and just helping out.

“Because of the qualifications I now have, I am going to university – to Leeds Met to study Osteopathy – which will hopefully lead to a job itself.

“Link4Life gave me the confidence to approach new things like that.”

The Link4Life Training Academy will offer sports and leisure qualifications, sports leadership courses, health & safety and first-aid training, coaching and club workshops, National Governing Body courses and volunteering opportunities.

John Taylor, Head of Sport & Community, heralded the ‘new chapter’ for the organisation, saying: “We are continuing to work in partnerships to make the borough of Rochdale a healthier place to live.”