Every one of our courses aims to give students real-world experiences that will prepare them for life after College and Sport is no different.

As part of a new initiative, Golden Goals, set up by the College in collaboration with Calderdale Council and Lee Mount Care Home, our Sport students were tasked with enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life of elderly residents.

People across the world, including in the UK, are living longer and the landscape of the health and wellbeing sector is continually evolving with sport and physical activity becoming increasingly prevalent in the prevention, management and treatment of health conditions and disease.

In response to this, our students ran a 12-week pilot programme that included a variety of activities tailored to each resident, that would specifically address the acute need for increased physical activity of the elderly. This included a range of sporting activities and seated exercises designed by the students as they applied their vocational knowledge, skills and behaviours in a real care home environment that they are likely to experience in this profession later in life.

The College’s partnership with Lee Mount Care Home has grown significantly over the last year, with students embarking on work placements and participating in volunteer programmes. And, through this project, the College has been able to ensure its alignment with the Council’s Ageing Well Plan, along with the care home’s corporate and strategic objectives.

Sport student, Kenzie, said of the initiative: “I would 100% recommend this as an experience to push you out of your comfort zone and deliver sessions to people you would not usually work with on your course.”

Joanne Jones, Head of Faculty for Science, Health & Care at Calderdale College, added: “As a community hub within the district, partnerships like these remain at the forefront of our curriculum and help us ensure we are delivering relevant courses that prepare students for the workforce.

“Students on every course at Calderdale College are encouraged to engage with our local area and contribute to public health initiatives, like the Ageing Well Plan, by applying skills and knowledge to benefit the community’s wellbeing. This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to task students on Sport with a live brief from the Council and Lee Mount Care Home, that is not only challenging but rewarding. I am immensely proud of what they have achieved.”

Following the success of this project, the College will engage with other local care homes to roll-out this initiative further and bring the benefits of our unique, person-centred programme to a broader audience.