New to the SUNEE 'Podium Young Event Managers Programme' in 2010 is a one day conference for the young people from years 9 and 10 to be held at Sunderland University. This will provide participants with a brief insight into what the programme will offer them as well as providing them with the opportunity to gain a formal qualification as an Assistant Leader for Multiskills clubs.

Following on from the conference, that was held on 22nd October 2009, the young people will attend regular workshops led by SUNEE staff and volunteers which will look at key areas of event management:

• Risk Assessment
• Financial planning
• Marketing
• Event planning

At the end of each series of workshops all the young people involved will be provided with an opportunity to volunteer at a sports event. Initially the young people will engage in a university sports event as a volunteer whilst learning about the work that takes place behind the organisation of a successful event. By the end of the programme the same young people will be organising and running their own event with support from university students who mentor the young people through the entire programme.

Through this programme we hope to utilise the profile of London 2012 to inspire young people to regularly participate in sports volunteering up to 2012 and beyond.

Funding for this strand of our work is provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Initially run as a national pilot scheme through Podium, the further and higher education unit for the 2012 Games, the Young Event Managers scheme is currently in its second year.

For more information, please contact Alyson Dixon on 0191 227 3872 or e-mail alyson.dixon@unn.ac.uk