Project 500 helps running group leaders in Kent

Five female running group leaders from the Run Kent Project have received a boost after hearing that their applications for the Project 500 Coaching Bursary were successful!

All five group leaders have taken the Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) qualification and have been leading beginner-friendly running groups in Kent for more than 12 months. The funding will help them develop their skills through progress through further England Athletics coaching qualifications.  All five applicants are now booked to attend a Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) course at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford.

Project 500; More Women, Better Coaching is a new campaign to address the imbalance in the number of male to female coaches. The project aims to create a more diverse workforce, drive the growth of female participation in sport and provide coaches with support whatever their sport or level of experience. Project 500 was created in partnership with Active Sussex, Active Surrey, Bucks and Milton Keynes Sports Partnership, Get Berkshire Active, Kent Sport, Sport Hampshire & IOW, Oxfordshire Sports Partnership and sports coach UK.

Louisa Arnold, Project 500 lead in Kent, said: "We are delighted to be able to support these passionate and dedicated Run Leaders on their coaching pathway. As members of Project 500 we hope the ladies will also join the Women’s Coaching Network and share their experience with other female coaches across Kent and the South East."

Kent Running Activator Lucy Tomlinson added: "I was really pleased to hear that the Leaders’ applications had been approved by the Project 500 panel. Each Leader is committed to developing their coaching skills further and working with Project 500. They already give so much back to ‘running’ and it’s great to see more female coaches coming through the sport."

To find out more about Project500 in Kent, please visit www.kentsport.org/coach_ed_project500.cfm.

For more information or to get involved in the Run Kent Project, please visit www.kentsport.org/running.