Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal 1 | Page 28

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2018, Vol. 1 The “Person Like Me” Approach to Engaging a Diverse Coach Workforce Pete Forster Sport Nottinghamshire Abstract This article presents the key findings from the evaluation of A Person Like Me, designed by Sport Nottinghamshire to engage and upskill a new coach workforce that was reflective of the population, to enable them to start delivering physical activity sessions within their local communities. The project was funded by Sport England to develop new learning to test some of the key principles that would later form part of the Coaching Plan for England. Two training programmes were developed: START, a leadership-development programme, focused specifically on participants and their experiences; and Mums’ Movement, a training programme targeting women with children. An independent evaluation was conducted which revealed that the project was successful in developing new, innovative delivery methods that gave participants the appropriate skills and tools to start delivering physical activities in their communities. Seventy participants were engaged in the programme over the duration of the project and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The majority of participants 28 reported that their confidence and motivation had increased following participation in the project and had become more physically active as a result. The article presents five key success factors of the programme: 1) the development of a person-centred training programme; 2) the importance of working cooperatively with partners; 3) work with participants in their own environment; 4) create branding and marketing material that is appropriate to the target population; and 5) ensuring there is a key person in the community who can provide structure and ongoing support after the project ends.