Rochdale cultural trust, Link4Life, has successfully secured funding to continue its Sports Apprenticeship Programme.

The scheme targets 16- to 24-year-olds who are interested in pursuing a career in sport and offers them the opportunity to gain experience, training and employment in the industry, with the chance to earning a bursary of up to £600.

Training modules available include sports specific qualifications, a gym instructor’s certificate, pool lifeguard and first aid training as well as coaching and leadership skills, child protection and sports equity issues.

The first phase of the initiative saw more than 1,300 hours of voluntary sports and leisure activities made available across the Middleton area and lead to four apprentices gaining casual employment, three being added to a supply register and five going on to further or higher education courses.