Gateshead Council has launched its new Sports Leadership Academy.

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Gateshead/Whickham School Sport Partnership, Whickham School and Sports College and Gateshead Council's Sport and Physical Activity Development Team.

The academy will aim to provide tailor-made programmes of professional development opportunities and mentoring support to each pupil to help them develop their skills and become the sports leaders of the future.

The first 30 attendees for the scheme, which was launched on 2 September, have been selected for the commitment to leadership they had demonstrated through their applications, all of which included a recommendation from a member of the PE staff at their individual schools.