Wigan Sports Development Unit, part of Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, has launched its latest Coach Education Programme, which provides new and existing sports coaches with the opportunity to access nationally recognised coaching qualifications.

The year-long programme of courses brings highly qualified tutors from all over the country to venues across the Wigan Borough to help improve the skills of both the paid and voluntary coaching communities.

The courses range from football to swimming and from injury prevention to child protection, and are open to anyone over the age of 16; many require no previous knowledge or experience.

Mike Watson, coach development officer for the trust, said: "Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust believes that well-trained sports coaches are highly important in the development of sport.

“We are committed to continuously providing educational opportunities for the sporting and voluntary communities across the Wigan Borough.”

The scheme is supported by Brian Noble, Wigan Warriors’ head coach. "I get a great deal of joy from coaching, as I'm sure many locally based coaches do,” he said.

“It is very rewarding when you help talented people to improve their skills or to achieve sporting honours. However, it is crucial to have the correct skills yourself before you start to coach others, that is why I am supporting this scheme.

“We develop some fine sporting competitors and coaches in this borough and any help Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust can give them to become the very best can only be good for the future of all sport." Details: www.wbsc.org.uk

Photograph: Brian Noble