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My Week’s Work Experience at the Tony Blair Sports Foundation

During the week beginning 11 June 2012, The Tony Blair Sports Foundation hosted A level student Lauren Crane for a week’s work experience in The Foundation’s office. Here is Lauren’s diary about her activities and what she learned during her week in our office...

“I am Lauren, a student currently studying Business, English and Politics at Cramlington Learning Village Sixth Form over a 2 year course. As part of Year 12 all students were given the opportunity to go on a week’s work experience of our own choice. This allows us to learn many new valuable skills in a real working environment. For my week’s work placement I chose to work at The Tony Blair Sports Foundation.

During the course of the week I have learned what The Tony Blair Sports Foundation is all about. It provides financial and practical access to nationally accredited sports courses in the North East, as well as enhancing the health and wellbeing of young people in schools and clubs across the region by making sure there are enough sports coaches to help them play sport.

On my first day I was introduced to Arlene, Rachel and Chrissy who work at The Sports Foundation. We had planned that I would spend a day with each of them, observing and learning what their job role required.

Chrissy, the Sports Development Co-ordinator, introduced me to the administration side of The Foundation. She took me through the computing system and why it is important to keep records of all the schools and students they have visited around the North East. By doing this it enables her to keep in contact with the students, schools and members who have taken part in sports activities and competitions run by The Foundation.

My next job was to create member packs, which are given out to schools that The Foundation visits when school pupils take part in sports courses. These packs include information about what The Foundation is about and what it does as well as posters, stickers and leaflet cards for students, to encourage students to take part in more courses and volunteering opportunities with The Foundation.

I learned a lot from Chrissy about the administration side of The Foundation including the need to be very organised, which is definitely a great skill to have in later life, whatever the job may be.

On my second day I worked with Arlene, Membership, Recruitment and Development Manager. Her role includes visiting schools and recruiting new members who wish to take part in sports courses and become qualified coaches. I again went on to add data into The Foundation’s computing system. My second job was to create certificates for sporting clubs such as the Tyne Bridge Harriers. What I learned from Arlene was that it is important to follow and keep in contact with past members, as this enables you to build a loyal relationship with clients you have worked with, therefore giving The Foundation a good reputation.

On my third day I worked alongside Rachel, Communications Officer. Rachel is in charge of how much publicity and media coverage the media gets. She also works on keeping the Facebook, Twitter and Tony Blair Sports Foundation website up to date. This includes regularly creating statuses on upcoming competitions, sporting events and case studies.

I have learned an awful lot in the past week working here alongside Chrissy, Arlene and Rachel. It has given me some direction and ideas to the career path I may choose to go down in the future. By working with each member of staff individually it has allowed me to see what skills are required for each job and that it is not only how well you work as an individual but as part of a team as well, because this is how the whole Foundation is run. Personally I have learned many new administration and communication skills during this week, which will with no doubt benefit me in later life. I have also learned how important it is to create a good relationship with the clients you are working with.

Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed myself working at The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, working alongside the members who work here, as it is an experience that you do not get very often. It has definitely made me think about what sort of job I would consider doing in the future. Therefore I would like to say a big thank you for allowing me to do my work experience here and making it an enjoyable week for me.”