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INDUSTRY NEWS
Assessment a success
Clubs test unique
in developing talent
way of fighting MRSA
Governing bodies for swimming, tennis, rugby and triathlon in the UK Gymnasiums and health clubs before reverting back to oxygen.
have put systems in place to make the most of national training and across the UK are harnessing the Seven health clubs are now
development for talented young athletes. The sports academies in the power of thunderstorms to using the system – known as
four sports have all successfully delivered the programme thanks to combat a flesh-eating strain of OTEX - in light of mounting
Lifetime’s consultancy work. MRSA. They are disinfecting concerns for the community.
The Amateur Swimming Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, potentially contaminated laundry One health spa which has
the Rugby Football Union and the British Triathlon Federation have all with a groundbreaking system installed the system is the
implemented the portfolio and Candidate Assessment Records that recreates lightning to Felbridge Hotel & Spa in East
systems. It is widely accepted that the long-term future of the produce ozone. Grinstead, West Sussex, which
framework is dependant on its successful integration into the existing MRSA, which can eat away at is using the laundry system to
education and coaching programmes of the national sports bodies. the lungs, is common in the United process towels used in its spa
Steve Mitchell, at SkillsActive, says: “When the Learning Innovation States and affects more than 150 and fitness centre.
Grant came about, no governing bodies in any sports had Learning people a year in the UK. But the General Manager Stuart Noble
and Skills Council contracts. We consequently recommended the four figure is rising by more than 30% said: “Hygiene is a top priority as
partners with Lifetime as they are a reputable quality training provider. annually, prompting the Health far as we’re concerned,
Lifetime secured the contract from the Association of Learning Protection Agency and the British particularly in view of reports about
Providers on behalf of SkillsActive in March and the outcomes have Society for Antimicrobial MRSA now being found in the
been fantastic – not only are all partners satisfied with the results, they Chemotherapy to draw up community as well as hospitals.
are now implementing the systems.” guidelines for GPs on how to By using the OTEX system, we
The RFU in particular has seen impressive results from the project. diagnose and treat the bug. have the piece of mind of knowing
Eighty apprentices are currently undertaking an NVQ and a further Ozone is a natural disinfectant that every towel we wash is not
120 across 14 centres, including Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins, produced when lightning changes only perfectly clean, but is totally
are signing up this year. Of the 8 just completing from the pilot the make-up of oxygen. The fresh, free of bacteria. We offer our
scheme, all have benefited from the NVQ – most apprentices are crisp smell that lingers immediately guests and health club members
going to university, one has been signed up by Bristol Rugby Club after a storm is, in fact, ozone. After state-of-the-art facilities, so it
and another is working in a gym at a local sports college. creating ozone, the system injects it makes sense for us to give them
into the drums of washing machines. the best protection against
Community
Purnell has advocated ploughing It destroys bacteria including MRSA potential infection available.”
sport to suffer
more money into governing bodies,
like the Football Association and
in budget cut
Rugby Football Union, to train
DC Leisure backs Sarah’s
Community sport is set to potential stars, and some sports
suffer as Sport England’s including recreational cycling,
bid to reach games
budget is refocused. walking, yoga and the gym will no DC Leisure is to support World Transplant athlete, Sarah Smith, in her
Fewer people will be longer be classified as sport and bid to compete at the World Transplant Games in 2009. Sarah, from
encouraged to take part in sport therefore will no longer be eligible East Ruston, recently returned from the World Transplant Games held in
and the nation will “get fatter for funding. Bangkok, where she won gold medals in the long jump and badminton
watching England lose at football, The Department of Culture, doubles and silver medals in the high jump and badminton singles.
rather than be encouraged to Media and Sport press office Sarah says: “I started competing at the British Games after I saw a
take part in sport”. confirmed that there would be a poster whilst attending a routine clinic appointment. I represented my
The news that Sport England’s refocusing of Sport England’s local hospital, Addenbrookes, at the British Transplant Games and
budget is being refocused has budget, but denied that this would from there I was selected to compete for Great Britain. The Games
sparked fears that community impact community sport and allow me to meet other people who have experienced the same
sport will suffer, as more cash reiterated the fact that getting problems and learn that life is very precious.
will be ploughed into elite sports people active is very much on the “Being able to train at the Victory Fitness Centre has helped me so
programmes. government’s agenda. much. I feel that by using the facilities I have gained far more strength
Although the government A Sport England spokesperson in areas that I would never have worked before. Without them my
secured the 2012 Olympics said: “It’s likely there will be a training wouldn’t be possible and hopefully I will be selected again to
partly on the basis that it would more narrow definition of sport. compete at the World Transplant Games in 2009,” says Sarah.
use the event to get two million “This will have a significant impact Sarah was born with only one kidney and after time this became
more people into sport – and so on the projects we work on and the damaged, leading to her first kidney transplant in May 1993. The kidney,
tackle the obesity problem – activities we fund. Once we have provided by her mother, lasted three years before it rejected due to an
comments from Culture our settlement we will work through infection in 1996. Sarah underwent her second kidney transplant in
Secretary, James Purnell, have the implications for our strategy for 2003 after a seven year wait. She has been well ever since and will be
suggested this objective might 2008-2011. This is a DCMS competing at the British Transplant Games in Sheffield in 2008 and if
be on the ropes. decision. We will implement it.” selected will travel to the World Transplant Games in Australia in 2009.
www.ukleisurenews.co.uk January / February 2008 UK LEISURE NEWS 05
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