SAYLS

What an incredible week so far supporting the National Summer Swimming Meet 2026 alongside Swim England at Ponds Forge 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️

Our Sports Leaders have once again demonstrated outstanding professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment while playing a significant role in the delivery of one of the country’s premier swimming events.

Across the competition, our leaders have:
🔹 Supported poolside operations to help the event run smoothly.
🔹 Welcomed athletes and spectators through the ticketing and reception areas.
🔹 Gone behind the scenes with the commentary and media teams, gaining a unique insight into the broadcast and event production that brings the championships to life.

Experiences like these are invaluable, giving our young leaders the opportunity to develop new skills, build confidence and work alongside industry professionals at a national sporting event.

A huge thank you to Swim England for continuing to provide these fantastic opportunities and for trusting our Sports Leaders to play such an important part in delivering another outstanding championship.

We couldn’t be prouder of everything they have achieved this week. 👏

Over the last two days, our SAYLS Sports Leaders have once again demonstrated exactly what young leadership looks like in action, supporting the Swim England National Open Water Swim Event at .

From registering swimmers and race check-in, to body marking, handling event merchandise and working alongside the official race timekeepers, our leaders played an integral role in delivering a fantastic event for competitors from across the country.

These opportunities provide invaluable real-world experience, helping our young leaders develop confidence, professionalism, communication skills and an understanding of what it takes to deliver major sporting events.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the event such a success, and a massive well done to our SAYLS Sports Leaders. You represented yourselves, your schools and Sheffield with pride, and once again proved the positive impact young people can have when given the opportunity to lead.

🌟 OLYMPIC LEGACY IN ACTION 🌟

🌞 This time next week our OLYMPIC LEGACY IN ACTION Community Day will be in full swing! 😄🙌

📅 Sunday 14 June 2026
⏰ 11am - 4pm
📍 Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Worksop Road, S9 3TL
❤️ FREE TO ATTEND

👋 Come & join us for a fun filled, action packed day!
✨ Try lots of different sports & activities
✨ Get involved with our interactive stalls
✨ Gather useful health & wellbeing advice & information
✨ Be in with a chance of winning a prize in our draw
✨ Or maybe even appear live on Rother Radio 🤩

👉 https://sheffieldolympiclegacypark.co.uk/community-olympic-legacy-in-action/

🙏 A huge, huge THANK YOU to all our partners for making the day possible by providing venues, delivering activities and supporting the event 😍

* Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre *
* Amy's House *
* Capoeira Senzala Sheffield *
* Cricket Arena *
* Darnall Well Being *
* Endeavour *
* Everyone Active *
* Face Painting Sheffield *
* Food Fusion Flight Club *
* Fresh Air Fitness *
* Henna Art *
* Leisure United *
* LivingCare *
* Mettle *
* National Literacy Trust *
* Oasis Academy Don Valley *
* Park Community Arena *
* Rawmarsh Life Saving *
* Ringinglow Archery *
* Rother Radio *
* Sexual Health Sheffield *
* Sheffield Academy of Young Leaders *
* Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club *
* Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity *
* Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust *
* Sheffield City Council *
* Sheffield Hatters *
* Sheffield Museums *
* Sheffield Pickleball Club *
* Sheffield Sharks *
* Sheffield Steel Netball *
* Sheffield Steelers Lacrosse Club *
* Sheffield Tigers RUFC *
* Sheffield United Community Foundation*
* Sheffield Young Explorers *
* Smoke Free Sheffield *
* Steel City Boxing *
* Steel City Stadium *
* Stephen Harrison Snooker Academy *
* Waller BMX *
* Weston Park Cancer Charity *
* Yorkshire Cricket Foundation *

- please spread the word! 😊

We are incredibly proud to announce that we have won the Your School Games Impact Awards for Personal Development and Youth Voice Award

These awards recognise the impact of empowering young people through sport, leadership, volunteering and meaningful opportunities to have their voices heard.

This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our young leaders, schools, partners and everyone who supports our mission. Every event delivered, every volunteer hour completed and every young person encouraged to step forward and lead has contributed to this success.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. We look forward to continuing to create opportunities that inspire, develop and empower young people through sport.

That’s a wrap! Today saw the conclusion of the SAYLS Level 2 Sports Leader training with all leaders covering the final content. With our focus on event planning and completing their leadership/volunteering log.

Their journey on the SAYLS programme is now going to level up and become even more personal to each leader. Where new opportunities tailored to their future ambitions start to become more widely available.

What you see in the post, are just some of the fun and silly activities that we finished on. Including Kin Ball, Goggle Football, Monster Ball and Old School Sports Day relays. We are never too big or old to play silly activities!

It has been an absolute pleasure to deliver this training to our latest cohort. They are nothing short of amazing young people. We can’t wait to welcome our 2026/27 cohort to the team next academic year!

Roll on year 3

Despite the gloomy weather, our leaders showed up in force to cheer on runners at the .

Huge congratulations to all participants, especially our own Lauren Donnelly and David Walker who crushed the course.

Massive thanks to all the volunteers and organisers for supporting our leaders. You have all played a huge part in making the day extra special for all involved.

SAYLS training day two concluded! We had the pleasure of our first year cohort completing their second unit of the Level 2 Sports Leader qualification. They have worked together to plan and deliver a range of activities, improving fundamental skills to local primary school children.

In addition, they have completed their second round of first aid training, completing the full content of the course.

We are incredibly proud of all the leaders, they are a credit to the schools they represent and undoubtedly will go on to achieve amazing things in the future.

It’s been a busy and incredible weekend of competitive sport at for the Nationals. Where multiple venues across Sheffield see sports such as Athletics, Climbing, Swimming and so much more take place. The SAYLS leaders have been able to get their hands on the score boards for the field events, help on the track and manage the courts for Badminton.

The event held a special commemoration for Malcom Rogers, one of GB’s most highly regarded Athletics technical officials. He was also an incredibly popular figure in Sheffield, previously teaching Jessica Ennis and Joe Root at King Ecgbert School.

Thank you to all our incredible leaders for giving up their free time over the weekend. Plus, a special thank you to all the BUCS team for their guidance and support.

So that’s a wrap for the . What a week it has been! I’m sure I speak on behalf of all the young leaders that we are incredibly fortunate and grateful to be apart of this volunteering experience. Our leaders have given up many hours this week to support the event, serving the people of Sheffield and beyond, adding positivity to everybody’s experience.

We are sad to see the event close but all good things must come to the end so we can relish the memories created. Our leaders will also leave with an experience that will aid their professional journey, learning from the skills of the team of volunteers and wider workforce.

Thank you so much to all the governing bodies that made this opportunity possible for us.


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