Twenty-two year old Jasmine Barnard from Hertfordshire has discovered a whole new career path after becoming one of 300 trainee Aquatic Assistants in work placements across the country, arranged by the ASA.

Jasmine’s new-found vocation in the world of aquatics came as something of a surprise when she started her six-month long placement at Great Dunmow Leisure Centre in Essex which was funded through the National Skills Academy and the government’s Future Jobs Fund.

 “Since I left school I tried out quite a few different jobs – waitressing and hotel receptionist, pharmacy assistant and an activities co-ordinator in a residential home, but none of them felt quite right,” she said.

“Working in aquatics wasn’t something that I automatically thought of as a career, I didn’t even think of the leisure industry at all – even though I go swimming regularly it didn’t occur to me! But when I saw the opportunity advertised on www.jobsgameon.co.uk it looked really interesting.”

As well as gaining valuable work experience, Jasmine has the opportunity to achieve recognised qualifications including the ASA UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics and RLSS National Pool Lifeguard. She will also benefit from vocational training in areas such as customer service, communication and marketing.

 “I feel really lucky to be on this programme - the fact that I am getting all this brilliant training and the qualifications for free makes me want to work harder,” she said. “I had been out of work for a while and I wouldn’t be able to pay for the qualifications myself.”

Progress

Jasmine has been working closely with Diana Benjamin, Swim School Principle at Great Dunmow Leisure Centre. As well as working with her on poolside and in the water as a teaching assistant, Jasmine has been closely involved with putting together lesson plans and has enjoyed learning how the sessions are co-ordinated and managed: “I really want to progress on to Level 2 now so that I can teach unsupervised like Diana. I have seen how you can use the structure of the lesson plans to make learning to swim a lot of fun for the children.”

Another point in favour towards working in aquatics is the job satisfaction, Jasmine added. “It’s so great when you see an improvement in a child’s swimming ability and you know you have made that difference in them. What an achievement! I have been working with lots of different people of all abilities and have loved being able to reassure them and give them confidence in the water. I have learnt that it’s not just about learning the strokes, but about getting people to enjoy swimming so that it’s not a chore for them.”

Jasmine feels she has benefited in other ways too.

“It’s given me greater self-confidence - I know myself a lot better now and what I am good at.”

The Future Jobs Fund placements show trainees that there’s a great variety of roles in a leisure centre – Jasmine has also worked hard to help promote the facilities of the centre by creating leaflets and posters and distributing them to local businesses and community groups. David Burnham, Great Dunmow Leisure Centre’s Business Manager is delighted with her contribution so far.

“Jasmine gives us much needed support on outreach in the local community. She has demonstrated her creativity and work ethic by contacting local groups to raise the awareness of the swimming initiatives. She is enjoying the interaction when teaching or advising and the communities here have really taken to her.”

David also spoke of his enthusiasm for the Future Jobs Fund programme. “Speaking as an employer, it’s an excellent scheme and we are very fortunate to be part of it. The additional support that Jasmine gives us is great, it has really helped us get in touch with the local community to spread the word about the variety of swimming schemes we have and getting people more active, more often through swimming participation.”

When her six-month work placement has been completed later this year, Jasmine hopes to be taken on as a full time employee at Great Dunmow Leisure Centre.

“Ideally I would like to work as a swimming instructor here and take my Level 2 qualification. The Future Jobs Fund has been a life changing experience for me. I know where I am heading now and what to do for the future. It has shown me where I want to place my feet!”

Placements are available for young people aged 18-24 who have been out of work for over 6 months. To find out more about Aquatic Assistant placements in your area contact your local Jobcentre Plus.




Published:
10:01:50 09.07.2010 by John Bolton