Ringsend Community Training Centre is currently looking for applicants to participate in the new Sports, Health & Fitness course which is due to start on the 17th September.

This will be the second year of the Sports, Health & Fitness course. The Sports, Health & Fitness course is now a full-time course offered at Ringsend Community Training Centre after a successful pilot course in 2006 and was officially launched by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at a presentation of certificates in September 2006.

The course aims to attract males and females aged between 16 and 23 from the Ringsend, Irishtown, Sandymount and Pearse Street areas.

Ringsend Community Training Centre is a local community-based centre and as such the Sports, Health & Fitness course has developed links with local sport and leisure facilities such as Irishtown Stadium, Markievicz Leisure club and Sportsco.

These facilities provide the resources needed to organise a wide variety of different sporting activities and also offer the possibility of work experience.

The Sports, Health & Fitness course will be a one year full-time course. Participants will be registered as FÁS trainees and will receive a FÁS allowance. There is also an allowance provided if the use of Ringsend and Irishtown créche is required.

Subjects covered on the course include: FETAC Modules– Health Related Fitness, Preparation for Work, Computer Literacy, Personal & Interpersonal Skills, Occupational First Aid, Water Safety, Swimming, and Kickstart Soccer coaching.

There will also be National Governing Body coaching courses run in Basketball, G.A.A (Hurling and Gaelic Football), Badminton and Volleyball. Other possible activities include water sports, rock climbing, bowling, horse riding and snooker/ pool.

Past trainees have received Irish Water Safety Pool lifeguard qualifications and progressed onto further education.

Other courses being run at Ringsend Community Training Centre include: Office Procedures, Catering and European Computer Driving License (ECDL).

Ringsend Community Training Centre aims to help young people develop the necessary skills to progress into a job or onto further education after leaving the centre, and has established the necessary supports to help achieve this.

Anyone interested in joining the Sports, Health & Fitness course can ring Ringsend Community Training Centre on 01 6601327 for more information.