Funding for School & College Staff

We’re providing support for teachers and staff in schools and colleges to access funded training provision to become qualified to deliver weightlifting.

British Weight Lifting is delighted to announce a new round of funding for its coaching scholarship scheme, this time targeted at teachers and staff, who wish to offer weightlifting activities to their students.

We’re offering a limited number of free places on our Coaching Olympic Weightlifting courses to teachers and school staff. The initiative is part of our strategy to support schools wishing to offer weightlifting activities to students.

Weightlifting is an inclusive sport that encourages young people to be stronger, happier and more able to positively face daily challenges.

Our courses can be completed online, with the option of attending a practical day to practice your lifts and coaching others.

Benefits of Muscle Strengthening Exercise

The UK’s Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that ‘Children do activities that develop movement skills and strengthens muscles and bones’.

Established research shows that muscle strengthening exercise is associated with reduced all cause mortality, reduced illness and disease, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and beneficial effects on bone and muscle health.

How to Apply

The application window for funded places will be open until 25 February 2024.

Complete your application here.

We welcome applications from teachers and school staff who meet the following criteria:

• Employed by a school or college
• Have prior experience of taking part in or teaching strength based activities
• Are committed to supporting young people who are least likely to be active and / or facing financial barriers to participation
• Have the support from their named school/college to set up weightlifting based activities for young people aged 13 years +
• Have the support from their named school/college to affiliate with British Weight Lifting for a minimum of 12 months

If you’re successful in receiving a funded place on one of our courses, you’ll be contacted directly with further instructions on how to redeem your place.

Please read our terms and conditions below for further details.

FAQs

Is weightlifting suitable for young people in schools?

Weightlifting is associated with the sport of Olympic weightlifting, a sport that includes two barbell lifts, the snatch and the clean and jerk. In competition, performers attempt to lift the heaviest weights possible. The winner is determined by the highest total (the lifters’ best snatch and clean and jerk added together).

Weightlifting movements (often referred to as derivatives [e.g., power snatch, hang clean]) are popular movements used by many performers to enhance their sporting performance. 

Weightlifting, as a form of resistance training, can be beneficial to older secondary students health when delivery is planned, programmed and monitored by appropriately qualified and competent professionals. All staff teaching weightlifting in schools should have a relevant qualification. The British Weight Lifting Level 1 Award in Coaching Weight Lifting can be accessed by a specialist qualified physical education teacher or physical education trainee teachers. The British Weight Lifting Level 1 Award in Coaching Weight Lifting allows a coach to assist a Level 2 qualified coach.  All staff teaching weightlifting who are not qualified teachers should have at least a British Weight Lifting Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Weight Lifting.

British Weight Lifting recommends that there should be an emphasis on skill mastery and technique development, rather than just weight lifted, until the age of 13 years. Young lifters can take part in development competitions where there is an emphasis on technical performance (technical points are awarded for ‘good’ lifts). It is important that practitioners factor in the differences in the biological and psychological development of a child when determining appropriate exercise prescription. As a guide, when individuals are at an age at which they can follow coaching instructions and handle the attentional demands of a training programme, weightlifting techniques can be taught. Lifting maximal loads should not be a training goal as the performer develops weightlifting literacy. Performers must first develop proficiency in motor competencies (e.g., squat, hinge, push, pull, and brace), before progressing to foundational strength exercises (e.g., back squat, deadlift, and strict press) and then to specific weightlifting movements (i.e., snatch and clean and jerk) and derivatives (e.g., hang and power variations). As with any training, it is imperative to consider individual needs and maturation status.

How do I apply?

To apply for a coaching scholarship, you’ll be required to complete an application form to assess your eligibility. The application process should take around 10 minutes to complete.

How your personal details will be used

Your personal details provided here will only be used for the purpose of assessing your application. If successful, British Weight Lifting may ask you to be part of any news stories about the Coaching Scholarship. You have the choice to opt into this and it is not a condition of the funding.

Terms and Conditions

1. Applications will be assessed by British Weight Lifting and all decisions shall be final.
2. Places will be available to support individuals to become a licensed BWL Coach, including:

• Entry onto either the Combined Level 1 Award and Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting (Standard Price £700); or Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting (Standard Price £500)
• British Weight Lifting Membership fee (Standard Price £50 /year)
• British Weight Lifting Coach Licence fee (Standard Price £40 for two years)

3. Successful applicants have 1 month from being awarded a coaching scholarship to enrol onto their chosen course.
4. Successful applicants commit to becoming a recognised licensed coach by evidencing completion of safeguarding course (RRP £35) and DBS/PVG check through British Weight Lifting at their own expense (if these are not already in place) within 1 month of the course completion.
5. Successful applicants commit to affiliating with British Weight Lifting as a Partner School / College (RRP £45) before the end of 2024 (This is due to be launched in 2024).
6. Applicants must be living in the UK.
7. This opportunity is open to members and non-members of British Weight Lifting.
8. Applicants must meet the prerequisites for the course chosen to be undertaken, details about each course can be found here.