An international diving meet attracting the world' s very best divers with Olympic and World Championship credentials will offer a unique experience not only for spectators but for a volunteer workforce that will ensure the event runs smoothly.

Within any major event there are many roles that a dedicated band of volunteers adopt from marshalling specific areas to escorting VIPs. Yet without this vital assistance and support events would struggle to function properly.
 
While Sheffield Major Sports Events Unit is turning to its database of loyal volunteers to help with the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre event (1st and 2nd September) the ASA is looking to enhance the experience of the next generation of diving talent through its volunteering scheme.
 
Athletes currently involved in the ASA's AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) have volunteered for the event where they will be able to observe Olympic and World champions in action while also contributing to a National Vocational Qualification they are undertaking as part of the programme.

AASE is a Government-funded initiative that has been designed to meet the needs of young people, aged 16-18, who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal, while continuing with their education.
 
Taking around two years to complete, the AASE framework provides a structured national training and development route across all sports for the first time for talented young athletes, many of who may go on to represent their country on the world stage. 

The ASA's National Education Officer for AASE Michelle Kiff is excited about the prospects the event holds in store for the students and feels they will be able to complete a number of tasks as volunteers that will go towards completing their NVQ.

 "The FINA Diving World Series provides a great opportunity for the athletes to achieve a number of criteria on the AASE programme, " explained Kiff. "By volunteering in a variety of roles they can find out first hand what goes on at an international diving event and the more practical activities they do as part of AASE the better.
 
" For some of the athletes it will be the first time they have watched live diving of this calibre and rubbed shoulders with the best divers in the world, which will have a massive motivational effect.

" By watching the athletes they will be able to draw parallels with their own training and competition experience and discover what separates the top divers from them and how they can close that gap. " 

The group of volunteers will be able to experience and work within such areas as media services, providing help and hospitality to VIPs, marshalling dry land and poolside areas and videoing certain events.

 *    Tickets are now on sale via the ASA Awards website and are priced £10 for adults per day, £5 for children per day or weekend tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £7.50 for children.

For further details and to book tickets online, people can visit www.awards.sportcentric.com <http://www.awards.sportcentric.com> and go to the Event Tickets section of the homepage.


AASE students from the East Region who will be providing valuable volunteering time to the event are:
Ashley Franklin    - Beaumont Diving       
Phillipa Ninnes - Beaumont Diving