HSCW scores a bursary to encourage participation in sport

Published: 27 April 2012

A health care support worker is hoping to break down barriers in his trust through sport after an RCN bursary paid for him to do a Football Association level two coaching course.

Marvin Shortman, who works in the learning disability unit at St George’s Hospital in Staffordshire, applied for the Kershaw Family Bursary for HCAs and APs to fund his course fees. His employer has since followed it up with a disability coaching course.

Marvin is now hoping to coach patients from across the hospital’s units and help them to participate in sport.

He said: “I like to encourage service users to be more active. I’m doing the level three diploma in Health and Social Care and there’s a lot about active participation and person-centred care.

“I applied for the bursary and got something which I can use at work to encourage service users to take part in sport.”

Marvin has been in touch with the hospital’s sport co-ordinator, and hopes he will be able to use his new skills to coach patients – there are already football sessions at the hospital but there was not anyone to provide coaching. The hospital’s patients include people with mental health and learning disability needs.

He said: “I’m working quite closely with one department which is trying to support service users to do 24 to 27 hours of activity a week and football can be part of that.

“A lot of the time people get stuck in their units here and do not take part in activities. It would be good to start to break barriers down.”

It was only when Marvin read about the bursary in the RCN HCA and AP e-newsletter that he realised they were offered by the College – and he recommends that other members should make use of all the schemes on offer.

Dame Betty Kershaw said: "This is exactly what we had in mind when we explored the idea of a bursary with Paul Vaughan and Tanis Hand [the RCN’s former and current HCA and AP advisers].

“As an experienced nurse teacher I knew how hard it is for HCAs and APs to get funding for projects and personal development. We are pleased to know how well Marvin used his award and hope the venture continues to be successful.  We look forward to hearing about this year's winners."

The Kershaw Family Bursary for HCAs and APs is available to contribute up to £500 to support projects, or for a course or conference, which will have a direct impact on patient care.
To apply, HCAs or APs will need to have been in RCN membership for six months before the closing date.
Details and the application form are available for eight to 10 weeks before the closing date – which is in November each year.

For the latest information, visit the RCN Foundation bursaries webpage.