1112 battle back opening
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Opening of the Battle Back Centre
The Battle Back Centre, for which Leeds Metropolitan University provides
coaching for inclusive sport and adventure activities to enhance the recovery
of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, was opened today
(Thursday 22 November).
The Royal British Legion, who fund and operate the Lilleshall-based centre,
officially launched it with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The opening
ceremony was performed by Beth Tweddle, MBE, the Olympic medallist and
Britains greatest ever gymnast, and the Right Honourable Mark Francois,
Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans.
Coaching and evaluation are provided at the Battle Back Centre by Leeds
Mets Carnegie School of Sport and Carnegie Great Outdoors, a leading
provider of Adventurous Activities and people development courses, who
were commissioned based on their established expertise in the delivery of
education and training courses using the outdoors and sport. In addition the
Universitys Institute of Leadership and Management Centre has accredited
the programme to give Battle Backers an ILM Level Two award, recognising
team member skills to support their future career prospects.
Dave Bunting of Carnegie Great Outdoors and Head of Coaching and
Development for the Battle Back Centre, said: Our University has been
involved with the Battle Back Centre from day one. We have undertaken more
than ten pilot courses, each one better and more refined than the last, based
on our evaluation and on feedback from those taking part. We have now
made the transition from pilot to full capacity courses and the inclusive
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sporting equipment we use is second to none, ensuring that everyone who
attends the week-long programmes can take part in each and every activity.
Whats more, the students are some of the most determined and inspirational
men and women you could ever hope to have the privilege of meeting. Based
on feedback from the Battle Backers and the evaluation it is clear that taking
part in people development courses, using sport and adventurous training
activities as vehicles for change, enhances recovery. We use a wide range of
activities within our courses, including wheelchair basketball, archery, indoor
climbing and caving, and water sports.
The Royal British Legion operates the Battle Back Centre in partnership with
the MoD and Sport England. The Centre is hosted at Sport England's National
Sports Centre at Lilleshall, where many Olympians including Beth Tweddle
herself - and Paralympians train, providing an inspiring environment for
recovery.
Since pilot courses began last year, it has benefited over 200 wounded,
injured and sick Service personnel and around 600 people a year can attend
its multi-activity people development courses.
Leeds Metropolitan Universitys Vice Chancellor, Susan Price commented: It
is a privilege and an honour for Leeds Metropolitan University to be part of the
Battle Back Centre. It is a life-changing facility for the men and women who
undertake the courses devised and led by the Carnegie Facultys dedicated
team and I am delighted that the Royal British Legion recognised Leeds
Metropolitans special expertise in this sporting and evaluative area.
The Royal British Legion is providing 27 million to fund The Battle Back
Centre as a key part of its 50 million commitment to the Defence Recovery
Capability (DRC). The DRC is an MOD initiative in partnership with the Legion
and Help for Heroes and supported by other Service charities and
organisations to ensure that wounded, injured and sick Service personnel
have access to the key services and resources needed to help them either
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return to duty or make a smooth transition into an appropriately skilled civilian
life.
Ends
For further details please contact Julia Williams in the Communications team
at Leeds Met on 0113 8125978 or [email protected]
Notes for editors:
Leeds Metropolitan University has more than 27,000 students and
around 3,000 staff.
The Vice Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University is Professor
Susan Price and the Chair of the Board is Lord Woolmer of Leeds.
Leeds Metropolitans four faculties are: Arts, Environment and
Technology, Business & Law, Health and Social Sciences, and
Carnegie.
Leeds Metropolitans heritage can be traced back to the founding of the
Mechanics Institute in Leeds in 1824.
The Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (DLHE) showed that
the proportion of Leeds Metropolitan 2010/11 graduates in work, further
study or both six months after leaving university was 91.87%.
Libraries and Learning Innovation at Leeds Metropolitan was awarded
the CSE standard for the tenth year running in 2012.
In 2012, Leeds Metropolitan was awarded a First in the People &
Planet Green League, a league table of environmentally friendly
universities, for the sixth consecutive year.
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