Sports Employability Academy

Complete hours doing sports-based community activities and earn funding toward sports qualifications:

• 10 hours = up to £100
• 20 hours = up to £200
• 30 hours = up to £300 (maximum)

The process:

1. Create a profile with the Queen Mary Students Union by clicking here.
2. Find and apply for SEA-eligible opportunities on the QMSU Volunteering Portal (SEA Volunteering)
3. Complete your hours and log them on the portal by selecting SEA volunteering on the portal when you log them.
4. We'll notify you when you reach each milestone (10 hours, 20 hours, 30 hours)
5. Once you have completed the necessary hours, purchase a sports-related qualification of your choice
6. Submit your receipt to communityfoundation@qmul.ac.uk and we'll reimburse you within 2 weeks

Important:

• Qualifications must be purchased after you reach your milestone and hours have been completed and logged.
• Claims must be submitted within 3 months.

Any sports-related qualification of your choice. This includes:

• Coaching badges (FA, RFU, England Netball, British Cycling, etc.)
• Officiating qualifications (refereeing, umpiring, judging)
• First aid courses (sports-specific or general)
• Safeguarding courses
• Sports development qualifications
• Event management courses
• Sports marketing or media qualifications
• Fitness instructor / Personal training certifications

The qualification just needs to be sports-related and support your development. It doesn't have to match the sport or role you had whilst completing the community support hours.

Your completed hours must meet all the following criteria:

• Sports-based (directly involves sport, physical activity, or active recreation)
• Community benefit (serves Tower Hamlets, neighbouring boroughs, or the QMUL community)
• Skills development (structured role with clear responsibilities and regular commitment)
• Quality standards (safe, supervised environment, a DBS certificate will be required if working with children)
• Legitimate organisation (this means it must be approved on the QMSU Volunteering Portal)

Examples that qualify:

• Coaching at local primary schools
• Officiating community sports leagues
• Supporting sports events in Tower Hamlets
• Sports development roles (media, admin, marketing)
• Intramural sport delivery at QMUL

Examples that don’t qualify:

• General charity support (for example food banks and charity shops)
• Academic tutoring
• One-off event stewarding

Once you have made an account on the QMSU Volunteering portal, you will be able to filter and browse results with the SEA volunteering tag.

When you find an opportunity that fits your schedule and matches your interests, apply for it by showing your interest, or reaching out to the organisation using the details that are listed on the opportunity.

Once accepted by the organisation, we'll arrange a brief meeting. If you will be working with children, you'll need a DBS check which can take up to 4 weeks to complete.

Once this is done, start completing and logging hours!

Claiming your funding:

• Claim at each milestone OR save for one qualification once 30 hours have been completed.
• The maximum that can be claimed for each academic year is £300.
• The qualification must be purchased after the milestone has been met and confirmed.
• Submit the proof of purchase of your qualification within 3 months of hitting the milestone.
• Reimbursement will be processed within 2 weeks

About your community support activity:

• You can support multiple organisations doing different activities, and these hours will be added together.
• The activities you choose to help out at can be flexible around your schedule; there is no time commitment you must meet each week.
• You can withdraw at any time.

Recognition:

• These hours can count separately toward QMSU Volunteering Awards: Bronze (25 hours), Silver (50 hours), Gold (100 hours)
• Completion of these hours is great for your CV and personal statement.
• You will develop real skills and have a tangible community impact

Can I claim for a qualification I already purchased?

No – the qualification must be purchased after reaching your milestone

What if my qualification costs more than my funding?

We will reimburse you up to your available amount claimable.

Can I help at different places?

Yes - hours will be combined across roles

How long does reimbursement take?

Within 2 weeks of submitting the proof of purchase and confirmation has been received that you completed the hours logged.

Does my chosen community support have to match my sport?

No - any sports-based community support qualifies for funding.

Not sure if something qualifies?

Email us at communityfoundation@qmul.ac.uk and we’ll confirm

Have more questions about SEA?

Email us at communityfoundation@qmul.ac.uk

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