A GROUP which aims to create a national reputation for York as the “coaching capital of the UK” is preparing to welcome delegates from across the country as it hosts a programme of events for International Coaching Week.

Last year, York was the only city in the world to host a city-wide programme for International Coaching Week (ICW), more than 20 different events and almost 200 taster coaching sessions.

Now Coaching York, an organisation set up by coaches in the city to promote their profession, is preparing for its second ICW, working with businesses, volunteers and City of York Council.

With a theme of Coaching: Conversations that Make a Difference this year’s ICW programme in York gets under way on Monday, May 18, with a launch event at City of York Council’s West Offices from 9.30am to 12.30pm, featuring a variety of speakers. The programme features 18 other events, including a series of one-to-one coaching taster sessions, with coaches across York volunteering their time to offer 30-minute trials for anybody interested in trying coaching.

Peter Lumley, who is the chairman and one of the founder members of Coaching York, said: “This is the tenth year the event has occurred worldwide, and the second year running that our fair city of York has chosen to engage with the initiative.

“Every city, community, town, organisation and individual in the world has the opportunity to engage with the initiative.

“In 2014 we were the only city in the world to embrace ICW as a city-wide initiative. This year we plan to do the same, and to build on last year’s experience. When we set up Coaching York a couple of years ago, we identified our mission as being to become the coaching captial of the UK.

“Engaging with International Coaching Week has got to be one of the best ways of helping us achieve this ambition.”

Organisations and businesses backing York’s ICW plans include City of York Council, Nestle, the University of York,York St John University, York Science Park, York Associates, York CVS and North Yorkshire Police.

For more information visit coachingyork.co.uk/icw2015events