USW Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching & Development nominated for national award

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Students on the course are based at 32 football club learning hubs across the UK, including Southampton FC, Wigan Athletic FC, Derby County FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

The degree was designed in conjunction with the English Football League Trust to identify the type of skills and qualities that are required to work within professional football clubs community departments or national governing bodies in areas such as social inclusion, community coaching and football development.

The course is delivered through blended learning, combining traditional face-to-face teaching with online delivery. Students only attend the University in person for short residential periods (six days a year), spending most of their time learning on the job at their professional football club. This unique delivery framework combines the benefits of a full-time HE degree programme with those of a real-world working environment and integrates the vocational qualifications necessary for employment into the curriculum.

Rob Griffiths, Academic Subject Manager for Football Development and Coaching, said: “We are really pleased that the degree has been shortlisted for a national award. It is a unique degree and one that was designed to enable students to remain based with their football clubs for the majority of the time.

“The production of immersive digital content in a purpose-built recording studio using the full-size indoor football pitch with integrated cameras at the USW Sport Park is crucial to ensure that we are providing students with interactive and immersive content throughout their two years on the course.”

The winners will be announced at the THELMA Awards ceremony on Thursday 21 June.

To find out more about the USW Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development click here.

Derby County named 2018 Checkatrade Community Club of the Year

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Derby County were named the 2018 Checkatrade Community Club of the Year at yesterday night’s EFL Awards ceremony in London.

Derby County Community Trust invested £1.7 million into their community in 2017, reaching over 17,000 participants on projects ranging from teaching young children about healthy eating to helping reduce the risk of falling into the older generation.

Their showcase international project ‘Rams in Kenya’ aimed to aid education, development and sustainability for the 100s of children at St Trizah, Ungana and Jubilee school in Nakuru, Kenya.

Take a look at their showcase video below:

Paul Newman, Community Manager at Derby County Community Trust said: “We’re absolutely bowled over to win this award. I’ve been at the Club sixteen years now, going from a bag of balls to setting up projects in Africa.

“To be recognised for the work we do, as we have staff who are all very passionate in what they do, is an amazing thing.

“It’s wonderful to be here tonight and although it’s a bit of a cliché there are fantastic projects ran across the country by other community trusts, so it’s an honour to win the award.”

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ian Tuttle/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9629885df)
(L to R) John Wood, Head of Sales at Checkatrade, Paul Newman, Communities manager at Derby County and Don Goodman after Derby County win the Checkatrade Community club of the year award.
EFL Awards 2018, Hilton on Park Lane Hotel, London, UK – 15 Apr 2018

Derby County Community Trust are also celebrating ten years as a charity this year. Find out more here: www.derbycountycommunitytrust.com

World Health Day: Using the power of sport to improve health and well-being

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Today (7th April 2018) is World Health Day. A day to raise global awareness and local conversations about ways to achieve health for all.

We, alongside our 72 EFL Club Community Trusts, use the power of sport to improve health and well-being in local communities around the UK.

One trust in particular, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, run 48 projects on a daily basis that are all linked to health and wellbeing.

In 2017, the Trust had five projects focused on helping improve the health of the borough and as a result the football club’s official charity engaged with more than 2,500 people in the local area.

This year, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust launched a brand new health programme, EuroFIT (European Fans in Training), for men between the ages of 30-65.

The focus of the 12 week initiative is to increase participants’ physical activity levels and offer guidance on how to lead a healthier life with diet and exercise advice.

The weekly session, which is held at Ewood Park on a Tuesday night, has been led by trained staff from the Trust and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

As part of World Health Day, Blackburn Rovers season ticket holder Peter Graham, who is a regular EuroFIT participant, explained why the programme is perfect for him.

“I have been watching Rovers since 1966 and I found out about EuroFIT through the Community Trust’s Facebook page,” admitted the 59-year-old.

“I have put some weight on over the past few years and as soon as I saw the EuroFIT programme it appealed to me.

“The fact the programme was held at Blackburn Rovers was a huge motivator for me rather than going to the local gym.

“It is a real friendly group that goes to EuroFIT and we all motivate and challenge each other to keep going.

“I have changed my diet after the advice we received and we were also given a pedometer to challenge us to walk more places. I have been that impressed with EuroFIT that I have already recommended it to my friends.”

From the Trust’s point of view, Ilyas Patel leads the EuroFIT programme and he revealed the participants motivate each other every day, not just at the weekly sessions.

He said: “EuroFIT has been a real success and World Health Day presents a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for this programme and all the other great health programmes we run at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.

“The participants have all been great and they have all taken to the programme. They have set up their own WhatsApp group to let each other know what exercise they have done and see if they can beat one another.”

YES/NO Challenge: Sheffield Wednesday footballer takes on NCS Grad

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Sheffield Wednesday star Liam Palmer became the latest player to take on the ‘YES/NO Challenge’ against NCS Graduate Andrew Moore.

Liam, who plays as right-back for The Owls, is no stranger to the NCS programme having been an NCS Ambassador over the past three years and involved in visiting local schools around Sheffield promoting the programme directed at 16-18 year olds to students.

Liam is a part of a series of footballers from South Yorkshire taking on the YES/NO Challenge, a quick fire Q&A game where neither participant can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, you can watch the latest video below.

Liam said: “I’ve been involved in NCS for a few years and seen first-hand how (young) people can grow in confidence. It’s a crucial stage in people’s development of their mind and it gives them experience to go and try new things and meet new people.”

NCS is a government backed programme established in 2011 to help build a more cohesive, mobile and engaged society. By bringing together young people from different backgrounds for a unique shared experience, NCS helps them to become better individuals, and in turn better citizens.

Over the next 2 months, footballers from the EFL will be going toe-to-toe with NCS Graduates to take on the YES/NO Challenge and find out more NCS.

There are places still available with Sheffield Wednesday’s Community Programme. Click here to find out more and see how to get £15 off NCS.

Network Rail

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The EFL Trust and Network Rail teamed up to tackle railway trespass

EFL clubs helped to reduce the numbers of young people injured or killed after trespassing on the railway through a series of sports and educational activities to divert young people away from the dangers of playing on the tracks.

The partnership between EFL Trust and Network Rail saw 10 clubs work with Network Rail’s community safety managers to boost awareness of railway safety.

The initiative was a development of Network Rail’s Rail Life programme, which has successfully worked with schools and community groups to deliver safety messages in fun and engaging ways.

Tragically between 2010-2015, 164 people lost their lives after going onto the tracks. Of these, 70% were struck by trains with 18% suffering electrocution by coming into contact with the power supply which can be as much as 25,000 volts. The peak ages for trespass fatalities are late teens and earlier twenties, with around one in five deaths in this age group.

Mike Evans Director of Operations at EFL Trust, commented, “Football clubs are at the heart of their communities in an emotional as well as physical sense. As such they have an incredible ability to reach people, where others may struggle. Our partnership with Network Rails shows how football can use this ability to talk to young people about a serious issue and make a positive difference to people’s lives.”

The partnership saw each club identify a player ambassador, who took on an active role in the project by attending sessions and acting as a role model. EFL Trust and Network Rail also ran small sided boys and girls football competitions with teams from each club in a national final.

The clubs involved were:

Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bristol City
Bristol Rovers
Derby County

Leeds United
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Portsmouth
Shrewsbury Town

The project won two Network Rail Partnership Awards in two categories – ‘Community Engagement’ and ‘Safety’.

From NCS graduate to professional footballer

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It’s not a common pathway for a National Citizen Service (NCS) graduate to go on and play for their local professional football team, but this is what happened to Louis Jones, 19, from Doncaster, two years after completing NCS.

On the same day Louis signed his extended contract with Doncaster Rovers, Louis met up with Holly Dennis, an NCS Graduate from Summer 2017, to share experiences of NCS and to take on the Yes/No challenge, a quick-fire Q&A game where neither player can say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

An aspiring goalkeeper for Donny, Louis has a lot to thank NCS for which has helped him more than he thought on his road to becoming a professional goalkeeper.

He said: “It helped with the challenges and overcoming my fears. In football there are a lot of decisions to be made as a goalkeeper, and decision making is key to the NCS experience”

NCS gives young people the confidence to face obstacles in life, and smash through them. It makes young people ‘Feel Unstoppable’, which is also the name of NCS’s Summer campaign encouraging young people to sign up.

Louis was asked what makes him ‘Feel Unstoppable’: “In a game when your adrenaline is pumping and you have saved a few, I feel like no one on the pitch can do anything to beat me”.

Doncaster Rovers Manager, Darren Ferguson commented that Louis is a “level-headed lad” and that “he’s shown he’s a very capable goalkeeper with a good temperament, which you need as a keeper”.

Louis is a great example of how NCS can help develop skills to steer wherever teens want their career to go. Watch the full interview between Louis and Holly here:

NCS is a government backed programme established in 2011 to help build a more cohesive, mobile and engaged society. By bringing together young people from different backgrounds for a unique shared experience, NCS helps them to become better individuals, and in turn better citizens.

Over the next 2 months footballers from the EFL will be going toe-to-toe with NCS Graduates to take on the YES/NO game and find out more about NCS.

To find out more about how footballers are supporting NCS and to get £15 off a place this Summer click here.

All Star Futsal showcase to take place at England’s St George’s Park

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An All Star tournament, showcasing the best male players on the EFL Trust Futsal and Education programme will take place at the home of English Football; St George’s Park on Thursday.

Players and coaches were nominated from each club within their regions to represent a South East, South West, Midlands and North West squad in EFL Trust’s first futsal All Star tournament.

The EFL Trust Futsal and Education programme offers 16-18 year olds (male and female) the chance to find passes on and off the pitch at EFL clubs as they learn, train, play and work.

The pioneering programme is aimed at young people with a passion for sport and a desire to progress to university or work in sport and offers up the opportunity of playing and training in inspiring venues across the country.

A number of former and current students have also gone on to represent their country overseas, including Chelsea FC’s James Black at England U19 level, who has also been chosen to represent the South East All Star squad this Thursday.

Unlike regular college courses, students are able to study via an online platform, as they swap the mundane classroom to learn within a sporting environment.

Player selections for the All Star tournament were based on high-level performances on both the futsal court and in the classroom.

Take a look at the ‘ones to watch’ from each regional squad below:

 

 

To find out more about the EFL Trust Futsal and Education programme visit: https://www.efltrust.com/futsal/

Stevenage FC become latest club to sign up to USW Football Foundation Degree

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Stevenage FC Foundation have teamed up with the University of South Wales and EFL Trust to launch a brand-new foundation degree for aspiring coaches to study a higher education course whilst gaining practical experience out in the local community.

The Foundation’s two-year Foundation Degree programme is a course designed for individuals wanting to attain a university qualification and are passionate about pursuing a career in the football industry.

Students develop the necessary skills, qualities and characteristics that are required to work within professional football club community departments or national governing bodies.

Delivered in partnership with the University of South Wales, Stevenage FC Foundation become one of over 35 clubs across the country to deliver the course including Shrewsbury Town, Newport County and Sheffield Wednesday.

All lectures, seminars and tutorials are delivered in a supportive and inspirational club environment, based predominantly within your own football club via online material. This is supported with residential stays at the University of South Wales campus in Cardiff where students from all the clubs, come together twice a year.

Alongside the academic element of the course, students will complete up to 200 hours of voluntary coaching within the community, alongside the Foundation staff, allowing the students to embed and develop the coaching techniques learnt within lectures.

Through the Foundation’s partnership with the University of South Wales, all students will be enrolled as a student at the university. Students will be able to access the university’s online library, blackboard and learning materials, providing them with the best possible learning platform to excel within.

Head of Foundation, Joe Goude said, “We are incredibly excited about the being able to bring the USW Foundation Degree to Stevenage. This is something we’ve been working on for nearly a year now and we cannot wait to get started.

“We already have a fantastic apprenticeship pathway in place for further education with Sporting Futures Training and this is the next tier of that pathway that will allow those apprentices to progress to a higher education programme whilst continuing to build on their practical experience out in our community.

“This programme has seen great success elsewhere in the country with some amazing examples of what students have gone on to achieve and the Foundation is looking to replicate that success locally, to create a viable pathway for people to gain new knowledge, but it into practice in the local community and ultimately make themselves more employable.”

Prerequisites to Apply:

  • BTEC Level 3 – MPP. A Level – DD
  • Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
  • Three A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and maths

More details of the course can be found here.

Clubs unite for EFL Day of Action

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All 72 EFL clubs and their community trusts will come together on the same day for the EFL’s Day of Action to demonstrate the positive impact football can have in changing young people’s lives.

From Plymouth to Peterborough and Sunderland to Southend, on Tuesday 20th March, EFL clubs across all three divisions will showcase the innovative and ground breaking work they do for young people in tackling some of the biggest issues in society across education, health, community inclusion and participation.

Managers and players from the EFL’s 72 clubs will be attending events up and down the country including projects that target mental health, disability and obesity.

In London, Millwall are running a mental health football tournament being held in memory of one of their players who recently died. Over 100 people are due to take part in the Dwain Inniss Cup with manager Neil Harris on hand to offer his support.

Six first team players from Bristol City will be seeing the innovative work of the club’s Youth Council, a group of young people that are making a big impact in their local area by shaping and delivering Bristol City’s community activities including girls, disability and street football. Whilst neighbours Bristol Rovers are inviting their 16-18 year old disability squad to join the first team for a training session lead by manager Darrell Clarke, followed by lunch with the first team squad.

In Yorkshire, Doncaster Rovers have committed to a whole day of activity, including a special appearance from midfielder Matty Blair, who has fronted the club’s efforts to raise awareness of mental health by drawing on his own personal experiences after the loss of his brother Ross to cancer in August 2017.

In the Midlands, Derby County will be celebrating the success of their cancer recovery programme over the past twelve months, with appearances from former Birmingham City striker Geoff Horsfield and Celtic and Aston Villa midfielder Stylian Petrov, who themselves have been affected by the illness.

There is plenty of activity being held by League Two clubs, with Cambridge United showcasing their Enterprise Project, an innovative new programme designed to help secondary school students develop their entrepreneurial and employability skills. School children in Lincoln will be running the Sport Relief Mile around the pitch at Cecil Park alongside players from the Club to raise money for the charity.

EFL Chairman, Ian Lenagan said:

“Football continues to support its communities seven days a week, 365 days a year through our unique network of Club community trusts.

“Bringing all 72 together on one day for the EFL Day of Action highlights the special role the EFL has in society and our collective ability to make a positive and lasting impact to the lives of millions of people.

“It is fantastic to see so many managers and players across England and Wales coming out in support of the excellent work being undertaken by their own Club right in the heart of their own community.

“There are few sporting organisations that can deliver the scale of innovative and ground breaking activity we do via our network of Clubs across so many important areas, including inclusion, charitable causes, community engagement, education or health.”