Conrad’s story: From participant, to student, to full-time coach.

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From Community Trust participant, to student, to full-time member of staff, Conrad Britton has been involved with the Bristol City Community Trust for nearly half of his life.

Conrad first got involved with Bristol City Community Trust (BCCT) at the age of ten, through the Trust’s Premier League Kicks programme.

After finishing school, Conrad pursued his passion for football by joining the Community Trust’s post-16 education and futsal programme. Whilst studying there, Conrad frequently volunteered to shadow and assist BCCT coaches on their delivery of various different footballing sessions.

As a youngster Conrad was a shy individual however these coaching opportunities enabled him to build up his confidence.

Conrad’s excellent commitment to both his studies and his volunteering saw him offered a coaching apprenticeship at BCCT which has since become a full-time job as a community coach.

Conrad told the Trust, “As a kid, I was quite a shy individual and I didn’t have much self-confidence, I used to use football as an outlet to express myself.

“I used to absolutely love coming along to the Premier League Kicks sessions that the (Bristol City) Community Trust held as all of the coaches were really welcoming and friendly and it just gave me a good way to get out and have fun.”

“I guess it was these sessions that first gave me the inspiration to pursue a career in football coaching.

“I’m really proud of how far I have come. I now coach football sessions at the same school that I used to go to when I was younger.”

Chief Executive Officer of Bristol City Community Trust, Dan White, commented, “Conrad is an absolute attribute to the Trust and it’s brilliant to see how much progress this young man has made during his time with us at the Community Trust.

“Conrad’s progression also highlights what our education programme is all about, we don’t simply focus on exam results, rather we focus on developing our students all around and providing them with the skills they need to pursue a career in the industry that they love.”

#GreatCoaching #CoachingWeek

“I feel like I have developed so much as a person and a coach from working alongside her.”

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Grace Robinson is a full-time Stepping Up coach at Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation (MFCF).

Stepping Up is a transition project helping young people move from year six into year seven with the support of a mentor who acts as a familiar face between primary and secondary schools.

Grace’s daily routine is to work in her cluster of primary schools, or her chosen secondary school before transitioning into her evening community work. This offers wrap around care to the young people both in and out of school settings.

Within her weekly timetable, Grace also delivers on EFL Trust’s Joy of Moving Programme, delivering the Move and Learn project.

During these lessons, Grace excels at ensuring the lessons are inclusive and ensures all activities are differentiated to ensure all young people involved can learn and develop within a comfortable environment.

In addition to this, Grace also delivers on disability sessions working with young people who have a range of impairments.

Her personality, patience and enthusiastic attitude makes the sessions inspiring for those involved.

Harry who has Cerebral Palsy commented: “Grace’s sessions are so fun, It’s the best part of my week.”

When Grace started working at MFCF she was tasked with delivering a community-based session in one of the most deprived wards in Middlesbrough.

Initially, the session had only five young people attending but after six months, the session has up to 30 young people regularly attending each week.

This is testament to Grace and the innovative approach she has shown making the sessions engaging, promoting through hard to reach audiences and empowering young people to take a lead on activities they want to do.

Lennon who participates in Grace’s community session commented: “I only go to the session to play football and see Grace.”

Over the past year, Grace has also been a role model to one of MFCF’s current apprentices, Paul.

Paul attended Grace’s community sessions every week, three evenings a week.

Throughout the sessions, Grace built up a fantastic rapport with Paul and she soon became a role model to Paul who wanted to follow in Grace’s footsteps and become a coach.

Whilst finishing his final year at school, Grace gave him additional responsibilities at the community sessions such as leading small groups or activities or helping plan and set-up sessions.

Grace encouraged Paul to sign up for MFCF’s National Citizen Service (NCS) programme upon finishing school and developing his skills further over four weeks of the summer which he excelled at and became a very popular young person with all members of staff at MFCF.

Towards the end of 2018, MFCF recruited five new apprentices one of which was then Paul who has now developed from a participant on two programmes, to a volunteer and is now a full-time staff member thanks to the help and guidance of Grace.

Speaking of Grace, Paul stated: “She welcomed me into MFCF, always offers to help me and I feel like I have developed so much as a person and as a coach from working alongside her.”

 

#GreatCoaching #CoachingWeek