Football Programme Helps Point The Way To Bright Future For Young People

A group of young people in Stoke are looking forward to a brighter future than some of them thought possible thanks to a pioneering scheme jointly funded by BT and The Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity. The youngsters, who are among the thousands of young people battling with the prospect of finding a job or a college place in the middle of the recession, have been among a group of youngsters producing a series of films for young people on how to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. The programme, which is being implemented Stoke City Football Club, is part of “Communicating for Success”, a £1 million UK-wide programme using the positive influence of football to help combat digital exclusion and improve communication skills across the UK. The Stoke project has involved 16 to 19-year-olds working together to compile a training pack, training DVDs and additional resources to help them and scores of their peers prepare for college and the world of work, during an intensive 10-day training programme. Using the latest technology and role play, they have scripted, starred in and edited a You Tube-style training DVD, covering everything from application, CV and letter writing, to tips on interview techniques – showing examples of what to do and giving clear guidelines on things to avoid. This new programme adds an innovative element to the Stoke Challenge ‘Journey to Work’ programme, which aims to make a positive contribution to reducing the number of those Not in Education Employment or Training (NEETs). Around 100 students are supported each year and all of these people will benefit from the experiences of those involved with Communicating for Success as they will receive a copy of the training pack and DVD. The project will be run by staff from Stoke City Football Club’s Community Team at its Britannia Stadium Centre, in partnership with Unity, who are based at Hanley, and supported by volunteers from BT. Adrian Hurst, head of community at Stoke City Football Club, said: “Harnessing the power of football and the privileged position the sport has in our society, this innovative project will aid their applications and successful move from school to further education and into work. “With the help of Unity, we want to capture the energy of young people, who might not otherwise have this opportunity, and channel it positively and productively.” Mary Scarratt, BT’s city leader for Stoke-on-Trent and head of learning and development for BT Operate, said: “The importance of IT skills cannot be overstated and BT is determined to do all it can to give young people the best possible chance in life by helping to build confidence with communications, computers and the internet. “The Football Foundation has worked with us to develop Communicating for Success, combining the attraction of our national game and other sports with learning, to help people develop skills in ways they have not experienced before. “The Stoke project will be particularly beneficial to these young people because it enables them to develop important skills in a fun, unconventional learning environment, and at a time when they will soon be preparing for one of the biggest changes of their young lives - the move from secondary school education to college or into work.” Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Communicating for Success is a very exciting partnership between the Football Foundation and BT. Not only will participants learn about sport, health and endurance, they will also develop vital communications skills in a more relaxed and enjoyable environment than the traditional, more formal classroom setting.” Ends.