Blackburn Rovers Community Trust provided Eissa with a sense of belonging

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“I feel I belong here, and I belong in Blackburn.”

Emotional and strong words from Eissa as he explained how crucial of a role Blackburn Rovers Community Trust has played in both his and his family’s life.

Ten years ago, Eissa arrived in England from Myanmar and had to claim Asylum, after taking the brave decision to leave his homeland due to being dangerous for him and his family.

Eissa and his family were alone in new surroundings, with little to no support, living in the Blackburn with Darwen area.

However, he started to lay the foundations for a new beginning when he attended a DARE session for advice, and he met Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s Community Inclusion Manager, Ilyas Patel.

Ilyas introduced Eissa to various projects suitable for him at the Community Trust, including the Community Ambassadors programme and Men in Sheds.

 Eissa said: “Blackburn Rovers Community Trust really helped me when I first moved here.”

“I met new people, and I was able to socialise too. My English at the time wasn’t very good at all, but by attending various sessions, my communication skills improved.

“I moved to England from Myanmar, and it wasn’t safe. Initially I wasn’t allowed to work when I first moved to England, so I used to volunteer and help out with the DARE project.

“I volunteered on various programmes, and it helped me stay busy but also support the local community too.

“To this day I still volunteer, and I thoroughly enjoy it.”

Eissa’s journey with Blackburn Rovers continued, and soon enough, once he was allowed to work, he worked as a matchday steward at Ewood Park.

Now a full-time taxi driver, Eissa’s journey has been a difficult one, but he is now settled in the area with his family, and he is enjoying life.

He continued: “I always feel so welcome when I come to Blackburn Rovers. I now have a full-time job too.

“I was a very reserved person, I never spoke to people, but Blackburn Rovers Community Trust has helped me feel so much.

“I was a bit scared to talk but I am not anymore, I feel very confident, and the Men in Sheds group helped me with that as we would do things together. I don’t feel like a stranger from another country, I feel like I belong to Blackburn.”

Eissa volunteers to help Blackburn Rovers Community Trust on a consistent basis.

From Tanzania to Teesside: Hassan’s inspirational journey with Middlesbrough FC Foundation

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From Tanzania to Teesside. Not the most obvious route for a someone just short of their teenage years. But that was the route taken at the start of a new chapter in the life of Hassan Mtambo.

He was 12 when he and his family left Zanzibar and made Middlesbrough their home.

It is often said that football is a universal language. It certainly helped Hassan settle and quickly make friends.

It led to his first association with Middlesbrough FC Foundation; the first steps on an inspirational journey.

Seeing a group of young people playing on some land near his Acklam home, he asked if he could join in. He was quickly accepted and introduced to a Foundation session.

That session became an integral part of Hassan’s teenage years. It helped him socially and athletically. He explains; “If I hadn’t started there I probably would have been up to mischief. Growing up, there were two different groups. One would get up to mischief, the other just wanted to play football and be part of a group that enjoyed playing football.

“We were happy, we played football and would go home fed.” It had sown the seed.

Hassan moved on to college and that progression gradually saw him outgrow his participation, but the separation wasn’t a lengthy one.

When his college studies came to an end, Hassan applied for a job with MFC Foundation and was awarded an apprenticeship.

He remembers thinking, “I started here as a kid and now I’m working here. That was a strange feeling, to complete that cycle. It was, wow, I’m now helping people like someone helped me.”

And that, for Hassan, is what it’s about. It’s never been about any financial reward, it’s about helping people and making a difference. He qualified as a PT  during his college years and acknowledges he could earn a higher salary. However his ethos is simple and heartwarming. “If I can make one person happy in my sessions, make life better for them, that’s the reward I need.”

It’s much more than football for him now. His personal and motivational skills, his interaction with others, became clear and he started to work on other programmes. Among them, Football Welcomes, Kitchen Therapy, Match Fit, and PL Primary Stars.

His former mentor and now line manager Paul South recalls: “When he was young, he liked going to the gym. He liked training. I quickly learned that one part of sport he likes is to educate others, to manage them, to be a mentor for them.

“When he first joined the foundation as an apprentice, he thought I would be working with schoolchildren, in schools, helping them. He soon found there was much more to his role, and I think Match Fit (formerly Fit Boro) is probably his favourite.

“I have never had a second thought about asking him to cover sessions on different programmes. Feedback from schools and participants is always encouraging.”

The Football Welcomes programme saw Hassan work with different people, different cultures, different skin colours and different languages. Football again has proved a common language. Participants from 17 different countries act as though they’ve been lifelong friends under his guidance.

His work in schools has helped not only teachers and schoolchildren, but the Foundation as a whole.

So what does the future hold for a man on a mission? “I’m studying to be a nutritionist,” Hassan reveals. “It’s so I can help the people who are struggling with their nutrition. I’m looking to develop something on an app so we can reach a lot more.

“We’re taking our programmes to places they they’ve never been, like the Central Mosque in Middlesbrough. It’s different, it’s a challenge outside your comfort zone. But people have responded in a good way. I’m working in places that are not my culture and with people who have a different background. But you have to learn.

“For me, I’m just doing small things, but sometimes it makes a big difference. Maybe it’s a gift.”

Abdu Abubakar has become a role model to many after his dedication to supporting other refugees and asylum seekers settling in Hull.

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Abdu Abubakar, from Hull City, has become a role model for his dedication to supporting other refugees and asylum seekers settling in Hull.

Abdu, a valued member of the Hull City, Tigers Trust team, initially joined as a participant before dedicating over 200 hours to volunteer work, assisting his peers with education and language barriers, as well as supporting staff in community sports sessions. He has been a full-time team member for almost four years now.

Abdu’s journey to Hull from Eritrea as a refugee was marked by challenges, but through resilience and community support, he has flourished. Initially facing language barriers and isolation, Abdu found his footing through programmes like the Kicks International Programme and has since become an integral part of the local community, significantly improving his English proficiency and confidence.

Abdu volunteered extensively, mentoring others and assisting with language barriers in various programmes. His dedication to helping others has been evident throughout his employment with the Trust, particularly during lockdowns, where he supported community members battling loneliness and inactivity.

Abdu’s impact extends beyond his immediate community, as he actively works to increase activity levels in Hull, particularly among young adults and ethnic groups. His efforts have led to thousands of attendances in programmes aimed at promoting physical activity and community engagement.

Abdu’s infectious smile and genuine passion for the Tigers Trust and its programmes make him a standout representative of the organisation’s values. His commitment to personal growth and supporting others has not gone unnoticed. Abdu, has become a role model and a representative of the pathway’s that are possible for refugees and asylum seekers with support from Club Community Organisations.

 

 

Accelerating the progress of Women and Girls in Football

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As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we look at how the network of EFL Club Community Organisations aim to give women in football and sport equal opportunities to succeed, and accelerate their progress in their chosen pathway.

With recognition that women were under-represented across the Football and Sport’s Coaching degree courses that are run at over 40 Clubs in partnership with the University of South Wales, the Female Development programme was established in the academic year of 2021-22 to ensure all women on the course were offered a tailored programme of opportunities to expand their knowledge and confidence with other women from other Clubs.

By ensuring an inclusive environment, with opportunities to network and hear from like-minded professionals in the sport, the programme ensures that the students on the degree course are provided with the opportunity to upskill and build confidence.

Throughout the year they have access to a variety of events that feature female professionals from a variety of roles within sport. This helps give students the confidence to seek out all the opportunities that are available to them.

Speakers to date have included senior members of the EFL Trust, who have shared their experiences of working in sport, from working off the field, to being front and centre on it. They have also heard from Daisy Croker who referees on the FA Women’s National League and the U21s Professional Game Academy League and has been involved in refereeing for the last 7 years, working her way through the ranks.

With coaching being a huge element of the degree courses, Jayne Jackson, EFL Trust’s Wildcats Project Manager provided the girls with best practices and advice on getting involved with their local Club Community Organisations and the Wildcats programme. As a result of this, some of the students have begun volunteering at their local Wildcats sessions.

From Grassroots football to the professional game, Charlotte Healy, Manchester United Women’s Assistant Coach will be a guest speaker next month as she discusses her journey and progression her from role as a community coach at Derby County Community Trust to the pinnacle of English football in the Women’s Super League.

With the opportunity to grow, develop and establish themselves in the industry, it is no wonder the Female Development programme has become a pivotal part in the increasing number of female students on the USW degree courses. With just 12 students in its first year, last year 36 students were engaged in the programme.

Whilst the University of South Wales degree programme creates opportunity for women to coach the game, our CCOs also offer a pathway for Girls to play the game. This is from the very first kick of a ball with Wildcats to the Talent Inclusion programme which helps girls who dream of representing England one day.

The Wildcats programme, in run partnership with the FA, is aimed at young girls aged 5-11 promotes a non-competitive, fun environment for all from those wanting to try football for the first time to girls who just want to play the game with girls the same age as them. This not only promotes fundamental skills required on the pitch but also develops life skills off it from effective communication to the ability to problem solve as part of a wider team.

Whilst only a small number of girls will go on to receive full senior caps at International level, our Talent Inclusion programme, also run in partnership with the FA, ensures every girl has equal chance to do so, regardless of their background.

The Talent Inclusion programme ensures that through existing community activities, participants with potential can be identified and referred to the FA England Women’s Talent Pathway. The EFL Trust’s CCOs work in some of the most deprived communities in England, where individuals and families experience challenges when trying to participate in sport and other activities. Women’s football has become a significant part of CCO delivery and engagement has hit an all-time high, given this, there is a considerable opportunity for potential to be identified and developed in the right environment. In particular, research from The FA has indicated that girls from low-socio-economic urban areas are not progressing into the talent system which is a lost opportunity for both young girls and the England team.

The Talent Inclusion programme is specifically run by over 60 EFL Club Community Organisations, who engage with young girls from low social economic communities and underrepresented groups, and look to refer talented players who, for whatever reason, may not be able to access traditional talent pathways.

It is paramount to the future of England women’s football that the pathway is a system for all. The EFL Trust and The FA are committed to working collaboratively to be creative and inventive to achieve this goal together.

JED WALLACE MEETS ALBION & ENGLAND STAR EESA AMJID AHEAD OF IBSA WORLD GAMES 2023

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West Bromwich Albion captain Jed Wallace welcomed Baggies and England blind footballer Eesa Amjid to the club’s training ground, to pass on some inspiring words before the2023 IBSA World Games.

Eesa and the Para Lions faced Germany, Argentina and China in the group stages before beating Mexico in play-off game to end their tournament on a high.

Eesa’s discussed with the WBA skipper his remarkable journey in blind football so far – from taking up the sport as a nine-year-old with The Albion Foundation, to scoring for England as a teenager.

After introducing Jed to blind football and putting the skipper through his paces with a blindfold on, Eesa spoke about his excitement for the IBSA Games and his bronze-winning experience at the IBSA EURO last summer.

Hosted in Birmingham, the 2023 IBSA World Games, which took place in August, was  a multi-sport event for blind and partially sighted athletes.

West Bromwich Albion and The Albion Foundation were represented by Eesa, along with Selina Prieto in Women’s blind football.

The Foundation hope to have even more England stars in the future with sessions running for children with visual impairment during term-time as well as weekly sessions for adults to train and compete with their Championship and Premiership Blind Football teams that play within the National Blind League.

 

Every Player Counts with Northampton Town Community Trust turns Loyd’s world around.

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Having struggled both physically and mentally, Loyd joined Northampton Town Community Trust’s Every Player Counts programme. The programme turned out to have such an impact on him and his ability to turn his life around, he now volunteers on the Trust’s disability programme.

“Back in 2012 I was informed about Northampton Town’s involvement with community projects via The Bridge. I was introduced to Russell Lewis and a weekly football training session.

“I became heavily involved with this project over four years, participating in the weekly training sessions, tournaments and with the creation of an 11 a side squad that participated in weekly evening league games. I thoroughly enjoyed all of this but unfortunately due to a change of shifts with my full-time job, I was sad to say my goodbyes to Russell and the team mates who had become friends.

“Juggling full time work and hobbies became increasingly difficult with life becoming busier and I found myself doing less exercise, becoming less sociable and my mental health crashing with reoccurring bouts of depression and anxiety. When I first joined, I was in the middle of a long episode of depression and anxiety and my involvement with football helped me to cope and recognise signs and symptoms on how to deal with it. However fast forward to 2022 and I found myself overweight, not exercising and feeling like my mental health was declining. So, I decided to fall back on the coping mechanisms I learnt from my past involvement and decided to make a positive change.

“I started to conduct research on the Northampton Town Football Club website and read up on the community projects that the club were involved in. Due to working at Northampton General Hospital, I work shifts, but Every Player Counts sessions fell perfectly on my day off. So, I sent a message and enquired if this is something I would be able to attend and made my way to the session. It had been several years since I last attended a session like this, so with my current state of mind I was even more anxious and nervous. However as soon as I arrived, I saw welcoming faces from years gone by welcoming me back and I felt like I hadn’t been away. Russell introduced me to all the new members, and I absolutely loved it. I was hooked again.

“The weekly session of Every Player Counts gave me the focus to be mindful of what I ate and exercise that I could do during the week to improve my session when I played football. For those couple of hours once a week, I forgot any worries and everything else except football. It was amazing and I felt so positive and happy following every session. I had forgotten how much I love playing and how football can offer so much more with opportunities to meet new people and the personal effects it can have both mentally and physically. I was making healthier choices and feeling great.

“I wanted to be involved as much as possible and enquired if there were any other sessions I could join or help with. So, I was invited to attend additional Every Player Counts sessions and was introduced to NTFC’s Multi Disability teams. This was a personal changing point. These sessions have led to opportunities that I am so grateful for. I have now started my coaching journey with the club, attended various training courses and taken responsibility for coaching teams in Multi Disability games, against various BOBI league teams and Premiership clubs in a host of disability tournaments and festivals.

“Involvement with NTFC community projects over the past year has given me opportunities to attend various disability workshops and training courses which have led to various voluntary coaching opportunities. Including coaching alongside Russell and a small team of NTFC coaches to help implement new blind football training sessions. Working up close with a small team of highly experienced professional coaches and blind participants is an amazing opportunity I am grateful for, both personally and professionally.

“I have accepted that I may always have mental health issues but projects like Every Player Counts, coaching and volunteering with the NTFC multi disability teams has provided me with future learning and development opportunities that have given me the tools and confidence to deal with various challenges. In the past year I have struggled and going forward I’m sure I will at times, but my involvement in these projects has helped shaped the way I deal with my mental and physical health.

Football has given me the confidence, drive, and ambition to better myself. I am now so excited to see where my coaching journey with NTFC will take me.

“Thank you, Russell, the community projects and Northampton Town Football Club.”

Loyd Mitchell, Every Player Counts Participant

Jacob volunteering with Swindon Town FC Community Foundation after attending their Refugee sessions.

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At just 14 years old, Jacob left his home in Sudan and made the journey to the United Kingdom, a journey that would take him 3 years. Jacob describes this ordeal as “extremely daunting and scary.”

Having now been in the UK for 2 years, Jacob is 18 years old and has been volunteering with Swindon Town FC Community Foundation with ambition to establish a career in sport.

His role as a Facility Staff Member is based at ‘Foundation Park’, a place he knows well from his own participation.

For Jacob, Swindon Town FC Community Foundation and football were the two things that provided him support and stability when he arrived.

With no means of employment, and a stipend that doesn’t allow for leisure activities, Jacob and others are faced with long hours of boredom.

One outlet that is available to them is sport, and recognising this, the Foundation has given refugees the opportunity to attend coached sessions and play matches using the Foundation’s facilities.

The weekly sessions average around 20 participants, and those who are regularly committed have also been able to form a team. The Foundation also assist the participants with obtaining any kit that may be required in order to remove any barriers to participation they may be faced with.

Jacob loves attending weekly sessions at the Swindon Town FC Community Hub ‘Foundation Park’ which sits under the shadow of STFC home stadium The County Ground.

Swindon Town FC Foundation has given Jacob the opportunity to be active, meet new people, and aspire to pursue a career in something he loves.

Extra Time Hubs with Wigan Athletic Community Trust has been a lifesaver for David and his wife Carys

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Extra Time Hubs with Wigan Athletic Community Trust has become the highlight of David and his wife and carer, Carys’ week.

Before joining the sessions, David struggled with illness and was in and out of the hospital regularly until he, unfortunately, had to have his leg amputated. Shortly after, David was also diagnosed with mixed dementia.

With Carys taking on the role of his carer, the pair were adjusting to David’s condition and his new life in a wheelchair. While dealing with the adjustment, they found themselves increasingly isolated and simply unable to meet new people or engage socially.

That was until they were referred to the Extra Time Programme by a Community Link worker to help them re-engage with the community while also giving Carys a chance to relax and unwind while knowing that David still had support around him.

The pair have become a staple of the Extra Time Hub at Wigan Youth Zone ever since joining their first session. The session has become “the highlight of their week” while enabling them to build new friendships, increase their mobility and gain a new lease on life.

The Extra Time Programme, originally created by the EFL Trust and funded in partnership with Wigan Athletic Supporters Club, hosts weekly Extra Time Hubs at Wigan Youth Zone and Leigh Miners with the aim of tackling loneliness and social isolation amongst our elderly community.

The Hubs enable retired and semi-retired people make the most of their free time and enjoy doing the things they want to do. With friendships, support and being the socially active forefront of the Hubs aim, participants decide what they wish to take in with various activities on offer from quizzes to walking football.

Speaking about her enjoyment of the sessions, Carys said:

“Before coming to the Extra Time Hub, he [David] was very poorly for a couple of years, in and out of the hospital, and then unfortunately, he had to have his leg amputated.

“And then he was diagnosed with mixed dementia. We were just getting used to the fact that he was now in a wheelchair, but we weren’t seeing people. It was just impossible to do it at that particular time.

“A Community Link worker came to the house and suggested that we come here. So she made a referral to Christine [WACT Extra Time Hub Activator], and within a week, we came here.

“From the minute we came in, you could sense there was a lovely atmosphere. We were greeted by Christine, smiling. We were introduced to different people, and we’ve been treated as we hadn’t been for quite some time, to be honest.

“And my husband has found that he can move around and do things, there’s space here for him to do things and he’s really enjoyed doing the activities.

“As far as my husband and I are concerned, it’s been a lifesaver.

“It’s the highlight of the week for us. We’ve been making new friends with people as well.

“Everybody’s so friendly. They can’t do enough to help us.”

Her thoughts were echoed by her husband David, who added:

“I’m used to doing things myself, and I can’t do them now, so I get a bit frustrated, but I try and let it go and carry on doing what I can, and I’m enjoying myself, really.

“All the staff, they’re helpful, they’ll explain everything,

“I enjoy myself, and I look forward to coming every Tuesday, and I feel better for it.”

Adrian Bradley the EFL Trust’s Health and Wellbeing lead, explains, “With Extra Time Hubs we set out to do something different. Activities for Older people tended to be small coffee morning or bingo sessions. We want to create a social community of people in their retirement years who meet regularly to socialise and to do the things they enjoy, not what we tell them they should enjoy. We focus on the social side of the hub and help people to feel better by reducing their social isolation and loneliness. By getting people more socially active we nudge them towards more a physically active lifestyles – it’s health by stealth.”

Uwais one of many unsung volunteering heroes at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust

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Blackburn Rovers Community Trust has a strong team of volunteers who support the charity to deliver and provide invaluable support to their local community 365 days per year.

Volunteers provide valuable support to numerous projects and initiatives, from engaging with young people on the Trust’s Neighbourhood Youth Offer to being a person to talk to at the health and well-being sessions.

One important volunteer role that that is not often visible is the Trust’s board of Trustees. The board of Trustees play an important role in helping deliver Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s strategy within the local area and beyond.  Blackburn Rovers Community Trust have a dedicated and hardworking board of Trustees, including Uwais Patel, a qualified Chartered Accountant who has worked in audit and advisory, before joining an insurance broker where he currently holds the post of Group Chief Operating Officer.

Uwais helps BRCT with Community Inclusion and he assists the board of Trustees with key decisions that impact the present and future of the charity.

Speaking during Volunteers Week 2023, Uwais said: “I have lived in Blackburn all my life and I was brought up as a Rovers fan. It meant that I always wanted to give back to the community and help overcome barriers that I faced.

“Having seen the work, the Community Trust had done previously and my passion for the football club, I really wanted to get involved and give back to the community.

“I am lucky enough now to work for a company that also sponsors the football club and we have supported many initiatives such as the Ewood Express that helps thousands of people in the borough.

“I am incredibly proud to represent the Community Trust. It is great that I can listen to the public and know we have the both the facilities and fantastic team in place running the day-to-day operations to make a positive difference.”

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.

“Community focus was a key part of my life when I was growing up,” explained Uwais, when asked why he wanted to volunteer to be a Trustee.  It is also one of the key virtues of my religion, Islam. Giving back to the community gives us a sense of gratitude and by being privileged enough to be in this position as a Trustee and to see the impact the Community Trust is making on so many people’s lives helps me accomplish my personal goals too.

“I am a lifelong Blackburn Rovers supporter and to have the chance to give back to my town, I have never seen it as a volunteering role but almost a hobby that I enjoy doing. The Community Trust has made a huge difference on my life by allowing me to make a difference. However, more importantly, it is making a difference on thousands of individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.

“Without the great staff we have in place, none of this would be even possible. You can see on a matchdays the difference it makes but the Community Trust is active 365 days per year supporting people.”

 

Hannah Jones shines on USW degree course with Rotherham United Community Sports Trust.

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Hannah’s passion for being a leader, an innovator, and a mentor to females in sports stems from her own experiences. Through, her club Rotherham United, she has been able to pursue a career focused on her desire to better the experiences of others.

And this desire continued throughout her three years with Rotherham United Community Sports Trust and the University of South Wales where she hasn’t only achieved huge milestones herself but has also helped others to do the same.

Having left the Trust, Hannah currently works full time as a  ‘Learning and Teaching Assistant’ under the Witherslack Group working with KS3 and KS4 (currently years 6 to 11) children who have a variety of needs and difficulties. It is clear, Hannah’s kindness, selflessness and hard work has seen her continually want to help other whilst excelling personally.

Over half (56%) of the students on the degree will be will be graduating next week, having achieved a 2.1, or better. Hannah will be picking up her First Class award,, but she already has an honours roll of achievements from her time on the course.

Hannah’s achievements include not only her First Class grade but also the Academia Award for the Sports Coaching and Development course, meaning she was the highest achieving student on her course, also nominated by her club for the Professional Practice Award and one of seven students who was nominated for the ‘Most Inspirational Student Award where she was then shortlisted as a top three contender.

 

Hannah attended Rotherham United Community Sports Trust college programme before enrolling onto the BA hons Degree in Community Coaching and development degree course.

She said: “I currently hold a position within the FA Leadership Academy, which is designed to develop people as leaders, to plan, deliver and develop a project to impact the football community and the wider football community. Due to my own experiences, I focused my project on developing females and female footballers, giving them a sense of belonging in football, as well as producing and recognising talent.”

With an abundance of experience and skills in numerous programmes the Trust offers from education to health and wellbeing, Hannah is an individual that is focused on providing and empowering every participant, colleague, friend she encounters especially females in sport.

As part of the Female Development Programme whilst on the degree course, Hannah has had a plethora of opportunities to better her future, and shape that of others. The programme seeks to address the under-represented of women across the Football and Sport’s Coaching degree courses that are run at over 40 CCOs.  The programme was established in the academic in 2021 to ensure all Women on the course were offered a tailored programme of opportunities to expand their knowledge and confidence with other women from other Clubs. By ensuring an inclusive environment, with opportunities to network and hear from like-minded professionals in the sport the programme ensures that the female students on the degree course are provided with the opportunity to upskill and build confidence.

Throughout the year they have access to a variety of events that feature female professionals from a variety of roles within sport. Speakers to date have included, senior Member of the EFL Trust who have shared their experience of working in Sport, Daisy Croker who referees on the FA Women’s National League and the U21s Professional Game Academy League. The next speaker will be Charlotte Healy, Manchester United Women’s Assistant Coach who will discusses her journey and progression her from role as a community coach at Derby County Community Trust to the pinnacle of English football in the Women’s Super League.

With just 12 students in its first year, last year 36 students were engaged in the programme.

She explains: “The development of females within a sporting environment is something that I do have concerns for and am passionate about in terms of developing. By providing this opportunity to our females will create an inclusive, welcoming, and quality experience.”

The USW course has allowed Hannah to feel a sense of belonging. More so, it has allowed Hannah to develop and produce ideas to inspire the next generation that could lead to a huge, successful future for women in sport whether that be Hannah’s influence on them both on and off the pitch.

The University of South Wales allows students to gain practical experience in their desired nature of work, whilst allowing for a blended learning approach where students have both face-to face and online learning. The courses which are hosted at your local football club has a huge emphasis on gaining real world learning through placements with students only having to attend the University for short residential periods.

She comments: “The whole experience will give the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals; students like yourself, perhaps past students, and those who work within the sporting industry. This will allow us to be our best selves, unite as one; acting together as one within the movement where we can strive to empower each other to realise potential and develop.”

It is evident that Hannah has the ability to inspire change through her selfless desire to improve and aid those around her. With already a plethora of strings to her bow, Hannah’s aspirations have no limit.

Click here to find out more about the degree