Urban Mentoring Scheme

Thursday April 21, 2011

What were the issues/problems?

• Problems engaging in main stream education
• Lack of Opportunities for 14 plus age Group
• Low Life Expectations
• Communication issues
• Lack of opportunities
• Low self-esteem issues/Confidence

Beneficiaries

• 14-19 year olds
• Marginalised / Disadvantaged Communities
• London Borough Of Lambeth

Partnership

• Community Action Zone
• Sporting Chances
• NIKE
• Street Games
• Community Action Zone
• Sporting Chances
• NIKE
• Street Games

What was done?

Sporting Chances in partnership with CAZ and Positive Futures

Provided a year round programme including football, education, training, volunteering and work experience aimed at the 14plus young people

• Teaching BTEC certificate Sport level 2
• Active learning
• Teachings in an environment were the student feels comfortable e.g. the football pitch.
• Students understanding that the skills they use on the football pitch e.g. leadership, communication skills, respect, focus, determination and sacrifice. Can be transferred different areas of there lives.
• Opportunity to uses these skills in different environments e.g. energy excel (a large corporate company which gave the students an opportunity to do in house works shops on public speaking and presentations, all taught by one of the directors of the company)
• Being mentored by professional and aspiring athlete giving first hand how they structure there life around sport, and how they use there mental skills they have used from sport to succeed in later life.
• Opportunity to go and visit Middlesex University and get a look at university life and different sports courses they offer.

Outputs and Outcomes

Throughout the course

Were mentored on a daily basis by a lead local mentor who was their key point of reference for the year.

• Students got educated and engaged in a familiar environment (football pitch).
• Students grew in confidence and became more responsible and all round more professional.
• Opportunities students got to sit down and talk one on one and in group discussions with a T.V personality gaining a clear understanding of when opportunity meets preparations,
• Mentored by pro and ex pro athletes.
• After the workshop at energy excel two students got the chances to do work experience at the company after impressing one of the directors.
• Two students got to visit a national radio show to see how the host used all his skills in his work environment.
• Students got to visit Middlesex University and participate on a student taster day, after this visit two students commented on the fact that they never thought of going to university but after this visit they really would like to go after this visit.
• Through football we were able to educate and allow these students to get opportunities they would not normally get.
• Gained a clear understanding of transferable skill and how they can use them in there life.

Course progressions

• Three students will be doing work experience with Energy Excel, with the chance of gaining an apprenticeship with the company.
• Two students got to gain first hand experience of all the working of a radio show after visiting a national radio show.
• One student gained a trail with Tottenham hotspurs.

Key Benefits

• Ongoing mentoring by a host of positive mentors and opportunities
• Confidence building
• Development of Presentation and leadership skills
• Attainment of vocational training qualifications
• The Attainment of Key Life Skills
• Attainment of A BTEC Level 2 Qualification
• Work Experience Opportunities
• Link to Middlesex University
• The development of Individual CV’s and portfolios for all the young People.

Quotes:

Zubair :

“ It not only teaches you how to take all the positives such as being determined and focused on the football pitch, but it also teaches you that those skills are transferable into other parts of your life.”

Ara :

“I’m not a confident person I’m a nervous person, but they have made me come out of my comfort zone…….I’m happy.”

Massi :

“My best experience was yesterday. We visited Energy Excel a large business in central London that was really special because I have never been in that kind of environment.”

Dennis :

“To all at Sporting Chances, I want to say what a great job. You made it fun and I learnt a lot from all of you and I’m gonna go on and use all the lessons you taught me in my life.”