News

Fifteen unemployed young people from the East Belfast/North Down area are being given the chance to embark on a unique work experience opportunity thanks to youth charity The Prince’s Trust, The Irish Football Association and Glentoran Football Club.

The Get into Sport and Leisure course is modeled on similar courses operated in the UK with a range of clubs that include Premiership giants like Manchester United, Everton and Bolton Football Clubs.

The Prince's Trust Northern Ireland, are piloting a six week-long Get into Sport and Leisure training course to 18-25-year-olds who face barriers in their lives. There will be approved training; Certificate in Coaching Football, provided through the IFA,  and work placement opportunities with local leisure centers, private health clubs and community coaching providers . The participants will have support throughout the course, as they look at employability and develop skills to make them more employable and better able to sustain an employment position.

The course will help participants gain new skills enabling them to contribute effectively in the sports and leisure sector in the future. The course will be hosted at the Danepack Suite in the Oval and will offer the 15 participants the opportunity to undertake their IFA Level 1 Coaching Certificate, The Sport for All Leader Award, a community coaching qualification, First Aid and The Bronze Medallion Life Saving Award.

“Football can and must be about more than just what goes on on the pitch” said Stafford Reynolds, Chairman of Glentoran Football Club. “We are delighted to be linking with The Prince's Trust to help offer these fantastic opportunities to young people from our area.”

Get into Sport and Leisure will give the young people a chance to improve their skills, learn about the sector and get some real experience of working in a local leisure provision or work shadowing a sports coach working on community projects. Alan McDonald, the Glentoran Manager said “I have been involved in similar initiatives at Queen's Park Rangers and Swindon Town during my times there, it is terrific to have the pilot programme of Get into Sport and Leisure in this country at Glentoran FC.”

Siobhan Craig, director of the Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland added: “This is a very exciting pilot scheme, and we are grateful to the Irish Football Association and Glentoran Football Club for agreeing to get involved in this new venture and these young people and providing them with a valuable learning and life experience.

“The Princes Trust helps change young lives. We give practical and financial support, developing skills, confidence and motivation. We are looking forward to seeing these young people pursue their dreams, by putting their newly acquired skills to good use within the community and to seeing them getting their lives working.”

If you would like to apply for the course, all applicants must be aged 16-25 and fall into at least one of the Princes Trust target groups. For more information or to order an application pack please contact Greta O’Donnell on 02890758133 or by email at greta.odonnell@princes-trust.org.uk