Preston North End Community and Education Trust are partnering with Commando Joe’s CJ Education Services to build the interpersonal skills of primary school children through the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
PNECET staff accessed a staff training day from Commando Joe’s in October half-term to engage in a variety of team-building activities and challenges that will be carried through to its schools delivery in the near future.
Commando Joe’s is an education provider that utilises the expertise of former service personnel to improve the educational outcomes of young people through its RESPECT values – Resilience, Empathy, Self-Awareness, Positivity, Excellence, Communication and Teamwork.
Dale Prescott of Commando Joe’s delivered the staff training to PNECET last month and is confident of a successful partnership coming forward.
He said: “Commando Joe’s is a character education programme and very much about developing children’s character, which then has an impact on their school lives.
“We look at things like resilience, communication skills, being empathetic towards others and having a more positive attitude, and not just within the sessions, but in and around school so we have a ripple effect across school that helps the teachers so they are able to access the lessons more easily by having a growth in character throughout school.”
He said the values of Commando Joe’s and PNECET are very much aligned.
“It’s my first opportunity to work with this type of organisation. Normally I predominantly work with schools so they’re coming from a very different angle.
“What the guys do here [at PNECET] is very much in line with what we do within schools ourselves, what our Commando Joe instructors do within schools.
“It’s been a great experience for me to see that they’re carrying the same positive energy and the same message is going to be passed on to the schools that you currently work on. It’s a great opportunity and one we’re looking forward to.”
PNECET Head of Education Liam Sealey added: “We’re pleased to have partnered with Commando Joe’s and enjoyed a fantastic staff training session from Dale last month.
📸 The #PNECET workforce had an exciting staff training day last week, working with @CommandoJoes. 👊
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) November 1, 2021
We will be delivering Commando Joes through our #PLPrimaryStars programme to improve young people's educational outcomes. 🤍
📩 jack.mountain@pne.com#pnefc #CommandoJoes pic.twitter.com/MxIVinKtAZ
“All of our staff are very much looking forward to delivering the Commando Joe’s education programme to primary school children across Preston and helping young people to improve their personal qualities.
“We look to provide an education pathway for all and embracing unique educational interventions such as Commando Joe’s is a fantastic way for us to inspire as many children as possible through the power and appeal of Preston North End.”
For more information, please contact liamsealey@pne.com.