Preston North End Community and Education Trust [PNECET] has recruited four more Community Sports Coaches as part of the government Kickstart scheme, which provides paid employment opportunities for 16 to 24-year-olds accessing Universal Credit.
Jack Banks, Jacob Williams, Jordan Thomas and Martell Elly have joined the Trust on six-month job placement roles, allowing them to build their employability and personal skills by supporting the delivery of PNECET provision.
Last year, Preston North End became one of 65 EFL clubs to sign-up to the Kickstart scheme, which is operated by the Department for Work and Pensions, recruiting four Community Sports Coaches in April, all of whom enjoyed successful six-month stints.
The latest Kickstart members of staff – Jack, Jacob, Jordan and Martell – have all been recruited within the last month and made a strong impact during their first weeks in post.
During their time with PNECET, all four new staff members will be mentored by a full-time staff member to develop their coaching and interpersonal qualities, allowing them to gain the confidence and knowledge to make positive strides while seeking full-time employment.
Head of Education Liam Sealey said: “We’re really pleased to have welcomed Jack, Jacob, Jordan and Martell to the team and look forward to having them on board for the forthcoming months.
“As the club’s official charity, we strive to improve educational attainment and employability in our local community to help people make positive changes in their lives, and we’re confident that the Kickstart scheme can benefit all of Jack, Jacob, Jordan and Martell in numerous ways.
“Jack, Jacob, Jordan and Martell are all talented individuals with many fantastic qualities. We’re sure they will add significant value to our delivery for the forthcoming months and hope to help them develop their skills further.”
Jack said: “I’m looking to build myself as a person, as a coach, and also just get some more experience. I want to build up my confidence, coaching ability, work in different sports and also gain more experience with further coaching badges that I can attain.
“I feel like PNE is a club that will help me, it’s a welcoming, community club. They help out and offer people of various ages a good service. Having supported them as a boy and now being able to work in the community and help them is a big honour.”
Jacob said: “I’m hoping to improve my communication with older and younger people all around the community. In the future, I want to be a personal trainer, and I feel like this will help me a lot, getting to know different kinds of people.
“Now, being with Preston North End, it feels good, it’s a good opportunity and I’m very thankful for it.”
Jordan said: “It’s good and it’s going to help me with my coaching. It can help me massively.
“It’s a big club and there is a lot of inspiration for me within the club. There are people around me that can help me move forward within my coaching and help me do what I want to do.”
Martell said: “I’m excited; Preston North End is a big club and for me to be involved in the community is something that I really wanted to do.
“I went to UCLan and heard about Preston North End Community and Education Trust whilst I was there. As I saw the opportunity arise, I had to go for it and knew it would benefit me in the long-run.”
Jack, Jacob, Jordan and Martell follow in the footsteps of our last four Kickstart employees - David Berry, James Galt, Nicole Collins and Reece Howarth – all of whom enjoyed six-month job placement roles as Community Sports Coaches with the Trust last year.
David, James, Nicole and Reece remain as casual staff members of the Trust, with the former also being enrolled on our Foundation Degree programme in Community Football Coaching and Development, offered in partnership with the University of South Wales and the EFL Trust.
David, James, Nicole and Reece all agreed that they developed their confidence and personal skills from their employment with PNECET.
For more information about the Kickstart scheme, please email liamsealey@pne.com.