Premier League Charitable Fund: 10 Year Anniversary Awards

Jack started his journey with Blackpool FC Community Trust on the BTEC Education programme and then progressed onto the Degree. Throughout that period Jack showed a very keen interest in the PL Primary Stars programme and always aspired to become a part of the team at BFCCT delivering the programme.

Throughout his studies, Jack found time to volunteer on the provision and completed significant hours and qualifications to equip him for the role for the future.

Following his graduation in 2019, Jack was awarded a full time role with the Community Trust and is now a Physical Education Officer with Blackpool FC Community Trust delivering the programme in local primary schools.

Whilst Jack hasn’t had to overcome considerable adversity to get his targeted role, he showed unbelievable commitment and dedication to finding his path and engaging in the work he loves.

Moor Park is a 2-form entry primary school in Blackpool who have been an advocate of the PL Primary Stars programme since its introduction. Initially embracing PE support delivered by BFCCT and using evidence based tool kits, the school soon identified key components within the programme that were beneficial to the pupils and teachers alike.

Continuous Primary Stars PE delivery has improved teachers capabilities and confidence in delivering PE lessons and subsequently increased the quality of PE in the school. Moor Park have always been represented at BFCCT sporting festivals and competitions with the school emphasis on team work and sportsmanship.

Now working with all class and nursery teachers, our partnership work has expanded over the last 5 years. BFCCT are currently supporting the school with redesigning the school PE curriculum, using teacher focus groups/workshops, school facilities, environment and the school’s values to develop a bespoke scheme of work that has been created collectively.

Stephen started his journey with BFCCT as an apprentice sports coach in 2011 and completed his initial journey by becoming a sports coach on the very first PL Kicks site that was delivered in Blackpool at Revoe Park.

Ste continued to coach and inspire young people at this and many more sites for a further six years whilst working in a local nursery and completing his degree in Sports Coaching. Following his further progressions, he became the lead for BFCCT on Early Years PE in 2017 and has since continued in the role establishing a number of programmes in this area.

Stephen attributes his experience and involvement in PL Kicks and the impact he had on many young people to his progression and new career.

Matthew Guy is 17 years old and from the ‘Park’ ward area of Blackpool. Park ward has one of the highest rates of unemployment, ASB and deprivation in Blackpool and England.

Matthew has regularly attended PL Kicks sessions for the past five years and many positive experiences along the way. As well as representing Blackpool FC Community Trust in PL Kicks fixtures and the PL Kicks Cup, Matthew has travelled to play on the pitch at Wigan’s DW Stadium – winning the ‘Premier League Fair Play Award’ in a regional tournament, in this time.

In September 2020, Matthew joined our Blackpool FC Community Trust Sports College and is now studying for a BTEC level 3 in Sport. He is volunteering on our PL Kicks programme at the moment and booked his FA Level 1 in football. Matthew aspires to work for Blackpool FC Community Trust in the future as a full time member of staff delivering on the PL Kicks programme.

A PL Enterprise Delivery Officer from 2015, who helped shape and deliver the provision, through its final 3 years of delivery.

On the introduction of PL Inspires, Simon became the Secondary Education Manager.  Through the partnerships already developed delivering PL Enterprise, consultation with schools took place, identifying that pupils needed support around mental health and managing stress around GCSE’s.

Working with his team, Simon developed a mental health and resilience programme focussed on exam stress, embedding the research based Headstart Resilience Framework into the programme and supporting the strategic need in Blackpool to improve attainment and aspirations, which has been held as best practice nationally.

Following the first year’s delivery of PL Inspires, Simon identified that the hour per week him and his staff were working with young people was not enough to fully support the pupils through the issues they raised thus further developing the PL Inspires programme into a High School Hubs offer, providing staff in every high school for two days per week.

Dylan was a participant of the PL Enterprise programme in 2015 and was part of the national winning PL Enterprise Challenge team. Which allowed him to develop a business idea, in a team and present in front of some very challenging judges, including Theo Paphitis.

After winning the competition, Dylan and his team mates presented their idea to both Blackpool FC owners and also PL CEO Richard Scudamore. These experiences equipped Dylan to gain the confidence to apply for a business apprenticeship at British Aerospace, where he actually used the Enterprise Challenge presentation and experience as the main focus for his interview presentation.

Dylan now works in the commercial business department, which he credits his involvement with BFCCT and the Enterprise programme as key contributors to his progress.

PLCF funding was initially secured in 2011 to enable BFCCT to develop and deliver a Key Stage 2 healthy lifestyle programme (Fit2Go) to help address poor diet and nutrition in the town and increase physical activity and awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

A successful pilot led to the programme being offered to all 30 schools in Blackpool. Notable gaps in the pupil health knowledge were suddenly reduced with 98% of children demonstrating improvement in their knowledge over the six week programme.

Player visits, inter-school healthy lifestyle quizzes and an end of year Fit2Go Festival made the programme a stand out provision to school. Over 15,000 Year 4 children have benefited from the PLCF funded initiative over the 10 year span.

The effectiveness of the programme allowed the Community Trust to secure local authority match funding ensuring the continued development of the Fit2Go brand. This commitment was justified in 2017.

To date we have developed and delivered Early Years, High School and Family programmes under the Fit2Go umbrella.