This month ‘boast sponsorship’ is pleased to announce that we are working alongside Alfreton Town Football Club. Alfreton are launching the second phase of their Community Academy initiative – giving local young people the chance to gain sports leadership qualifications through a pioneering apprenticeship programme.
The Club, which was promoted last season to the Blue Square Bet Premiere Division, is working with Derby College to recruit the apprentices and support them through their qualifications.
Four apprentices recently started their programmes at Alfreton Town FC and recruitment has now started to recruit a further 20 apprentices.
The aim is to have up to 40 apprentices at the club in the next 12 months who will be working full time with local schools and community groups to provide free or low cost sporting activities for children and young people whilst working towards NVQ level three qualifications in Activity Leadership.
Alfreton Town Development Director John Glasby explained: “When we were promoted last season, we wanted to get the community more involved in the football club and for ourselves to become more involved in the community.
“We decided the best way was through setting up a Community Academy and have worked with Derby College who have done an excellent job recruiting the apprentices and organising the training.
“Although there are no guaranteed jobs for the apprentices at the end of the programme, these qualifications are designed to be extremely flexible for all sorts of industries – from sport and leisure to tourism and childcare
“There will also be opportunities for the apprentices to play football – combining their playing aspirations with their community work and vocational qualifications – the best of every world.”
Alfreton Town FC Apprentices
boast are committed to find financial support to enable it to expand the community scheme with plans in the pipeline to introduce pre and after school activities for local children. This scheme will give great exposure and interaction for the right brand and is a wonderful community scheme showing a brand’s Corporate social intentions.
Club chairman Wayne Bradley continued: “As one of the smallest clubs in the Conference premiere division, we are renowned for punching above our weight on the pitch and this ambition has been extended to the establishment and exciting plans for expanding our Community Academy.
“Our aim is to provide young people with qualifications that will make them extremely employable in a wide range of industries and to support the health and wellbeing of children in our local community through high quality coaching programmes – taking us right into the heart of Alfreton and surrounding area to make a positive difference to people’s lives.”
Among the current apprentices are Luke Crosby (19) from Ripley who has worked as a voluntary PE assistant since leaving Mill Hill School and is keen to work in sport after the apprenticeship.
Dan Roughton (18) from Alfreton is a volunteer coach for Alfreton Town juniors and saw the apprenticeship advertised in the paper.
“I have always been more interested in coaching than playing so this apprenticeship is ideal. I can’t wait to get going with the programmes in the local schools and supporting young people to get more active and learn new skills.”
Dan Hatfield (18) from South Normanton originally went to College after leaving Swanwick Hall School in Alfreton but had always wanted to get an apprenticeship.
“This is the best of both worlds – earning while we are learning and being part of a football club. My aim is to be a top coach.”
April Hayhurst, Head of Employer Engagement at Derby College, concluded: “Having recruited the first four apprentices for the Club, we are now working with the coaches and young people to start their formal qualifications which will be invaluable for their future working lives.
“We are starting recruitment for the next stage of 20 young people and are confident that we will be a great response from young people who will be keen to take advantage of this exciting and pioneering programme.”
For more information about this unique sponsorship opportunity please email us at AlfretonTownFCCA@boastsponsorship.co.uk