Leicester City In The Community Coaches Win Apprenticeship Awards
- Leicester City in the Community coaches Aura Chacón and Madi Elliott have scooped 2024 Coach Core Awards
- The Club has contributed over £130,000 of apprenticeship levy into the Leicestershire Coach Core network
- Wout Faes and Ben Nelson visited a crop of the most recent Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week
The annual Coach Core Awards highlighted the incredible impact being made right here in our region with the coaches of tomorrow. Active Women coaches Aura Chacón and Madi Elliott were awarded Graduate of the Year and Apprentice of the Year at the 2024 Coach Core Awards, respectively.
Leicester City Football Club has invested over £130,000 of apprenticeship levy into the Leicestershire Coach Core network, led by Active Together, which has supported the employment of 16 sport and health apprentices across nine different employers.
One award winner, Aura Chacón, couldn’t believe that her name was read out as Graduate of the Year. “It really took me by surprise when I heard my name as the winner. I was speechless; I did not know what to say.
“It was good to be chosen for the things I am doing in the background, people are seeing and taking notice of the things I do. I just do what I love and if it is being recognised it is an extra bonus.”
Aura has begun a Level 3 Community Sport and Health Officer apprenticeship through Leicester City’s charitable arm as her journey continues.
Aura’s Apprenticeship Journey
2019 – Studied Health and Fitness at College
2020 – Secured a role at Leicestershire County Cricket Club in the Community through the Coach Core apprenticeship
2022 – Won Coach Core Apprentice of the Year Award
2022 – Started at Leicester City in the Community as a casual coach
2022 – Secured a permanent role two months later
2024 – Started a Level 3 Community Sport and Health Officer apprenticeship
2024 – Won Coach Core Graduate of the Year Award
Following a similar route to Coach Core Graduate of the Year is Madi Elliott, who like her fellow Community Coach couldn’t quite believe her award win.
“It was unreal,” Madi explained. “I honestly couldn’t believe I had won! There were so many good nominees from across the country so to win was like a dream. I want to try and engage more girls into sports and continue to be a role model for them.”
Like Aura, Madi looks to progress with her sights set on completing her Level 3 Community Activator course after settling in to her new role.
Madi’s Apprenticeship Journey
2020 – Volunteered at Woodgate Adventure Playground
2021 – Kickstart Scheme six months on PL Kicks
2022 – Started a Coach Core apprenticeship
2023 – Secured a full-time position as an Active Women Coach
2024 – Won Coach Core Apprentice of the Year Award
Last week the Club recognised National Apprenticeship Week, to which Madi told her story. The week was culminated by a visit from Foxes pair Ben Nelson and Wout Faes to a Coach Core practical session. For more information on apprenticeships through Coach Core please click HERE.