Leicester Parliamentary Candidate Visits Leicester City In The Community Partner School
- Liz Kendall visited Castle Mead Academy
- The city-based Academy is one of Leicester City in the Community’s partner schools where the Premier League Inspires programme is delivered
- Ms Kendall sat in with the group looking at jobs in football
- Pupils were treated to a visit from the Premier League Trophy
The visit was organised to showcase the partnership that Leicester City in the Community have with the school in delivering the Premier League Inspires programme, giving young people the chance to develop their skills, confidence, teamwork, and inspiring the next generation to be the best they can be.
Castle Mead Academy have been taking part in Premier League Inspires sessions since the 2019/20 academic year. In Leicester, eight schools are part of the programme, led locally through Leicester City in the Community, and 1,272 young people in the city have been supported over the last four years.
During the visit, Ms Kendall joined pupils in a Premier League Inspires session focusing on jobs in sport and learning about transferrable skills and how they can be used across different industries.
The pupils then had a chance to have a photograph taken with the Premier League Trophy, which was on display at the Academy.
Liz Kendall, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Leicester West, said: “With Leicester gripped in football fever, I was delighted to have the chance to visit Castle Mead Academy to see this fantastic programme first hand.
“Leicester City are using football to inspire the next generation to fulfil their potential and I hope that programmes like this continue to help young people in Leicester gain the skills and confidence they need on a path to good jobs, apprenticeships, training or further learning.
“That’s what we need for young people in Leicester so that we transform opportunity, grow the economy, and give everyone a stake in our city’s success.”
Emma Lowry, Senior Education Manager at Leicester City in the Community said: “It was great to welcome Liz Kendall to Castle Mead Academy to hear from beneficiaries of the Premier League Inspires programme.
“Premier League Inspires builds the skills, knowledge, and confidence of participants as they prepare to transition into adult life and complements our broader strategic aim of delivering targeted education interventions.
“Working with education settings throughout Leicester, we use the power of football to deliver education, training and employability interventions to raise attainment, employability and aspirations.”
Tom Hague, Castle Mead Academy Executive Principal said: “We are delighted with our continuing partnership with Leicester City in the Community, through the Premier League Inspires programme.
“Having our mentor, Pheobe, engrained as part of own staff team four days per week allows for our scholars to forge a strong relationship with her and they have benefited enormously from the interventions and opportunities that have come our way.
“Our community thrives on positive partnerships such as this, and we thank all at Leicester City in the Community for their unwavering support of our scholars and families”.
For more on Premier League Inspires, please contact Inspires Coordinator Zoe Hickman on zoe.buller@lcfc.co.uk.