- Drew, a Premier League Kicks participant in Hinckley, says Leicester City in the Community’s sessions have benefitted him
- The Club’s charitable arm has supported Drew with his ambition of becoming a coach by allowing him to volunteer at sessions
- Local police officers are closer than ever to youth groups thanks to the community programme
Premier League Kicks, Leicester City in the Community’s long-running community programme, has been praised for its inclusive environment by one of its participants.
One of many regular sessions is in the nearby town on Hinckley, run on a Monday evening, which welcomes between 50 to 70 young people each week.
Kicks participant, Drew, has been diagnosed with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia - which delays his ability to process instructions as well as movement - but is very happy with the way Senior Kicks Coordinator Paul adapts his lessons to help.
Speaking about the session and the Leicester City in the Community coaches at Clarendon Park, Drew said: “The coaches are very inclusive. They talk nice about everyone.
“The sessions have made me a bit more mature and helped me grow my leadership skills more than I would have previously.”
Leicester City in the Community work closely with neighbourhood policing teams to help better the lives of local young people.
PC Darren Measures, from Hinckley Neighbourhood Police, spoke fondly about Drew, having worked with him for the past two-and-a-half years.
“He is basically a perfect example of what we are trying to achieve through these sessions,” he said. “Drew plays an instrumental role in delivering the sessions down at Hinckley now.
“A lot of the young people look up to him – he is the perfect role model.”
The Kicks programme looks to engage youngsters in constructive sporting activities, which includes personal development sessions.
As part of this, Leicester City in the Community have set up partnerships with the Desert Rats and Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, which has enabled Kicks groups from across the region to develop relationships and valuable life skills.
“We set up the programme (in Hinckley) in 2018,” PC Measures added. “If we didn’t have the Kicks project, we wouldn’t have this engagement with these young people.
“It’s through Leicester City that’s enabled young people to have these opportunities that potentially could be life-changing.”
Meanwhile, Drew is looking to become a coach himself, which the Club’s charitable arm is supporting. Along with studying, he has been able to volunteer at sessions, something the Kicks programme aims to achieve with its participants.
“Kicks has allowed me to volunteer at the session to help grow my ability as a coach,” said Drew. “It’s basically helped me complete my coaching at college.
“I will be getting an NVQ in Sports Coaching – a Level 3 – then I will get an apprenticeship or attend university.”
You can see how Drew has benefiting from the scheme by clicking HERE.
For more about the programme, please email Leicester City in the Community's Community Manager, Dan Mitchinson, via: dan.mitchinson@lcfc.co.uk.
Imagery taken at a Leicester City in the Community event before COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.