- Wout Faes and Ben Nelson support National Apprenticeship Week
- The pair took part in an inclusive coaching session with apprentices on the Coach Core programme
- National Apprenticeship Week is held from 5-11 February and celebrates the achievements of apprentices across the country
The session, held at Soar Valley Leisure Centre in Mountsorrel, provided a unique opportunity for the 10 apprentices in attendance to enhance their coaching abilities under the guidance of two of City’s Men’s First Team players, with a particular focus on inclusive training thanks to support from Activity Alliance.
An employment and education charity, working in partnership with Leicester City in the Community, Coach Core uses sports-based apprenticeships to target young people not in employment, education or training to change their future pathways and become positive influences in communities across the city and county.
After taking part in wheelchair basketball and handball activities, Faes and Nelson gave the apprentices valuable insights into their careers, while offering advice on various coaching techniques and sharing their knowledge with them.
Speaking to LCFC.com, Faes said: “It was a pleasure to meet these young individuals who are passionate about pursuing a career in coaching. I hope that our insights and experiences can inspire them to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world of sport.
“Being able to share our knowledge with them was fantastic. It's important to support young talent and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. I'm glad we could contribute to their development."
The Coach Core sports apprenticeship is achieved through investment into local apprenticeship networks established by key partners and employers, with the aim of driving social mobility where it is needed most and increase activity levels where they are lowest.
In total, Leicester City 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.
Dan Mitchinson, Senior Manager (Business Development) at Leicester City in the Community, said: “The Coach Core programme is a great way for us to recruit apprentices into the sport and health sector, both with us at Leicester City in the Community and through support from other local employers.
“The event provided a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of inclusivity and accessible sport provision and to connect community sport with the professional game, offering a great learning experience for all involved.”
Taking place from 5-11 February, National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses and the wider economy.
Sam Rolls, apprentice, added: “I’m a massive Leicester City fan and it was just ridiculous to meet Wout and Ben. They were both really nice guys, and it was great to be able to hear from them and listen to their insight.”
Please click here for more information about Coach Core. For further details about National Apprenticeship Week, please click here.