Speakers

fantastic to see people coming to our sessions and achieving something they didn’t think they could. That could be something they achieve in physical health, social health or mental health.Health and Wellbeing Programmes Co-ordinator

"I love people, and I believe health is everyone’s wealth. I manage lifestyle clinics for members of the community aged 40 to 74. It involves checks for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, that sort of thing. I advise participants on how community services can benefit them, such as encouraging them to join classes that can help them give up smoking or reduce their alcohol intake. I go to local community centers, supermarkets, the library or even pop-up clinics. Anywhere I can meet people and try to coax them to have a free health checks. It’s the easiest thing to do. I help people to nip things in the bud. It’s great to connect with people and take away their fears."

"I started as a volunteer on our ‘Kicks’ programme, and now I’m full time and I love it. Engaging with young people around here is really worthwhile. Some can be a bit loud, a bit cheeky, and others can be really quiet. I work with all sorts of characters, and I’ve seen many of them develop from, say, 11-years-old to being a young man. That can be quite special. I try to be something of a role model, supporting them and helping them to develop themselves. Engaging with young people is the most important thing, showing that you care and that you can help."

"I've always played football at quite a high level and I used to play for Spurs Ladies (that’s what they were called before Women!). I just love football and I want to encourage young people, especially girls, because I know how difficult it was for me growing up. And I think that everybody should be able to enjoy the game– shape, size, age doesn't ma er. And I want to be able to facilitate that. It's important to listen to young people and speak to them about what they enjoy. We've got some groups that are a bit more competitive and some who just like playing with their friends, enjoying the sociability and being involved in something. I like to inspire young people and, as one of the few female coaches, I also think it's important that I'm visible."

"I do a variety of classes and programmes, coaching and managing different kinds of events for everyone from young to old. I think that making a difference to the people I work with is really rewarding. Coaching can put a smile on everyone's face, and knowing that I’m part of people’s journeys to something better is a great feeling. The people I work with just seem to know that they can trust me. They can rely on me."

"I used to play football professionally, and I’m still as passionate about the game as I ever was. I get real satisfaction from developing young people – not just on the field, but off the field as well, seeing how they grow as people. It's down to the individual to make a difference in their lives. But as a coach, I’m here to support them. I think it's about being relatable and understanding the participants. We not only deliver football skills, but we also deliver life skills, helping them along the way and using football as a fun way to be engaged. We work hard to create an environment where young people feel like they're being heard and understood. That’s really valuable and really rewarding."

"I come from a personal training background and I also grew up on the streets around here. I know what’s going on out there, so I feel I can make a positive difference to young people. With the mentoring, it’s a bit like being a big brother. A word of advice here, a word of caution there. You don’t always see a difference straight away, but over time you can often see a progression in the right direction. That’s a great feeling. And I love football – it’s a great way to build rapport, trust and respect. Giving back to the community is what it’s all about for me."