Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been delivering the targeted youth engagement programme in partnership with Lancashire Violence Reduction Network
- Champions programme supporting young people across Skelmersdale
- Wigan Athletic Community Trust supported targeted young people through mentoring, workshops and enrichment activities
- “It’s had a real positive impact on his behaviour and outlook on everyday life.” – Oscar’s Mum, Sarah.
Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been supporting targeted young people through the Champions programme.
Champions is delivered in partnership with the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network with Wigan Athletic Community Trust, working with young people across Skelmersdale.
The programme is targeted at young people with experience of or at risk of offending behaviours and uses the power of football and physical activity to inspire and help them improve their behaviours and enhance their opportunities.
Recently, Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Youth Engagement Officer, Dan Hall, has been taking the young people he’s been mentoring to Birch Green Amateur Boxing Club to help them improve their health, wellbeing and engage in a new community and activity.
Speaking about the impact of the sessions on him, one of the young people; Oscar, said:
“I enjoy it a lot. It’s good to get out of the house and do things. It’s helped me a lot, and I’ve chilled out a lot more.”
Oscar’s mum, Sarah, also spoke about how the programme had helped Oscar, saying:
“It’s had a massive effect on Oscar’s life. It’s helped him use his energy in a positive way and has had a great impact on his physical and mental health and the social aspect of things.
“He’s getting out a lot more and not just hanging about on the streets or getting into trouble or doing what teenagers will do. He’s got boundaries, and it’s had a real positive impact on his behaviour and outlook on everyday life.
“It’s helping him progress to better things and start making the right choices.
“Having someone like Dan (Wigan Athletic Community Trust, Youth Engagement Officer), who he looks up to like a mentor and a friend – someone he can confide in has made a huge difference. I’ve seen a massive change in him, and he comes home after every session with a buzz about him.
“He’s got positive role models now, and I do think it’s changing his behaviour for the better.”
To find out more about the Champions programme, visit https://lancsvrn.co.uk/champions-programme/ or email Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Youth Engagement Manager Rachel Wood by emailing r.wood@wiganathletic.com