In the latest article in our series highlighting the work of charities that have made a difference in the lives of our clients, we’re taking a look at the important work being done with vulnerable children and young people in and around Reading by one of our clients and his colleagues at Reading Football Club.Reading FC Community Trust is the community arm of the football club and it aims to work with over 3,500 young people each week. The charity runs programmes with a variety of organisations, including local schools, colleges, youth clubs and sports centres.Our client, 20-year-old Abdul, is currently employed at Reading FC Community Trust, where his own disability has not prevented him from finding a passion for helping others. He talked to us about his work with the charity:“I work for Reading in the community as a Social Inclusion Worker. I work with children and college students ranging from age 5 to 18, helping coach football and putting on multi-sport sessions around different schools in Reading. I love football and enjoy interacting with children. I like showing that you can do anything even if you have a disability.”Ruth Meyer, Partner and Head of the Court of Protection Team, says “I remember Abdul when he was a young boy, he must have been 9 or 10 when he told me how much he loved football. It’s so amazing to see him now working with Reading FC Community Trust. He should be very proud of what he has achieved and what he is doing for others”.One of the programmes provided by the Trust is Premier League Kicks. The Trust describes the programme’s vision as ‘To target some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country in order to create safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young people’. It is aimed at young people aged 11-19 years and offers workshops, short courses and projects linked to the government’s Every Child Matters policy.Another programme available is Reading Alternative Provision (“RAP”). RAP is an alternative education provision for children who struggle within the standard education system. There are currently more than 90 students learning with RAP, which is based at the club’s Madejski Stadium Dome complex. The programme is aimed at reducing school exclusions among these students and supporting them to return to mainstream schooling.Students at RAP participate in a wide variety of workshops such as multi-sport, football, boxercise, as well as PSHE workshops on communication, problem solving, resilience and independence. They are given the opportunity to choose a mentor to support them throughout the programme and may be able to earn qualifications, including the Sport Leaders qualification.Another programme offered by the Trust is an interactive educational programme called Choices, aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 16 years who are struggling with behaviour, self-esteem or social skills. “We support inclusion, helping children with language barriers, numeracy, maths, reading and writing. We will help children stay in school, have a positive influence on their education while being taught in a fun safe environment.”To learn more about Reading FC Community Trust, or if you are interested in supporting the valuable work they do, visit their website at https://www.readingfc.co.uk/community-trust/.If you have any queries or questions about how to support someone to make their own decisions then please contact our Court of Protection team by email at cop@boyesturner.com.
