Team Essex launches with a focus on inclusive coaching

An exciting array of employers have worked together to provide 20 young people the opportunity to become employed and educated in a number of sports and locations across the county. However, one agreed principle runs through this group; to provide more coaching opportunity and expertise on disability and inclusivity as we try to engage with more participants across Essex.

The programme started in the first week of October with a whirlwind event at Lords culminating in the group meeting and engaging with Prince Harry and their ambassadors, gold medal Olympian Max Whitlock and his award winning coach Scott Hann! Jason Fergus, Director for Active Essex who play a central role in this consortium, spoke prior to HRH to state their reasons as to why this programme excites them and aligns with their vision for what Active Essex wish to achieve across the county. A former top level sprinter, Jason leads by example and has already spoken to the apprentices about the opportunity they have and how they must experience as many things as they can in their 12 months to build their sporting careers.

Based centrally in Chelmsford, our employer partners are scattered across Essex and so this programme will also trial a number of remote learning tools to ensure our full time tutor is able to stay engaged and updated with the apprentices at all times. The partners are as follows:

Colchester United in the Community, Hadleigh Park, Sport for Confidence, South Essex Gymnastics Club, Fusion Leisure, West Ham United Foundation, Essex County Cricket Club, Volleyball England and Brentwood Leisure Trust whose pioneering leisure centre aims to be the most inclusive in the UK.