THE latest Inspiring Your Future event at the Pirelli Stadium has put young men in the spotlight with a series of workshops designed to give 16 and 17 year olds valuable life lessons they can take into adulthood.
Following on from the successful first event which focussed on young women, this special day gave the young male students an opportunity to focus on their futures ahead of International Men’s Day which this year has a focus on mental health and wellbeing.
Workshops focussed on topics such as nutrition and health, self-development and team building and there was also a question and answer session with Burton Albion first team players Marvin Sordell and Will Miller.
The event was hosted by Burton Albion Football Club, delivered by Burton Albion Community Trust and supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association.
The students attending were from Pingle, De Ferrers and John Taylor as well as BACT trainees and Football and Education participants.
Burton Albion Commercial Director Fleur Robinson said: "After the success of the first Inspiring Your Future event the football club is delighted to host this day dedicated to young men. We hope all the students will be inspired to think positively about their futures and will have picked up some valuable insights to guide them."
Sarah Evan, who co-ordinated the event for BACT, said: “We thought it was important to pick up the themes of International Men’s Day and we are delighted to be able to deliver these positive messages to the 16 and 17 year olds who have come along to the event.”
John Widdowson, BACT’s Health and Inclusion Manager, said: “Encouraging young people to progress and make the most of their lives are things that everyone at the football club and the community trust are passionate about. The Inspiring Your Future events are an important part of that.”
Brewers striker Marvin Sordell told the students that you have to be "relentless" in pursuing your dreams.
He said: "You have to keep believing and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. I knew from the age of five I wanted to be a footballer and lots of people told me it was just a dream and I couldn't do it but I kept on believing."
Mark Brooks, Ambassador for International Men’s Day UK, stated: “It is brilliant that the football club is leading the way in supporting International Men’s Day with great help from the local community, schools and employers. Football and sport in general are a great way to engage boys and young men in ensuring they take better care of their health and wellbeing, as well as giving them the confidence that they can succeed in whatever they wish to.
“Hearing those messages from footballers themselves is really powerful. We wished more football clubs were taking the same positive approach to International Men’s Day and also looking after the young men and boys in their community.”
Pictures by Richard Holmes