FIRST team players Lucas Akins, Stephen Quinn and Kyle McFadzean have attended a Building Better Opportunities Evolve session, which supports both employability and mental health.
BBO Head For Goal is a football therapy session which uses football to engage individuals who are suffering from mental health issues, funded by the European Social Fund and The Big Lottery Community Fund.
The aim of the project is to build health and fitness, in addition to social skills or general confidence for individuals, whilst guiding them towards an active lifestyle through sport.
Dan Brooks, Employability Coordinator said: “To see Lucas, Stephen and Kyle, not just engaging with the 20+ individuals this afternoon through football, but discussing mental health, careers and general day-to-day struggles was a credit to the football club.
“The session allows individuals the chance to improve their confidence and mental health, along with helping them to take footsteps into employment or further education and training.
“This season, we have had three young individuals progress and complete a traineeship with Burton Albion Community Trust, eight participants moving into employment and four currently in the process of completing distance-learning schemes.
"Moving forward, our aim is to develop further opportunities and links with local businesses for all our participants.”
Every Tuesday, between 1.30-3.30pm, the sessions take place at The Burton Albion Community Football Centre 3G (Pirelli Stadium). Individuals aged from 16-years-old, who are currently suffering from anxiety, stress, loss of confidence or depression, are also given the opportunity to access employability skills and gain further distance-learning or career opportunities following their practical involvement with BACT. Building CV's, basic IT support with applications or job searching are available, in addition to help with building confidence with interview techniques.
If you would like to attend the session or require further information about all employability programmes, please contact 01283 440041 or email dan.brooks@burtonalbionct.org