14 young people sponsored by the Reading FC Community Trust's Kickz project and the Prince's Trust have completed their Level One coaching qualification.

For many of these young people, their journey started last year on a pilot project, Get Started with Football. On that course, also run by Reading FC Community Trust and the Prince's Trust, young people aged 16-25 spent a week getting a taste of football coaching from our professional coaches.

Everyone gained the FA Junior Football Organiser's award, and FA recognized certificates in Emergency First Aid and Child Protection. The week was spent gaining useful coaching skills and drills, finishing off with a tournament for 40 year 6 children in the Academy Training Centre, organized and run entirely by the group.

The young people are now going to embark on careers as community coaches with the Community Trust, using their voluntary coaching experience to support them into paid work. Many also have plans to link up with local grass roots teams to encourage young children to get into football, providing structured coaching sessions in a safe and secure environment.

Reading FC Social Inlclusion Officer Gary Webb commented, "I am absolutely delighted with the efforts of the young people over the duration of both courses. They now have a fantastic opportunity to further develop their skills with the club, as well as potentially being role models within their local communities. I would also like to say a huge thanks to all the organizations who have supported the young people, in particular Jennie Carr from the Prince's Trust and the rest of the Community Trust team."

Due to the success of this pilot programme, we are about to run the fifth Get Started With Football course in the Thames Valley.

For more details, contact Jennie Carr of the Prince's Trust on 07919 380145.

Would you like an adventure? Go to www.princes-trust.org.uk/challenge. Your chance to do something TOTALLY different!