Reds Reward Social Academy Graduates

Unemployed people from the Wirral brushed up on their football coaching skills thanks to a ground-breaking project involving Liverpool FC.

The club teamed up with North Birkenhead Development Trust, BroBro Consulting, Diamond Soccer and Wirral Metropolitan College for the Social Academy program.

To celebrate the success of the project, the 13 Social Academy graduates, who all passed their Level 1 FA coaching badge, played a select XI from Liverpool FC including club legend Alan Kennedy and community coaches on March 29 at the Wyncote centre.

It was 2-1 at half-time to the Liverpool side and they went on to win 5-4.

Following the game there was lunch at the club's Bob Paisley suite, and a presentation event with certificates awarded to the 13 learners.

The Social Academy was co-ordinated from the St James Centre which is run by North Birkenhead Development Trust.

The objective of the Social Academy is to engage with long-term socially excluded people to provide them with the necessary skills to move towards the employment market.

The football coach education is provided by Liverpool FC and the Skills for Life education element by Wirral Metropolitan College.

Bill Bygroves, from Liverpool FC community department, said: "We are delighted once again to be supporting the Social Academy by delivering a football coaching program which over a number of years has been greatly appreciated."

Anna Barnish, Trust Manager at the St James Centre, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for local unemployed people to receive coach education from one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

"We hope that we can work with the learners and develop them into community coaches and help them move towards employment."

Richard Brown, from the Social Academy, said: "The first Social Academy that was run from Wirral was a great success and will build on the successes we have delivered across Liverpool and Manchester.

"Linking education with football has worked exceptionally well and we hope to continue running the project and expanding the service that we offer."