Coach Core Awards 2020 – The Shortlist

This year the Coach Core Awards go online, held in partnership with UK Coaching.
They take place at 5.45pm on Thursday December 3rd and you can sign up to see them (for free) here: UK Coaching Awards.

This year there will be 6 awards up for grabs, and nominations have been put forward by apprentices, graduates, employers, tutors and partners from across the Coach Core network. Each category has been narrowed down to a shortlist of 3 nominees, which you can find below.

Coach Core ambassadors will be presenting the awards on the night. They are:

• • England & Manchester City football captain Steph Houghton (MBE)
  • 5-time Olympic medallist, gymnast Max Whitlock (MBE)
  • Scott Hann (MBE), Max Whitlock’s coach and Director of Coaching for the South Essex Gymnastics Club
  • Judy Murray (OBE), tennis coach, former British Fed Cup captain and mother of Andy and Jamie Murray

Graduate of the Year

This award celebrates a former Coach Core apprentice who has gone on to achieve great things since leaving the programme, and continued to impact their local community.

Jamie Clewer – Devon
Recently Jamie has been heavily involved in the Tackling Loneliness Together project, making phone calls every day to offer support to people as well food shopping, pharmacy collections & garden gate visits to the most vulnerable, + doing walk & talks to help get people out again.
“Jamie always goes the extra mile to help support those most vulnerable in the community”

Renee Gottshalk – Birmingham
Renee has been employed as Female Interventions Coach at Aston Villa Foundation, where she has delivered a 386% increase in girls engagement in 1 year. She is also one of 12 women nationwide to be enrolled onto the Women in Football ‘Women in Leadership’ Level One and Two courses.
“She is a inspiration and a role model not only to young people from Birmingham, but to her peers and colleagues at the Foundation too.”

Will Radcliffe – Manchester
Will works for Lancashire Cricket Foundation, primarily on the Wicketz programme where he has established strong relationships with 3 new schools. He has also created a progression pathway and mentoring for the older young people on Wicketz who are keen to become leaders on the programme.
“Schools are full of praise for Will’s professionalism and the relationship he has developed with their pupils.”

Employer of the Year

This award celebrates an organisation which has provided extraordinary support and opportunities to the Coach Core apprentice(s) employed there.

Brentwood Leisure Trust –  Essex
Brentwood Leisure Trust provides the widest range of affordable sport, leisure and entertainment for the community in Essex. They have worked with Coach Core since 2016

Hat-Trick – Tyne & Wear
Founded in 2005 Hat-Trick has worked with over 10,000 children and young people, and helped over 100 Newcastle residents to gain FA coaching awards. They use football to help young people gain skills and confidence – while having a great time along the way. They are part of the founding programme for Coach Core Tyne & Wear, which started in 2019.

Rocket Youth Sports – Leicester
Rocket Youth Sports’ mission is to help children lead a happy and healthy lifestyle through sport. They focus on fun, confidence, mental and physical health. They are a founding employer on the Leicester Coach Core programme, which started this year.

Tutor of the Year

This award celebrates the person who continually goes the extra mile to help the apprentices through their education or learning.

Graham Herstell – Manchester
Graham is very quick to gain the trust of the group and tailors his teaching to stretch those who need it whilst providing more support to others. He works hard to improve the employability of the apprentices by arranging a wide variety of CPD opportunities.
“He has a great rapport with apprentices and employers”

Sean Watson – Glasgow
Sean ensured all apprentices were supported with their mental health thru lockdown, as well as their work. When only outdoor activity was allowed, Sean was with the apprentices every day in continuous rain when he should have been on leave, to prep them for their assessment.
“The job he has done throughout this surreal situation is nothing short of amazing!”

Wasim Collins – Tyne & Wear
Wasim adapts his sessions to meet the needs of the apprentices, including those with medical conditions that have previously lead to them being left out. He effectively builds apprentices’ confidence by pushing them out of their comfort zone but within a secure framework.
“He is the most supportive teacher I have ever met”

Mentor of the Year

Mentor of the Year celebrates an individual within a Coach Core employer who has gone above and beyond to provide support and development for their apprentice.

Dave Reed – Tyne & Wear
Dave introduced Coach Core to 3 rugby clubs in Northumberland and worked closely with their apprentices, mentoring & providing significant extra training & qualifications for them. Sadly Dave was made redundant in Oct but is working as a volunteer to continue supporting the 3 apprentices.
“I am honoured to be able to propose him for this award”

Jim Messenger – Essex
Jim works hard to find the right way to connect with his apprentices, taking a person-centric approach, including adapting his practice to support those with a disability. He pushes and supports his apprentices through a wide range of CPD opportunities.
“He showed me he valued me not just as an apprentice, but a young man”

Mark Barber – Leicester
In extremely difficult circumstances, Mark has worked tirelessly to support his apprentice and ensure they are able to thrive on the programme, being flexible and supportive to help them overcome their own challenges.
“in extremely challenging times, has worked tirelessly”

Apprentice of the Year

Abdul Hakim – Derbyshire
Abdul arrived to the UK from Ethiopia, aged 15. He is a foster care leaver with a drive to constantly improve himself, overcoming language barriers on a daily basis.
“His journey so far is already incredible and I feel privileged to be a part of the development of his future”

Anne Marie Roberts – Tyne & Wear
Anne Marie made a significant life change taking on this apprenticeship as a single mum of 3. She stepped into organising a festival for 100 young women only a few months into her apprenticeship and gave opportunities with it to other apprentices on the programme.
“has gone from strength to strength”

Nicole Ainslie – Tyne & Wear
Nicole has an extreme willingness to learn and better herself, but also to help others – she brings her apprentice group together and is someone they turn to for guidance.
“Nicole doesn’t know how good she is as a coach and person”

Community Impact Award

To be announced on the night…