Coach Core Awards 2025
This year’s winners announced
The Coach Core Awards bring together apprentices, graduated apprentices, their employers and learning coaches, as well as supporters and other partners, to celebrate and highlight everything that makes Coach Core special. These celebrations take place in the heart of National Apprenticeship Week – what better time to focus on the efforts and successes of the Coach Core network?
The 2025 ceremony took place at The Oval in London on 13 February and was attended by Mark Ormrod (MBE), Jo Pavey (MBE), and Tom Bosworth (MBE) who each presented awards. The ceremony was hosted by Coach Core apprentices Aminat Bello and Gabrielle Reid, alongside Olympian Heather Fisher.
The Coach Core Awards are always special, but this year felt more powerful than ever. We heard stories of young people who faced unimaginable challenges—barriers that could have held them back forever—but instead, they chose to push forward. They took the opportunity in front of them, worked hard, and changed the direction of their lives. That’s what makes these awards so meaningful.
At Coach Core, we can help open the door, but it’s the apprentices who step through it. They are the ones who show up, who push themselves when it gets tough, who prove to themselves and others that they are capable of so much more than they ever thought possible. And in doing so, they aren’t just transforming their own futures—they’re lifting up those around them. They’re mentoring the next generation, bringing sport and activity to people who need it most, and creating real change in their communities.
Today, we celebrated their courage, their resilience, and the difference they are making every day. I'd also like to thank the incredible employers, learning coaches, and supporters who stand behind them, championing their success. Together, we are building something truly special—opportunities that change lives, and young people who prove that when given a chance, they can achieve extraordinary things.
The winners, chosen from an exceptional field of finalists, were as follows:
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 2 programme.
Skye Leonard
Youth Moves, Bristol
Skye has shown remarkable dedication to her local community in Knowle West, empowering and supporting young people by facilitating mentorship programmes, counselling and community projects. Skye champions youth-led initiatives, that allow participants to become part of the solution, giving them a sense of agency and purpose. One standout initiative is her community project, ‘Strengthening the Community One Session at a Time’, which improves the well-being of young people in Knowle West by focusing on mental, physical, and emotional health through using the gym. Skye secured funding for the project so that participants could use the gym for free, ensuring that those who might not have otherwise had access to such facilities could take part in physical activity and wellbeing sessions. By battling through her own personal challenges—such as social anxiety and self-doubt—Skye demonstrated the very qualities she hoped to instil in others, showing how a positive behaviour change is possible with persistence.
“Living in an area of high deprivation, crime, and violence, Skye’s environment presented additional barriers to her success. However, rather than being defined by these challenges, she used them as motivation to break the cycle of hardship.”
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 3 programme.
Spencer Glaze
Leicester, Make Change Inclusive
Spencer’s caring and supportive nature make him a trusted figure among parents, carers, and students alike. He designs PE sessions that incorporate adaptive exercises, ensuring that children with varying abilities—whether physical, cognitive, or emotional—can participate fully. His ability to modify games and introduce accessible sports has led to greater student engagement, especially for those who may struggle in traditional PE settings. One of Spencer’s most impressive examples of resilience and adaptability came when he was asked to work at a different school that required him to take 4 buses to get there. He took on this challenge with enthusiasm and professionalism, quickly integrated into the new environment and delivered the same high standard of work. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with staff requesting Spencer be based there for longer than the initially agreed two weeks. Spencer also has significant personal responsibilities as a carer for his father. Balancing the demands of an apprenticeship with the emotional and physical demands of caregiving is not easy, but Spencer has managed this balance with maturity and a positive attitude, maintaining a high standard of work throughout.
“At just 16 years old, Spencer has already shown an extraordinary level of professionalism, and dedication. The fact that Spencer is so young but already demonstrating such a high level of responsibility and empathy is a testament to his exceptional character and maturity.”
This award celebrates a graduated Coach Core apprentice who has gone on to achieve remarkable things since their programme finished.
Aaron Bishop
Sussex
Since graduating his apprenticeship, Aaron has become a key part of the team at Defiant Sports. He works with their regular users as well as delivering on bespoke sessions for organisations like Mencap, Memory Lane Dementia Group, care homes, community centres, schools and more. He has also helped to develop and run new ventures for Defiant Sports like HAF sessions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) youngsters. A highlight of Aaron’s recent work has been helping one regular adult attendees come off his diabetes medication by getting active, losing weight, and improving his test results. Aaron also remains engaged with Coach Core, delivering high quality inclusion training to our apprentices, designed to increase confidence and competence delivering inclusive activities to participants with SEND.
“Aaron is also always ready to go that extra mile, if they ever need last minute cover, he is there, a new session to be run – he will plan and deliver it, a staff member struggling with an aspect of delivery – he will support them. He inspires all those he works with!”
This award celebrates an organisation which embraces the Coach Core ethos and uses the benefits of partnership working to support the Coach Core apprentice(s) they employ.
Youth Moves
Bristol
Youth Moves is committed to providing outstanding support and encouraging personal development. They provide funding and support for their apprentices to train in the areas that interest them – meaning one apprentice completed their levels 1, 2 and 3 Youth Work qualifications in a single year. They also provide – and secure external – funding for the apprentices’ projects so they run effectively and give the apprentices the development opportunities that come with independence. They are proactive in ensuring the apprentices get exposed to a range of experiences beyond their day-to-day work, including taking them to events, getting them to speak at seminars and to lead meetings.
“Youth moves creates a space of empowerment for all that walk through that door. It has changed my life and outlook on life. No day is the same and I love my job a little more each day!”
This award celebrates an individual in an organisation that employs a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations in supporting their apprentice(s).
Scott Moore
Leicester, CEL Sports
Scott recognizes the unique challenges that young people face, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has made it a priority to instil resilience in his apprentices, both in their personal development and in the way they work with young people. This emphasis on resilience is not just about enduring difficulty—it’s about learning to adapt, stay motivated, and keep moving forward in the face of adversity, which is critical for long-term career progression. He puts his apprentices through a number of different qualifications, from FA and ECB Level 1s to NHS Autism and British Blind Sport training courses. Beyond technical training, Scott emphasizes the importance of career progression and stability. By offering apprentices a variety of training experiences and certifications, Scott gives them the tools to develop a diverse skill set, opening up numerous career pathways within the sport and physical activity sector. Scott mentors multiple apprentices, each with individual needs and challenges that they are facing. He is able to provide the support, training and opportunities each of them need in order to develop – as well as running a large and expanding business.
“Scott’s forward-thinking approach to workforce planning means that apprentices are integral to the business’s future, as he actively builds the company to be more inclusive and diversified, ensuring apprentices are part of this journey.”
This award celebrates the educator who has surpassed expectations in support of the apprentices they are teaching.
Eleanor Owen
Ellie’s approachability, humour, and exceptional dedication make her an outstanding winner. She consistently goes above and beyond for her apprentices, ensuring they receive top-tier support throughout their learning journeys. Her commitment is evident in the way she actively supports Coach Core events, involving her apprentices in volunteering opportunities, interviews, and notable events like the Include Summit.
“I am thrilled to share that, thanks to Ellie’s unwavering dedication and expertise, I have achieved triple distinctions in my apprenticeship. This outstanding achievement would not have been possible without Ellie’s invaluable contribution to my learning journey.”
This award celebrates someone in the Coach Core network who has made a significant contribution to our mission, has demonstrated Coach Core values and deserves to be recognised for their support and dedication to the programme.
Lee Simms
AFS UK
Since first being introduced to Coach Core two years ago, Lee has championed our cause tirelessly. He has made it his mission to introduce us to as many financial sector clients as he can, spreading the word about how marginalised talent gets the opportunity to realise their potential through our community sports apprenticeships. As a keen sportsman and runner, he understands just how powerful our sector can be to transform lives and is always the first person to commit his company to any fundraising initiative we run. His appreciation of the team behind the scenes is also notable as he is always singing their praises and asking how he can help more as a result. It’s professionals like Lee, who make supporting the third sector their personal mission, that really make the charity world go round.
Learn about all the finalists:
Apprentice of the Year: Community Sports & Health Officer (Level 3)
Apprentice of the Year: Community Activator Coach (Level 2)
Watch the highlight reels:
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