Finalists announced for the 2024 Coach Core Awards
Coach Core has announced the finalists in each category – including a new award – for our 2024 awards ceremony taking place in February.
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.
The 2024 ceremony will celebrate the best of our programmes across the country over the previous year. This year sees the introduction of a new award to differentiate the successes of apprentices on the 2 different standards delivered on Coach Core programmes: the Community Activator Coach (L2) which we have been delivering since 2018, and the Community Sports & Health Officer which we have been delivering since 2021.
The ceremony will by taking place at The Oval – Surrey County Cricket Club’s ground – in London on February 7th.
Apprentice of the Year: Community Activator Coach (L2)
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 2 programme.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Madison Elliott, Leicester City in the Community (Leicester)
- Jennifer Mendonca, Empire Fighting Chance (Bristol)
- Samuel Ntsiful, Glasgow Life (Glasgow)
- Ellis Ridsdale, Your Trust Rochdale (Manchester)
Apprentice of the Year: Community Sports & Health Officer (L3)
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 3 programme.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- James Kilobo, England Boxing (National)
- Michael Pentland, Newcastle Falcons (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear)
- Gabrielle Reid, England Boxing (National)
Graduate of the Year
This award celebrates a graduated Coach Core apprentice who has gone on to achieve remarkable things since their programme finished.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Aura Chacón Godoy (Leicester)
- Deimantas Naujalis (Bristol)
- Lewis Ritchie (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear)
Employer of the Year
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.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Changing Lives Community Services (Essex)
- England Boxing (National)
- Glasgow Life (Glasgow)
- RE N-GAGE, formerly known as Project Turnover (Surrey)
Mentor of the Year
This award celebrates an individual in an organisation that employs a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations in supporting their apprentice(s).
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Garreth Chambers, Your Trust Rochdale (Manchester)
- Richy Duggan, Sunderland Community Action Group (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear)
- David Simmons, Changing Lives Community Services (Essex)
Learning Coach of the Year
This award celebrates the educator who has surpassed expectations in support of the apprentices they are teaching.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Jack Bailey (London)
- Brogan Jones (Leicester)
- Nicola Shrimpton (Essex)
- David Smith (Bristol)
Most Valuable Person/Organisation of the Year
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.
Read profiles of the finalists.
- Kate Bright, Umbra
- Nick Chellel, Active Sussex
- Mike Munro, CMS
- Mike Seaman & Kate Jamieson, Raccoon Media Group
We’re delighted to have such a strong set of nominations this year, from across the country and a wide range of different stories. The impact of our apprentices and their employers on the communities they work in is more apparent than ever – they aren’t just delivering sport and physical activity, they’re building communities, reducing crime, increasing health outcomes and supporting those who need it most. Our external judging panel will have a tougher job than ever, but we’re certain they – and you – will be as inspired as we are by each and every nomination.
The difficult job of selecting winners from these worthy nominees will be undertaken by an external panel of judges from inside the sector (representatives from UK Coaching, Sport England, CIMSPA, Amazing Apprenticeships, Youth Employment UK and Lifetime), outside (Collinson, CMS and BMS), as well Zain, Ahsan and Chauncey – all graduates of the Coach Core programme and award winners in their own right.
Our Sponsors
Lifetime Training and Amazing Apprenticeships are proud sponsors of Coach Core Awards.
Lifetime Training provides cutting edge skills training, designed to help people exceed their potential and give businesses the ultimate competitive advantage. They will be sponsoring the Mentor of the Year and Employer of the Year categories.
Amazing Apprenticeships are a leading organisation in the education sector, working with schools, colleges and employers, tackling misconceptions and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and technical education. They will be sponsoring the post-event reception.