Together with The Football League, npower have launched their What’s Your Goal? programme for 2013.
What’s Your Goal? is an initiative aimed at giving young people once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the football industry and encouraging them to start thinking about their careers.
The launch is being led by Clare Balding who has joined forces with high profile female professionals who have shot to the top of their game and enjoyed success within the world of football. The likes of Jacqui Oatley and Kelly Smith will join Clare in a bid to encourage more girls and boys to think about a career in the nation’s favourite sport.
Clare Balding and the What’s Your Goal? mentors will showcase the vast and varied jobs available to young people, both on and off the football pitch, demonstrating the range of employment opportunities available for both men and women alike.
Working in partnership with The Football League, npower is searching for a ‘dream team’ of 11 ambitious and enthusiastic youngsters to spend a day being mentored by one of these successful sportswomen.
Having demonstrated why they should be chosen for one of the coveted roles with a CV and video application, the 11 lucky youngsters will be thrown straight into the action.
One budding commentator will get to give their play-by-play account of the match alongside Jacqui Oatley at the npower Championship Play-off Final, while another will learn what it takes to be a top TV presenter with Clare Balding.
Other roles up for grabs include reporting on all the action with Daily Mail sports reporter Laura Williamson and receiving first class professional football training with Arsenal Ladies and Team GB’s Kelly Smith.
In addition, young people can also get the chance to shadow: Everton U17s Ladies manager Mo Marley, Sheffield United goalkeeping coach Leanne Hall, exercise xcientist for Birmingham Ladies Ellie Maybury, sports photographer Georgie Gillard, senior referee Sasa Ihringova, MD at St George’s Park Julie Harrington and Ipswich Town sales manager Rosie Richardson.
Clare Balding says: “We are looking for 11 youngsters to take up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and apply for one of the many roles on offer.
“During my career as a TV presenter, I have been privaliged to present some of the the world’s best sporting events. I am looking forward to mentoring a young person and providing them with invaluable, first-hand experience in the world of sport.”
Clare McDougall, npower’s head of education and community, adds: “Last year’s sporting success had a real impact on young people’s perceptions of female atheletes. We want to continue this with What’s Your Goal? and encourage young people to think about a career within the football industry.”
“However, this is not a programme exclusively for girls, we are offering all young people real opportunities to gain valuable skill and experience.”
Giving more young people across the UK a chance to try something new, in additiona to the 11 national roles, What’s Your Goal? 2013 again sees npower working with all 72 Football League club community trusts to offer over 350 valuable work experience placements to students in Years 10 – 11 at their local Football League club.
Students in Years 7 – 11 are invited to apply for the chance to spend a day shadowing one of the high profile experts such as ClareBalding, and to find out more about the roles available at their local Football League club, by clicking here.