Manchester United sign three-year deal with Academy

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Education

Manchester United is to base one of its top coaches at an Academy school in the North West of England as the club aims to turns local talent into the football stars of the future.

The Premier League side has signed a deal with New Charter Academy in Tameside that will see a dedicated coach from the Manchester United Foundation based at the Academy for three years to train students using the its excellent indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, and develop links with the community.

The three-year partnership is part of the Manchester United Foundation’s Hub of the Community programme and will focus on helping young people to develop three major life skills – leadership, team work and positive behaviour - as well as nurturing their football talent.

It will also promote business and enterprise opportunities in sport as a way of helping young people to think about different career routes.

The role also involves work on projects with the Academy’s feeder primary schools to encourage children to take part in sport from an early age.

The New Charter Academy is sponsored by the New Charter Housing Trust.

Tony Powell, New Charter’s executive director of neighbourhoods said: “Manchester United is a world-famous club and to have the Foundation on board is a fantastic and exciting opportunity for students at our Academy.

“Sport has many benefits for young people and we hope the partnership will help pupils to realise their potential and teach them more about business and enterprise side to football which could lead to further training or employment after school.

“The partnership is still in the very early stages and we will develop it much more over the next few months when we hope to officially launch and celebrate the work.”

Claire Mulvenna, Manchester United Foundation’s hub development officer based at the Academy, said: “This project has created 18 young leaders ready and willing to volunteer in New Charter Academy and within the New Charter Academy hub.

“I look forward to working with them over the next three years and developing multiple projects within the New Charter Academy hub.”

Stephen Ball, executive director of the New Charter Academy added: “As a centre for business, enterprise and sport, the work the Foundation is doing with the Academy is incredibly important.
“It is allowing students to see the fun side of sport, the importance of leadership and how football can develop into a business, all of which will support them in later life and give them more choices when they leave school.”