It is likely that the coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty and anxiety for apprentices, parents and club staff. Below is support information that could help at this time and beyond.
Well-Being
- Current and former apprentices have access to The PFA’s Well-Being Service:
24hr Confidential Helpline: 07500 000 777 & [email protected]
Safety Net (Information & Resources): www.thepfa-safetynet.com
- Shout:
A 24/7 free text service, for anyone (any age) in crisis anytime, anywhere. It is a place to go if struggling to cope and in need of immediate help.
Text: 85258
LFE is working in partnership with Heads Up and as part of this support for mental health, please find this toolkit. It includes a variety of links to self-care advice for those at home, as well as details of helplines and support services.
Regional Officers
LFE’s Regional Officers are available for any queries or concerns you may have. You can find contact details by clicking here.
Life Skills Delivery
LFE is providing life skills webinars, email [email protected] if you are interested in any of the following:
- Cathy Wood – Social Media
- Cecil Jee Thomas – Transferable Skills
- If U Care Share – Emotional Well-Being
- Jamie Edwards – Trained Brain
- Joe Thompson – Inspiration In Isolation
- Kick It Out – Equality & Diversity
- Red Star Education – Financial Literacy
- Sporting Chance Clinic – Problem Gambling & Other Destructive Behaviours
- Sporting Chance Clinic – Well-Being Scan
Mind: Mental Health Training for Academy Staff
A complimentary training course focusing on mental health has been made available for Academy staff by the EFL’s charity partner Mind.
Upon completion, you can download a certificate which is CPD registered with CIMSPA (the Chartered Institute for Sport and Physical Activity).
To access the course, click here.
Life Skills From Home
Apprentices can use the below resources to consider LFE’s ‘Life Skills from Home’ suggestions and think about how they may be able to spend their time while at home.
To download the first half, click here.
To download the second half, click here.
To download extra time, click here.
Why not map out a weekly schedule in lockdown? Click here to use a template designed by LFE.
BelievePerform
LFE provides access to BelievePerform, an online platform for sport psychology and mental health resources.
These include resilience, visualisation, coping skills, goal setting, confidence in the context of sport performance.
BelievePerform recently ran a webinar to introduce the membership resources platform and provide mental health tips on how to support learners, athletes and staff. To access a recording of the webinar please click here.
LFE currently provides Academies with two logins for staff members – with BelievePerform offering personal logins to all Academy players at no cost until 31st July 2020.
Please contact LFE’s Life Skills Manager, Simon Williams ([email protected]) for staff login details and Adam Morris ([email protected]) for player access instructions.
If U Care Share
LFE’s Life Skills provider for emotional well-being has created new resources for learners and club staff at no cost.
To view an online webinar of If U Care Share’s educational training, click here.
You can download the online webinar and further resources, including a quiz, by clicking here.
Life After Professional Sport (LAPS)
During the Covid-19 lockdown period, LAPS is offering a range of different webinars for Academy players to access each week. These online workshops range from subjects such as transition support – given from the point of view of ex-professional athletes – to business coaching advice and guidance.
To access these webinars, sign up (for free) as a LAPS member.
More information about the benefits of a free LAPS membership is available here.
Social Media
Keep an eye on LFE’s social media channels for updates and signposting to topical information and resources to support you throughout this period.
Twitter: @LFEonline
Instagram: @lfeonline
Facebook: /LFEonline
LFE’s Social Media module is available on the EMS and can be found under ‘My Courses’.
There are further player, parent/carer and staff resources available for other topics within the ‘Life Skills’ folder in the EMS library.
MyProPlan
The PFA has launched MyProPlan, a new financial planning tool, which helps PFA members to take a proactive approach to money management. MyProPlan provides financial education and helps to keep track of goals, progress and encourages healthy financial behaviours.
To start using MyProPlan, log in at www.thepfa.com.
Red Star Education: Financial Literacy
Red Star Education delivers financial literacy on topics such as credit cards, income tax, bank accounts, invisible spending and car insurance.
Red Star Education has created online resources available to access at no cost.
Videos:
Personal Budgeting
Invisible Spending
Blogs:
Covid-19 Scams
Financial Goals
Financial Planning
Debt Worries
Loans and Credit Cards
Renters and Landlords
Assessment Trials
The May 2020 assessment trials have been postponed, but LFE will continue to monitor government advice on social distancing with a view to staging them at a later date. Please click here for the latest information.
HUDL
Although the assessment trials have been postponed, you can still promote your talents to clubs or universities in the UK and abroad with the help of LFE’s new HUDL account.
Free access to this online platform will allow you to create highlights packages from your game time and share. Please click here for more details.
Career Opportunities
For support with careers advice and contact details of LFE’s Transition Officer, click here.
To check out various career opportunities, click here.
Erasmus+ Player Placements
The ongoing lockdown means LFE’s Player Placement programme is currently at a halt. However, we will still be building a summer placements list, although dates and timings are currently unknown.
If you are a current second-year apprentice considering a move abroad, use this time to reflect on the opportunity of a three-month placement in Sweden or Spain.
More information on the project, including in-depth handbooks for each country, can be found on our Erasmus+ Player Placements page.
ZISHI Financial Trading Course
Apprentices have the opportunity to develop their financial literacy and understanding of global markets via ZISHI’s online learning portal.
The digital platform supports learners as they work towards achieving the accredited Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Financial Trading qualification. Topics include:
How financial markets work; what impacts prices in the stock market; the concept of interest rates and how they influence the financial and property markets; and how foreign exchange markets operate.
From here, you can choose to pursue the full qualification by completing a two-week period of trading and practical application, which can enable you to transition into a broad range of financial sector jobs.
Please contact [email protected] to apply for your place. Further information about ZISHI can be found here.
Support Organisations
You can find a range of support organisations specialising in different topics such as bereavement, finance and online safety by clicking here.
