Over the past few weeks, LFE have been travelling to meet the Community Trust Study Programme learners and tutors at their respective clubs all across the north west.
The Community Trust Study Programme offers young people the opportunity to study sport-related qualifications, while representing their club at football or futsal. The perfect balance between education and sport.
Learners will take part in an Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funded study programme, improving their knowledge of sport and applying this to the practical element of their programme to improve their technical, tactical and physical ability. Upon completion of the course, learners can progress to university (both in the UK or USA) or full-time employment.
So, what does a day in the life of a CTSP learner look like?
The learners will usually partake in their studies in the morning, with the tutors delivering engaging and fulfilling lessons. After that, the learners are allocated some time to have lunch and relax before training in the afternoon.
The training sessions are delivered by high-quality coaches, with LFE experiencing first hand just how much the learners enjoy the practical side of the course.
We travelled north to a rainy Cumbria to Carlisle United’s Community Trust at Brunton Park, to get a taste of how their learners are finding the programme.
Luke, one of Carlisle’s learners, said: “I’ve been really enjoying it, it’s what I wanted. I get to play football and I get to learn about what I like in lessons.“
Another learner, Tom, added: “I’ve loved it. I wasn’t expected to go to university before this course, but now I can get the grades to go uni, which I will next year. I also feel like I’m massively prepared (for university) as it’s a lot of assignment work and that’s what we do here. With the help of the tutors as well, they’ve given me a lot of confidence and help, they’re always there for me.
“I think the course has the perfect balance. We have three hours of work in the morning, lunch, then straight to football.
“It’s helped improve skills as well, with me, my communication skills. Before I started here, I wasn’t the most confident person but I’ve managed to build it up through playing football and being in smaller class sizes. I can make friends a lot easier.
“It’s been a really good experience.”
