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To mark��Young Carers Awareness Day last week (25th January)��Brentford FC Community Sports Trust is launching a project that will help young carers develop a future beyond their caring roles.

With research showing that 70% of young carers are NEET’s, the project – coined the ‘Get Set programme’ – will support young carers in Ealing with training and employment opportunities.

Ali Umar, who is a young carer for his mum, will certainly reap the benefits from the project:

“As a young carer, I take care of my younger siblings and think of them before I think of myself. In practical terms, I take them to school, make food for them and look after them.

“Basically, I’ve had to grow up a lot faster, because I have to think like a grown-up.”

The project hopes to bridge the gap for young carers who are often denied training and educational opportunities due to care commitments. The programme will include work visits, placements, CV writing support, and workshops with potential employers.

Brentford FC CST already runs a hugely successful young carers’ project; last year alone the Trust worked with nearly 200 young carers through educational and sporting activities.
Lee Doyle, Chief Executive of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, said:

“Since Ealing Council commissioned Brentford FC CST to run their young carers programme we have increased participation in the programme from 25 young carers to nearly 200.

“The Get Set programme aims to enhance the existing project and empower young carers to achieve their life goals – regardless of their personal circumstances.”

The Get Set Programme is funded by the Pathways charity and the Fearless Foundation, which was set-up in memory of Danny Fullbrook –a well-known and respected sports journalist for the Daily Star.

Mark Dickinson, who helped set up the Fearless Foundation, said:

“The Fearless Foundation’s ethos has always been about inspiring young people to achieve their goals; this project will help young carers receive specialist training and support that they vitally need.”

To learn more about the ‘Get Set’ programme please contact Kathryn on 0208 326 7044 or at [email protected]

About Brentford FC CST:

With community work spanning three decades, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has established itself as a pioneering organisation for the local community. It uses the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire people from all walks of life.

Working in partnership with Brentford FC, the Trust offers a portfolio of programmes in education, health, sports participation and community engagement.

The Trust has won the ‘Football League Community Club of the Year’ award four times and now employs over 100 members of staff.

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University of South Wales graduate Jake Mullinder believes studying the Community Football Coaching and Development Foundation Degree was the best decision he ever made, as he looks forward to advancing his coaching experience in America.

After nervously awaiting his A-Level results in 2014, Jake had no idea what to do next.

It wasn’t until he found the USW Foundation degree at Shrewsbury Town in the Community that his career aspirations flourished.

He commented: “After just 12 months on the USW course I went from doing P.E at sixth-form to delivering a soccer school to young children with Shrewsbury Town in the Community.

“From there, I got the opportunity to work on a variety of programmes from disability, to futsal, being a team leader on NCS and working at the advanced development centre.’’

Whilst studying for his degree, Jake also worked as Lead Community Coach at Shrewsbury Town in the Community and at The New Saints Ladies Football Club as a Goalkeeper Coach.

He hopes that all of this experience, alongside his degree, will help him one day achieve his dream of becoming a coach at an elite level.

He continued: “Working on a number of different programmes has really helped me to develop my confidence and allowed me to form a well-rounded and extensive knowledge of community sports.

“I have developed a huge passion for coaching and my desire is to one day work at the top level in the profession.

“I’d recommend the course to anyone looking at getting into sport, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot of people going to University have to wait until the final year of their course to get work experience, but at USW I managed to have 3 whole years of it.’’

After graduating last year, Jake became Shrewsbury Town in the Community’s Health and Inclusion co-ordinator.

In this role, Jake has overseen a number of programmes and has been involved in inspiring, educating and engaging people from a number of different backgrounds and abilities.

“I’ve been working at Shrewsbury Town in the Community now for three years, it has been a brilliant pathway for me and it’s fantastic to have been involved with the set up and seeing how the community sector has grown over the years.

“For me personally, working in the disability sector is the most fulfilling area, seeing kids having the opportunity to play football when they normally wouldn’t is a very rewarding position to have.’’

Looking forward, Jake sets his sight on bolstering his CV even further by gaining international coaching knowledge in America.

He added: “I’ll be involved in coaching a team over in America and working with goalkeepers of different ages. It’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to trying it and seeing where it will take me.’’

To find out more about the Community Football Coaching and Development Foundation Degree at USW visit: