Skills development has always played a critical role in Street League’s programmes and employability support. Now it’s going to play a key role in our approach to sports coaching too. Street League have been working closely with Skills Builder to develop their new sports coaching toolkit, created in partnership with Harlequins Foundation.
In 2019 we successfully introduced the Skills Builder Universal Framework into our employability academies. This gave us a fresh approach to how we support young people to develop the skills they need in the world of work and skill development tools used by our staff. The Framework says people need eight essential skills to succeed, these are: listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork. We were excited to join forces with Skills Builder Partnership again to support our sports coaching team.
A key part of our work together is the Skills Builder Sports Toolkit, used by our Youth & Community coaches when promoting the development of essential skills in young people. For a lot of the young people that we work with, classrooms and learning have a very negative connotation. By bringing the learning out of the classroom and onto the football pitch or into the gym, it shows that skills can be learnt and developed in different ways.
Adapting to Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has made skill development more important than ever. Sectors such as hospitality and retail which previously acted as “a critical bridge for young people into employment”* are no longer guaranteed locations for young people to find work. Therefore, young people need to develop skills in different ways. It’s vital for organisations like Street League to give young people the tools to navigate this challenging time.
Street League aims to incorporate all eight skills in our sessions and support plans for young people. By doing this we are ensuring there is a lasting impact, leaving a legacy of young people across the UK prepared for the opportunities that will give them sustainable futures.