Justin Richards
‘Football gave me a second chance’
Soccer coach Justin Richards turned from a life of petty crime to become a role model for school children. He played truant from his Leeds high school, spent his spare time drinking in the streets and left school barely able to read or write.
Now he is a graduate of Leeds' Brazilian Soccer School's Entry to Employment scheme designed to give young people basic skills by combining football training with computer and literacy skills.
Eighteen-year-old Justin said he could not even play football when he began the football coaching course but has since played in the reserve team at Garforth Town, owned by Simon Clifford, who set up the first Brazilian soccer school in Leeds in 1996."I struggled at school," said Justin, formerly of Gipton and now living in Rodley, Leeds. "I did not go to high school much. I have dyslexia and not being able to do things made me angry. "I was hanging round with the wrong crowd, drinking in the street. Because I know the mistakes that I made, I can talk to kids and give them advice about the need to get their head down and learn to read and write.
"The Brazilian Soccer School teaches you how to be a good person first and then a footballer." He puts his own turnaround down to Mr Clifford, who gave him a job and "knew where I was heading, I started playing football at 16," he says. "I was absolutely rubbish but the Brazilian Soccer School got me as good as I am now."
The employment course also helped with his literacy and he can now read to his nephews, Alex, one, and three-year-old Adam-Lee.
Rebecca Green
Rebecca joined e2e at the YMCA in the summer of 2008. At the start of the programme she was a very quiet, shy person with little self-confidence. Whilst on e2e Rebecca worked very hard to achieve both her personal and academic targets slowly but surely. Rebecca eventually decided she may enjoy a career in retail and although she had concerns about her ability and what would be asked of her, she started a work placement at a British Heart Foundation shop. It was during this work placement that Rebecca really began to realise her true potential. In regular reviews with her tutor, Rebecca showed just how much she was developing in her role and how this was benefiting her confidence in such a positive way. Rebecca approached all tasks given to her with real enthusiasm.
Sylvia Barber, the assistant manager at the British Heart Foundation says that from the beginning Rebecca was keen to learn and self motivated, “she has a lovely manner about her and nothing seems to faze her”.Becky has been a major support to Sylvia who says that she has a natural understanding of all aspects of retail and is willing to take on anything that is asked of her.Sylvia also says that some of her volunteers have special needs and Becky has the patience and flair to help these people succeed.
Rebecca says that being put forward for this award has made her happy and proud of herself.She believes that, thanks to the support given by e2e and the British Heart Foundation, she is now capable of doing anything.
Rebecca recently won the title of Learner of the Year at our Learner Celebration Awards.
