Success Stories

South Nottingham College Student Achievement Summary

16 students have won soccer scholarships to Universities across the USA between 2007 and 2010 and over 30 students are currently studying at Universities in the UK or will commence their studies in 2010. Many more are currently in the process of securing scholarships for 2011. Most of these students still return to College on their return to Nottingham to have regular meals with staff and to give talks to current students. Several of these students have been offered Semi-professional or professional contracts to play soccer in USA or Canada in their summertime (off-season)

Over 80% of students involved with the Balls To Poverty Programme from since 2005 have stayed at College to further their studies, have found employment in the sports industry or have graduated to Universities in UK or USA.

Achievement and retention figures across the Sport Cohort for those students to have been on Balls To Poverty, is in some places more than 30% higher than other similar College cohorts.

4 Former Balls To Poverty students have graduated and are employed by College in The Athlete Performance Programme to coach and train our young student athletes.

4 Ex-students have successfully gained employment in 2010 as Schools Community Officers, training the 32 students involved in the 2010 Programme, to educate as many as 600 Yr 4 to Yr 6 pupils in schools across Nottingham. They achieved this by re-enacting the township football and rugby coaching sessions and by delivering themed tutorials to the young people.

10 students from the 2010 programme have secured employment as B2P Summer Camp Officers, working with young people across 4 disadvantaged areas of Nottingham.

In 2010, The Balls To Poverty students have visited 30 different partnership schools in Nottingham inner city areas over a 10 week period, to talk about their experiences on the programme and to inspire primary school children through coaching and teaching. Our role models have currently delivered coaching sessions and presentations to around 10,000 primary school children from disadvantaged areas of Nottingham.

One staff member, Julie Huby, has successfully secured employment as The Balls To Poverty Programme Co-Ordinator in 2010 to work alongside Joe as the programme expands.

One student won 'Volunteer of The Year' Award at The Rushcliffe Borough Council Sports Awards in 2009 and several others have been nominated for regional and national awards over the past 2 years.

Over 50 students successfully achieved the V Awards in 2009 and 2010 for providing over 50 hours of voluntary community coaching across Nottingham. 56 students in the last 3 years alone have successfully achieved the FA Step Into Sport Gold and Silver Awards for 50 and 25 hours of voluntary community coaching respectively. Many students are now progressing onto the V Inspired Award for further voluntary community coaching in addition to their academic qualifications. 4 students in 2010 won special awards for providing over 300 hours of voluntary community coaching and teaching in South Africa and Nottingham.

One student was named FA Step Into Sport UK Ambassador for his outstanding voluntary coaching contribution to his own community through work delivered as part of Balls To Poverty. He now mentors other young children and visits other institutions to share his experiences. He will also be traveling to India shortly to take part in another international cultural programme.

One former student, went on a 9 month coaching programme to South Africa and has returned to Nottingham to become an Assistant Coach on the current College Football Performance programme. He is currently studying for further qualifications in football coaching and psychology. He also works as a coach at a Professional football club and has become a learning mentor at College for students. In April 2010, he took Joe’s place and led the students in their coaching sessions in 8 different townships across Cape Town. He is also employed currently as a Balls To Poverty Schools Community Officer.

One student was selected in 2008 to represent The England Colleges National Team in Italy and is the first to have achieved this from South Nottingham College. Another five students have reached the last 26 for The England Colleges National Team.

Several students have spent time in other colleges and organisations across the UK presenting to other similar young students on their experiences as part of Balls to Poverty.

Many students have continued at College to study full time as personal fitness trainers and 7 former students are currently working as personal fitness trainers in the Nottingham sports and leisure industry.

One female student has started her work as a PE teacher and another female student will work as a sports therapist on a cruise liner. Another female student has been so inspired by our work in South Africa, that she worked on a gap year project in Tanzania before returning to attend University in UK.

Balls to Poverty won the Beacon Award for excellence in innovation and leadership in 2007-2008. This was awarded by the Association of Colleges at the NEC in Birmingham.

Balls To Poverty won the Rushcliffe Community Award in 2009.

Joe Sargison won The Pride Of Britain Award ITV Central Region in October 2009