Upstream London connecting young people with jobs of the future on their doorstep – on and off the playing field…reports Asian Lite News
Students from across Hammersmith & Fulham got a glimpse into their potential future careers at Scale Space in White City’s booming Innovation District.
At a ‘speed networking’ event on Monday 9 December, 85 pupils from Hammersmith Academy (W6), Phoenix Academy (W12) and Fulham Cross Academy (SW6) met local employers from eight leading sports organisations.
The showcase forms part of our ‘Reveal’ series, designed to connect local students with the jobs and industries of tomorrow. It’s a key initiative of Upstream London, H&F Council’s pioneering strategy which has helped attract £6billion of investment and created more than 13,000 new jobs since 2017.
Through initiatives like Made in Fulham – a 13-week programme that helps aspiring coaches aged 16+ take their first steps into football coaching careers – local clubs are creating tangible pathways to employment.
“We offer young people a chance to gain practical work experience and work towards up to six coaching qualifications,” explained Richard Morris, Secondary Education Manager at Fulham FC Foundation.
“They go from watching our experienced coaches to delivering sessions themselves – that way, they can build a CV.”
Among the success stories shared was Macauley Rogers who, starting off at the foundation as a nine-year-old, has now secured a coaching role with the club through the programme.
Students heard from a range of organisations offering local opportunities. Charley Habell from Hammersmith Academy said he “enjoyed speaking with the inventor of ‘Switch’ the most” – a crossover sport that combines football, basketball, handball, volleyball and netball.
Founder of Community Switch Sports, Danny Hibbert, has been running after-school clubs and holiday programmes in and around White City since 2013, with most services free or low cost. He opened the students’ eyes to the breadth of sports careers: “There’s so many different avenues. In football alone, you could become a ball manufacturer, journalist, manager or sport’s fashion designer.”
Coach David from ‘Basketball Nxtion’ shared how sports skills transfer into careers: “Maybe you won’t be a star footballer or basketballer, but if you love the sport, you can still work in the field. Skills like discipline, perseverance, and teamwork are valuable in any career.”
The organisation runs weekly basketball sessions across London and Manchester, including at Ark Burlington Danes Academy in Wood Lane. They’re also helping young people explore pathways into the sport through American high school partnerships, funded coaching qualifications, and ‘Beyond the Athlete’ – a podcast exploring careers in sport.
ALSO READ: COP29’s Unsung Strategy: Britain’s High-Stakes Bet on Planetary Survival
[soliloquy id="151345"]