‘It’s a great example of how our projects can go full circle’: Former Student and Foundation Coach Josh recognised during Premier League Charitable Fund 10 Year Awards

By Tom Hammersley24th November 2020

Former CDSC student and Foundation Community Coach Josh Bucknall has won the Foundation’s PL Kicks award during the Premier League Charitable Fund 10 year anniversary celebrations following his fantastic work in the community. 

Josh began his journey with PL Kicks as a participant, regularly attending sessions at Edlington before going on to study at Club Doncaster Sports College. 

Upon graduating from the College, Josh joined the Foundation as an apprentice coach, where he supported the Kicks sessions that he once attended. 

Now a full-time coach, Josh leads our Kicks community sessions across the region. 

“My journey started at Kicks then went to Club Doncaster Sports College, after that, I gained an apprenticeship, and I am now a full time Community Coach”, explained Josh.

“Club Doncaster Foundation has supposed me in many ways to help me have a career in sport. I love what I do for a living.”

Mark Cooper, Sport Development Officer at the Foundation, added: “I’ve seen Josh go from a Kicks participant to a full time community coach. 

“It really is a great example of the work that the projects do in the community, and how it can go full circle. 

“He’s a key member of the team and he works hard to make sure that each session is engaging and enjoyable.”

This week, the Premier League Charitable Fund is celebrating 10 years of making a difference and helping communities thrive.

‘Young people supporting their community’

3rd November 2020J Burton

‘IT’S FANTASTIC TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEIR COMMUNITY DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME’

 

A group of NCS participants from Club Doncaster Sports College have giving a helping hand at Sandall Park as part of the NCS Autumn ‘Moving Forwards’ Programme. For two out of their four days on the social action project, a group of 11 students helped out the Friends of Sandall Park by repairing benches, creating hedgehog habitats, and cleaning footpaths and signposts.

Callum Grice, Wave Leader of the NCS programme, said: “It’s fantastic to see young people supporting and helping their community during this challenging time.

“We would like to thank Friends of Sandall Park for partnering with us and allowing our young people to come and help out with this project. Hopefully this will motivate the young people to carry on helping their local community and inspire others to help their communities during this time.”

The students were governed by strict social distancing measures throughout the two days at the park, as well as the rest of the wider NCS programme.

Sandra Crabtree, Chair of Friends Of Sandall Park, said: “The students have done an amazing amount of work in the two days they spent in the park.

“It was a pleasure to work with them: committed, hardworking, they were all there earlier than requested and didn’t even want a full dinner break, they were so keen were they to get on with the jobs.

“The team dynamics were excellent and it showed in the way they performed the tasks. A sense of responsibility was displayed in relation to Covid restrictions, and all had masks at the ready.”

“The young men all showed professionalism and were a credit to Club Doncaster Foundation, and to their parents. Thank you for choosing Sandall Park to volunteer.”

You can find out more about NCS, here.