Young Ambassadors
Child A case study :
Child A has been part of our programmes since 2013. They are one of six siblings from a lone parent household. Their mother would sign up the children onto the multi-sports camp every holiday to keep the children occupied over the holidays. Initially, Child A was very shy and introverted, and they didn’t enjoy being physically active. They would sometimes hide between trees and find excuses to avoid participating. As the years went by, Child A became more familiar with the coaches and started making friends with regular participants. They began to engage more and enjoyed attending the programme.
Child A’s eldest sister was one of our first young ambassadors. The role models such as his sister and coaches within the programmes allowed Child A to flourish within the multi-sport camp as the programmes went by, eventually developing a fond interest for sports. Child A eventually moved up into ambassador programme, following in the step of their older sibling. As Child A moved into the next stage of our programme, they made multiple friends, leading to them gaining a sense of community and belonging, providing them a reason to stay.
Child A has gained several qualifications during their time with Burgess Sports. These include sports activator courses, first aid, safeguarding, and, most recently, a Level 2 qualification in multi-sports, which qualifies them as a sports coach.
In 2022, Child A transitioned from being one of our young volunteers to a paid part-time position at our after-school reading club. The club was attended by 10 different children on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays which provided an excellent opportunity for Child A to start coaching a small group and work 1-1 with the children in reading. Delivering sessions at the after-school club gradually boosted Child A's confidence in leading various sports activities for the children. After being assessed by our team of coaches, we agreed as that Child A was ready to deliver sports activities at our multi-sports camp. Since the summer of 2022, after being with us for 11 years, Child A has reached the top of our young ambassador ladder and has become an outstanding sports coach.
“When I first came to Burgess as a participant, I didn’t like it and kept to myself and was a nuisance to the coaches at the time, hiding away from everyone. Despite this, as I got older, they still took me on as an ambassador putting me on many courses to improve my skills and confidence, allowing me to coach sessions with assistance from them and eventually becoming a level 2 qualified multi sports coach, now working for Burgess Sports. With Burgess I have learned a lot about what it means to work in a team, but above all else the greatest lesson that I learnt from my time with burgess is the importance of community and they to this day the people here act as an extended family for me and I hope to stay in touch with them frequently even as I move into my next stages of life”.
Child H case study
Child H, 16 years old, has been volunteering with Burgess Sports for over a year. They were introduced to the programme by a long-standing young ambassador and decided to join in and help out last year. Since then, they have remained committed to the team and have grown into one of our top young ambassadors.
“Being a young ambassador gives me a real sense of belonging to something bigger. My friend has been with Burgess Sports for 7 years which made me get involved. I live an hour away from Burgess Park, I love spending my holidays volunteering at the multi-sports camp and giving my time to help out.”
“I was engaging in any activities over the holidays. I would usually just stay home, sleep in and play on my PS5 or see a few friends over the holidays.”
“I feel more active and gives me a reason to enjoy my holidays. Being a young ambassador empowers me. Everyone at Burgess Sports wants to see us succeed in every area of our lives…I appreciate Afro and the coaches for everything they’ve done.”
“My most memorable moment has to be when I won ambassador of the camp. I was really grateful and emotional about this. Made me feel like an accomplished something big in my life for a change.
“Volunteering has given me a sense of purpose and allowed me to develop many skills I didn’t even know I had. It’s been a really positive experience I feel like I’ve grown a lot since I first joined." “I want to study sports science in Uni so this is a good start for me.”
“I didn’t think much of the multi-sports camp when I first started, now I understand why it is so important in the local community. Through the camp I just completed four activator courses and received certificates after the completing the courses. This means a lot to me as I really want to become a sports coach in the future.”
“I would encourage them to definitely take part! Joining the multi-sports camp is an opportunity to grow, learn new skills, and work with children. It’s a chance to make a positive impact and have fun at the same time. They won't regret it!”
“I’ve gained skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication. I've also learned how to plan a sports session and deliver them to the children. These experiences have helped me take one more step forward into becoming a sports coach one day.”
“I get to spend more time with my friends during the holidays. My mum is proud of me for volunteering and becoming a young ambassador.”
I’m just grateful for Burgess Sports.”
Child F case study:
Child F is 19 years old and first joined Burgess Sports in 2021 after learning about our volunteer opportunities through a coach at our neighbouring club, Southwark Tigers. Since then, they have consistently volunteered at all of our programmes, often assisting Leslie with the Nerf and archery activities. When they initially started, Child F was in a difficult mental space, feeling demotivated in both their studies and work, and struggling significantly with body image insecurities.
“I loved going on the UKSA residential last year. The activities were so much fun, and we spent a lot of time together.” One of my highlights was when the UKSA instructor pushed me into the Water, they were lovely. I’ll never forget the experience.”
I’ve noticed I’ve become mor mature with my decision making and feel like Burgess can help me with my future aspirations.”
“I am more positive. I feel like Burgess has helped me become more motivated, they’ve given me loads of responsibilities and this makes me feel part of the team and I hope one day they’ll employ me.”
“I would highly recommend the young ambassador programme.” “I think it’s a great way to get experience working with children, especially if it’s a field you want to go into in the future.” “I like how it’s not all about being sporty.”
“I feel like I’ve built my confidence over the few years at Burgess Sports, they have helped me take a different outlook in life. I am now more positive and patient with children. I understand they all have different needs and am learning this.”
“Since I began volunteering, I've made so many friends at Burgess. When I first started, I didn't know any of the other young ambassadors, and most of them were much younger than me. I was worried they wouldn't like me...”
“The programme has had a huge impact on me, both personally and socially. It’s helped me build my confidence, make new loads of friends, and feel more connected to the local community.”