It is that time of year when a lot of young people are receiving exam results and thinking about options and plans for the future.
For one aspiring journalist, that previously included the Football & Education Academy run by Wolves Foundation, which has also now led to him volunteering for the charity.
This is Tom’s story.
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“My name is Tom Gibson, currently a football journalism student at the University of Derby and, like most of you reading this, a massive Wolves supporter.
“Prior to university, I studied at the City of Wolverhampton College where I enrolled on the BTEC Sport Level 3 course which linked in with the Wolves Foundation.
“During my time on the course, we competed against other clubs – home and away – which was a key element for me as I enjoyed playing football to help my mind and body. However, the real benefit for me was in the classroom.
“The course provided different experiences for pathways within the sports industry which included sports coaching, sport science and performance analysis and anatomy and physiology.
“In all those areas, the tutors were excellent at explaining things in such a clear and concise way. These opportunities gave me a variety of options and I had my heart set on becoming a football coach, before I realised that I wanted to try journalism.
“From a personal perspective, the course helped me learn more in-depth about nutrition and really helped me expand my confidence as an individual.
“During my Christmas break, I refereed a fixture at the college and got talking with Brad Moore (Wolves Foundation senior officer), who informed me of the volunteering opportunity within the Foundation which I applied for straightaway.
“Volunteering for the club’s official charity is something I am very proud of and has provided me with some career milestones such as talking with first-team player Tommy Doyle and vice president John Richards. Being able to give back to the Foundation, after what they gave me, is essential.
“For those who are debating joining the course with the Wolves Foundation, it was a no-brainer for me. The opportunities are fantastic if you apply yourself in the correct manner and it seems to have pushed on even better after I left!”
For more information on Wolves Foundation’s further education provision, including sixth form and college course, please visit the charity’s website here.
- To register your interest in our Football & Education College Academy in partnership with City of Wolverhampton College, please click here.
- To register your interest in our Football & Educations Sixth Form Academy in partnership with Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy, please click here.
