Volunteer Ria wins national Sports Leadership award

New City College student Ria Lee has won the national AoC Sport Leadership Academy Volunteer of the Month award for her work as an Inclusion Ambassador with SEND students.

Ria, who is studying the Level 3 Sport course and is part of the New City Sport Coaching Academy at the Epping Forest campus, was chosen by the AoC from hundreds of other students across the country to reach the final shortlist of nine.

She went on to win the award, receiving a certificate and a £20 voucher.

Not only did Ria win the award, but two other students from the Coaching Academy at Epping Forest – Kimberley-Nicole Charlery and Tia Abdul-Khaliq – also reached the final nominations shortlist.

The AoC Leadership Academy is a sports project which supports UK colleges in enhancing and developing volunteering programmes. It enables students to complete placements in local schools and clubs, and gives them the opportunity to attend coaching events.

Ria’s volunteer work as an Inclusion Ambassador involves her planning and leading weekly sport sessions for learners in the SEND department. She also coaches an Under 8s girls football team at Ridgeway Rovers in Walthamstow, has coached at a range of local primary school events and has clocked up over 50 hours of volunteer coaching since the start of September.

Kimberley-Nicole and Tia, who reached the final shortlist, were nominated along with Ria for their huge contributions to the New City Coaching Academy by working as Inclusion Ambassadors and for attending many primary school events.

After receiving her award, Ria was asked to share her opinion on the Sport Coaching Academy and how it has helped her. She said: “I really enjoy the mix of academic lessons at college to learn about different areas of sport theory, as well as the real-life coaching opportunities which are helping me to develop my coaching skills.”

Sam Marsh, Sports Lecturer and Course Leader, said: “This is really good news for these students and for the Academy at Epping Forest.  We have so many good things going on here, I could have nominated many more students than just the three who were recognised by the AoC.”

He added that as part of the AoC Leadership Academy, the New City Coaching Academy has Inclusion, Mental Health and This Girl Can ambassadors.