Foundation

BMET students retain national championship

Students on the One Albion programme at BMet College went unbeaten in the AOC National Championships to successfully retain their title.

Taking place at the University of Nottingham, the tournament stretched over three days with the side playing nine games, winning every one.

The tournament sees regions from across the country come together to compete against each other in a range of sports, with Albion and BMet College representing the West Midlands in Ability Counts football.

The achievement is testament to the hard work they have put in, says Sam Heath, Disability Coach at The Albion Foundation.

"A lot of the boys have grown in confidence, some of them when they first came couldn't play football, they weren't sure how to kick a ball and now they're getting on in the national championships, I'm very proud of them and what they have done," said Sam.

"We have a big disability football presence, especially with the Sandwell Inclusion League which a lot of these boys play in, so this is just very good for everyone involved," added Sam.

The students study at BMet College for three days a week, and spend the other two with The Albion Foundation where they focus on football as well as general life skills.

The programme is an opportunity for the students to receive high-quality coaching and educational opportunities within the college.

The Foundation uses the vehicle of football to improve students' day-to-day life skills, raising self-esteem and also encouraging the education of young people who may see further education as a daunting proposition.

As well as giving students chances they wouldn't usually have, the programme is not just aimed at improving technical and physical cognition but also impacts on social opportunities.

Students on the course will have a form of learning difficulty, and the background of each learner on the course varies, according to Sports Lecturer at BMet College, Stuart Jamieson.

"They are from various backgrounds from level one through to level three, all have identified learning difficulties, some are mild, some are not so mild," said Stuart.

"We use days like today as an incentive for their academic progression. They can struggle with their learning difficulties, punctuality and managing themselves in the classroom, so they learn a lot from days like today," he said.

To find out more about the One Albion programme at BMet College and how you can get involved, please email stuart.jamieson@bmet.ac.uk.