Good luck to Newcastle College Apprentice Michael Pentland, who has been shortlisted for the Community Sport & Health Officer award @Coach Core Foundation Awards 2024.

After dropping out of school following mental health issues, Michael found support through the @Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club #HITZ programme. Delivered in partnership with Newcastle College and @Premiership Rugby, HITZ is an education and employability course that aims to re-engage young people in education using sport as a vehicle.

Michael successfully completed the HITZ programme, before completing a Level 2 apprenticeship and is now on a Level 3 programme, delivering outstanding work on the Newcastle College Community Sport and Health Officer programme. He credits this progression to the Falcons, saying it was a place to go when he had nowhere else. Michael uses his experience to connect with the young people on the programmes he is delivering, helping them not only to stay active, but to improve their mental health, social and employability skills.

We wish Michael all the best at the awards and look forward to hearing how he gets on!

#NAW2024 #ApprenticeshipsForAll #SkillsForLife #HITZFamily #Apprenticeships@Coach Core Foundation @Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club@Premiership Rugby