How Will is shaping the next generation
Will Brickell is part of a team trying to use football to get the children of Sussex interested in maths and literacy.
The BHAFC Foundation works with children at around 150 schools across Sussex, helping thousands of young people learn new skills and get active. As a Lead Coach, Will Brickell plays a big part in helping the Foundation achieve that mission.
Will, 30, joined the charity about three years ago, having previously worked as a PE teacher. Will’s role sees him work with children all over Sussex, but he’s normally based at Parkland Primary School in Eastbourne.
“I love working here and I’m proud to work for the Foundation,” Will told us.
“The Foundation is a great force for good. We go into schools wearing the Albion badge and it makes the kids so excited to know that Brighton are coming.”
One of Will’s jobs is to deliver PE lessons at primary schools.
“PE was my favourite thing growing up.
“Physical education is such an important part of young people’s learning process. It’s so important because it helps you build confidence and social skills, you make friendships, and you get active outdoors.
“It’s the whole package really, and the children really enjoy it. Our PE lessons provide opportunities for children to try out lots of different sports – not just football – while learning and developing key skills.”
Away from the playground, Will spends much of his time helping pupils in the classroom as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
Getting younger pupils to engage in topics like maths and literacy can pose a challenge, but Will has a secret weapon he can employ.
“Primary Stars is an opportunity for us to use football to help young people focus on their learning in literacy and maths,” he explained.
“So as an example, one of our maths exercises involves fantasy football and the kids love it. We give them a budget to create a team, they have to fit their favourite players in and use addition and subtraction to make it all work.
“It works wonders, keeping them engaged and having fun while practicing their maths skills.
“Then for literacy, we might spend the day pretending the pupils are sports reporters. We’ll set up scenarios where they’d be interviewing players or managers, writing reports, and they absolutely love it.
“We get really great feedback from teachers and parents about how we’re helping these young people progress with their learning.”
Will often finds himself supporting young people with a disability. As a deaf person, he knows exactly what they need.
“Everyone comes from different backgrounds – not just people with a disability, but everyone – and to meet someone who understands you can make all the difference.
“The fact that I can come in and share my similar experiences with these young people is really impactful.
“For instance, when I work with pupils who are deaf they always clock immediately that I’m deaf too. At that point we start to talk about it, about our shared experiences, and they know that I understand them.”
The Foundation’s work in schools is all about helping young pupils learn the sklls they need to succeed. For Will, it’s just as important that the children he works with grow up into well-rounded people.
“It’s not about us going in and turning them into professional footballers, it’s about us developing them as young people.
“I always try and treat people well, both in life and in work. If you treat people well, they might treat someone else well and it keeps passing on down the line.
“That’s something that I look for and try and instil in the kids I work with. It’s all about learning how to treat people with respect, how to communicate properly, how to work in a team.
“I live by that, try and apply that at work, and hope that our pupils will take that forward in life.”
Foundation tutors like Will can work in your school – contact us to find out how.
