A Police and Crime Commissioner-backed sports programme has given a Middlesbrough boy a sense of pride and belonging.
Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation’s Premier League Kicks has helped Layton develop positive relationships and work as part of a team.
Layton, who has additional needs, now describes PL Kicks as a “family” and is proud to be part of the PL Kicks’ Changemakers’ programme.
But things weren’t always so positive for Layton – and the relationships, which he formed in and out of training sessions.
Layton’s behaviour was challenging at school, home and in the wider community. It had led to him getting into trouble with authority figures including teachers and the police.
At first, Layton only attended one PL Kicks session per week – but even then his behaviour was challenging.
He showed little respect for boundaries, disrupted sessions every week, refused to listen to coaches and showed little regard for the problems which his behaviour caused himself and others.
Over time, the PL Kicks team began to build a rapport with Layton. The team used positive role models, provided support and used clear communication and consistent messages, meaning that trust and mutual respect began to develop between Layton and the team.
Layton began to build better relationships and his attendance at PL Kicks sessions increased to four times per week.
Giving back to the community
He became involved in the PL Changemakers group, which meant Layton started to give back to the community as well as spend more time with the Middlesbrough Football Club’s Foundation team.
In addition to regular sports’ sessions, work included a social action project to support young people, who were ill in hospital and volunteering at PL South Asian Festival.
Attending intra-site tournaments, visiting the Riverside Stadium for an officiating workshop and taking part in the Premier Leagues’ Disability Football Festival meant Layton met a lot more people outside his immediate social circle.
Layton began to feel that he belonged when he went to PL Kicks and showed great pride in his progress.
Since engaging with the programme Layton has become more confident, developed better communications skills, learnt how to understand and manage his emotions better and show respect for other people.
Layton explained his thoughts about PL Kicks as being ‘‘a family’’ and that he feels ‘’proud’’ to be part of the PL Changemakers group.
His mum Naomi said: “Layton’s behaviour has improved since he started going to MFC PL Kicks. He’s calmed down a lot. He now won’t miss his football sessions.”
‘Real progress made’
Sophie Bowers, Youth Engagement Officer with the Foundation, worked closely with Layton, forming a bond of trust from which real progress was made.
She said: “Layton’s progress has been phenomenal within Middlesbrough FC Foundation’s community sessions.
“The support of the PCC and Layton’s engagement with Premier League Kicks sessions has developed his ability to positively interact with others, through better communication and understanding of peers and staff.”
The Foundation is now trying to support Layton with the difficult transition from primary to secondary school.
As part of its ‘Switch It’ programme, foundation staff carry out a range of targeted interventions.
They will include sitting with Layton in lessons, seeing where the scheme can help and checking on progress in his new school.