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Nick’s journey with Sporting Memories

Over recent years, Sporting Memories has welcomed a series of apprentices across Essex to support our work across a range of our Clubs, including based at leisure centres and health and social care settings. One recent example of this is Nick, who has Cerebral Palsy and is supporting our across Witham.

Introducing Nick

In 2024, we were successful with Sport England’s Pilot Fund to deliver a new project across Essex looking at connecting the leisure, charitable and health and social care sectors. Part of this funding allowed us to work in partnership with local organisations to recruit three new Sporting Memories Apprentices. Working with Freedom Leisure (formally Fusion Leisure) one of our first apprentices recruited was Nick.

Nick is 27 years of age and has Cerebral Palsy and the Sporting Memories Apprenticeship is his first paid job. He was a volunteer at the Witham Sporting Memories Club so was familiar with what Sporting Memories was about and had volunteered with supporting older people. He also volunteers weekly at a local youth club and at a gymnastics club in Springfield where he helps to coach a children’s SEND class. On a Thursday each week in his free time Nick plays Boccia, which he loves and has helped him with his independence and confidence.

Nick started the Sporting Memories Apprentice, formally known as a Community Coach in January 2025. The role is based within Witham Leisure Centre managed by Freedom Leisure.

Nick’s role supporting our work in Witham

Within the role a key part for Nick has been continuing to support the Witham Sporting Memories Club where he is helping to grow the Club with more members and volunteers. They meet every Friday 10.30 to 12.30 at Witham Leisure Centre and join in with games, quizzes, sporting chat and light physical activity such as Boccia.

Nick also helps facilitate every Wednesday between 1-2pm, Gentle Touch, a gentle exercise class for older people with circuits and games. He has also started to visit Parkview Care Home in Witham to deliver a weekly physical activity session with residents. Nick attends weekly with a bag of activities including a Boccia kit, where residents think he is an expert at but also with other equipment to deliver a range of activities.

As part of his apprenticeship Nick has one study day and is slowly making his way through the course work.

Nick is in the middle of his Apprenticeship but already the difference in him is visible. Within the Community Club members are seeing Nick more confident and talking more in sessions.

Offering valued support

We asked some of the partnering organisations that work alongside Nick to deliver Sporting Memories on the impact he has made since joining as an apprentice.

Parkview Care Home’s Manager said: ‘We absolutely love having Nick here for the sessions, he brings such great energy and the residents really enjoy his visits. We really do value Nick’s presence and the positive impact he has here’.

Richard Moss interviewed Nick for the role and line managed him for the first few months.

‘Feedback from the group has been overwhelmingly favourable with everyone commenting on how helpful and supportive Nick is. Everyone who has worked with him have commented on how his communication skills have improved. One quality that has been noted and commented on is Nick’s personal warmth and sense of humour; attributes that he brings naturally into his interactions with others. Nick has been an excellent community apprentice.’

Catherine Forsyth, Nick’s current line manager has also seen a difference in Nick.

‘Nick gets some very positive feedback from the participants at Sporting Memories who all love him! They comment on how helpful he is and how patient he is with those with dementia and other medical issues. From Freedom Leisure’s perspective, we are pleased with the progress Nick is making. He is a pleasant, competent and helpful member of the team.’

Everyone around Nick is telling him what a good job he is doing and the feedback to him is really positive. Nick himself does admit that his self-belief has grown and ‘it’s wonderful’. Nick loves the role and says that it does not feel like work and doesn’t want it to stop!

Anyone interested in attending Witham Sporting Memories Club can contact Catherine Forsyth at catherine.forsyth@freedom-leisure.co.uk or call 03452 601535.