The St James's Place Charitable Foundation support an incredibly inspiring Mintridge Silver Netball programme with our amazing Commonwealth gold medallist Eboni Usoro-Brown
St James’s Place Charitable Foundation Silver Netball Programme with Eboni Usoro-Brown – Northampton International Academy September 2021
“Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them.”
Our Ambassador Eboni Usoro-Brown, current England Netball Player and Commonwealth gold medallist, spent Tuesday morning inspiring the students at Northampton International Academy as part of this amazing St James’s Place Charitable Foundation Silver Netball Programme.
Throughout the mid-morning, students gained essential skills and words of advice from Eboni through her presentation and Q&A sessions, about how she manages her work, life and sport at the same time. During the morning, Eboni also had the pleasure of delivering some enjoyable netball coaching sessions with the students at NIA.
The day began with some fantastic presentations with Eboni, where she disclosed the nature of her incredibly busy life to her fascinated and inquisitive audience. Eboni discussed her daily schedule as an international netball player, which involves two intense training sessions each day, alongside managing her career in law and also being a mother at the same time! By telling of her experience, Eboni shared invaluable tips with students regarding time management and setting goals that are challenging yet achievable and rewarding.
Eboni explained to students the importance of goal setting and adopting a resilient attitude towards getting what you want to achieve. Eboni shared with students the benefits of taking chances that place you outside of your comfort zone, such as when she accepted the role as Sky Sports presenter, which opened a whole new avenue of possibilities.
Here are some of the questions that students and staff asked during the day:
- What is your next goal?
- How do you balance your commitments as a lawyer, netball player, and Sky Sports presenter, and how do you manage to find time for yourself between all this?
- Do you ever get hate messages on social media and how do you deal with these?
- What is your next goal?
- Do you ever get hate messages on social media and how do you deal with these?
Following the presentations, Eboni led engaging netball coaching sessions with the girls at NIA, challenging their ball skills with some fast-paced, dynamic drills!
Several girls particularly stood out throughout the day, with one, in particular, receiving a goodie bag that included a water bottle from our partners at The Happy Co, a nutritious Nibble snack and some other great goodies. One student has also been selected to receive a Silver Mentoring Programme and therefore has the opportunity to be mentored by Eboni over the next six months!
It was a wonderful day for Team Mintridge, Eboni and the staff and students at NIA. It was heart-warming to experience the immediate impact, as students approached Eboni after the presentations and coaching sessions to ask her further questions, as well as disclosing some of their own barriers and how they might now try and overcome them using the approach Eboni has taught them.
We are extremely grateful to St James’s Place Charitable Foundation for supporting this fantastic programme and we can’t wait to visit NIA again very soon for our next programme!
To see any of the photos or videos from the day, please contact the staff at Northampton International Academy.
Team Mintridge
To get involved in netball in the Northampton area, you can contact any of your local clubs to find out more about how you can be involved.
Northants JMs netball Club, Northamptonshire
FuturePrint Netball Club - FuturePrint Netball Club
If you are interested in a virtual or physical Programme with Pamela Cookey or any of our other inspirational Ambassadors, then please get in touch via the Mintridge website at www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk or with Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities, and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as FitSwarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, please contact Alex Wallace.