Despite being in lockdown, Team Mintridge virtually visited Christopher Hatton Academy with Jordan Jarrett-Bryan for the start of a very exciting Silver Mentoring Programme.

This programme has been kindly supported by The Sudborough Foundation, who support charitable projects where a grant can really make a difference. They chose to support this school as it was based within Northamptonshire and believed The Mintridge Foundation could really make a difference. We are extremely grateful to the Foundation for supporting this Programme, so we can continue to support the young people we work with, especially during this time of uncertainty.

Jordan has an incredible amount of knowledge, not only about Wheelchair Basketball, where he has represented Team GB but also off the court, in his current role as a presenter and journalist. Jordan has met some incredible sporting individuals including Jessica Ennis-Hill, Usain Bolt, Anthony Joshua, and Andy Murray, which the students were very excited to hear about. Jordan highlighted to the students how all of these individuals have worked incredibly hard to get to the highest stage in their careers and that the journey doesn’t come easy for them or anyone. Jordan told the children that the key to success is, “hard work, discipline, passion, and determination but most importantly – enjoyment.”

Throughout his presentation, Jordan related his own journey to that of the students he was talking to and spoke about his thoughts on success, in his relation to his career choice. Growing up, Jordan has always been fascinated by sport, and now has the pleasure of combining his love for sport and his love for writing and communicating. Jordan encouraged the students to play to their strengths but also pursue a career that you love, which is why Jordan is a very successful sports journalist now. Jordan got the students thinking about their own career path and the need to start applying themselves to the subjects they love in school and the hobbies they take part in outside of school.

Jordan referenced the Olympic and Paralympic Values throughout his presentation and why they are important to try and follow, not only when in school but within other areas of your life. When working with young people, Jordan emphasised the need for respect, excellence, friendship, determination, equality, and courage.

Jordan also taught the students about why it is important to accept and work well with others around you, regardless of their background. Being a disabled athlete himself, he spoke about how you always need to be inclusive and accepting of other people’s ability, rather than discriminating or judging someone, as that disability or a person’s gender, religion or heritage, does not stop them from being a value to society.

The students from Sir Christopher Hatton Academy asked some great questions including towards the end of the presentation, which included;

Who is the most famous person you have met?

Who is your role model?

Who was the most famous football player you have met?

How do you play Wheelchair Basketball?

Did you ever get injured playing Wheelchair Basketball?

What is the best example of courage you have seen?

Out of all the people you have interviewed, who do you have the best connection with?

Jordan was extremely impressed by the questions he was asked during the presentation and enjoyed chatting to the students about their basketball journeys. There were some very relevant messages shared by Jordan during his presentation and we know that the students took a lot from listening to his journey and his story.

We are really looking forward to Jordan starting his mentoring Programme with the two students from Sir Christopher Hatton and we can’t wait to follow their journeys throughout the mentoring process.

We are extremely grateful to the Sudborough Foundation for supporting this Programme and enabling us to support the students at Sir Christopher Hatton.

If you are interested in a Programme with Jordan Jarrett Bryan or any of our other Mintridge Ambassadors, or you are interested in a Virtual or Physical Programme with one of our team of inspirational Ambassadors, then please get in touch via the Mintridge website at www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk or with Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk

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