We were absolutely delighted that our Ambassador Pamela Cookey had the privilege of delivering our 300th Mintridge Programme at Rossall School with the support of our partners Limitless.

The students at Rossall School were really excited to listen to Pamela’s sporting journey and to learn how Pamela’s journey, the challenges and setbacks she has faced along the way relate to their own journey, not only on the sporting field but academically too.

Due to the current circumstances, we were unable to visit Rossall School to meet the students and celebrate this incredible milestone for Mintridge. However, we are so pleased that the students were so engaged throughout the programme and it reminded Team Mintridge why it is so important to keep sharing the inspirational messages of our incredible sporting role models.

As former England Netball captain and a successful career woman, Pamela was the perfect person to speak to the students at Rossall School about what it is like captaining a national squad but also the challenges that come being immersed in an elite athlete environment.

Pamela spoke to the students all about her journey into the sport but also the lessons and opportunities that being involved in sport have given to her. In a time in their lives where some of the students are choosing to specialise in sports and certain subjects and also have dreams of their own, it was great for the students to hear Pamela talk about the setbacks she has needed to overcome along the way and the positive mindset that has ensured she has been able to achieve her goals.  

Despite not being able to physically deliver our programme at Rossall School, the students still made the most of their time with Pamela and asked some brilliant questions to her about her sporting journey and how that could relate to their own journeys. Some of the best questions from the session were;

Have you got any advice for us about how to stay motivated because we can’t train with our teams at the moment?

What did you enjoy most about university netball and how did you find the routines and competitions?

What do you think the next steps are for England Netball to increase participation of young girls in the sport?

How do I work my way to the top as a GA in my local club?

How have you dealt with any negative stereotypes and beliefs in relation to your gender and sport?

Who is your favourite upcoming netball player?

What have been the major changes within the sport since you retired?

What is it like captaining a national squad in major competitions?

As captain of the England Netball team and also as a successful career woman, Pamela talked a lot to the students about how her experiences in her ‘double life’ have led to where she is now and that everything happens for a reason. During this time of uncertainty and constant change for the students at Rossall School, it was great for them to hear about how Pamela had overcome those challenges but also could be inspired by the messages she delivered.

Pamela left the students with some final words of wisdom, “You have to remember that this will end, this will get better and it will all be ok again.”

Thank you to the teachers at Rossall School for helping to organise this programme and to our amazing partners at Limitless for supporting the programme and helping us to celebrate our 300th Mintridge programme!

To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, or any of the other 299 programmes we have delivered across the country, please contact Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk

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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.

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