Tranmere in the Community’s PL Kicks sessions have helped Leon, who struggled with his attendance at school, gain the confidence to eventually go back to school full-time and go on to be named Head Boy.
Leon started attending our PL Kicks sessions a few years ago when the sessions had just started up.
He attends our Unified Football session for children with special educational needs. The session aims to bring children with and without disabilities together so that they can play football in a safe environment and on a level playing field, receiving equal opportunities and pathways into various other activities.
When he first came along, Leon was very shy and apprehensive to take part, and he struggled with mainstream education, sometimes only completing half a day a week.
His love for football bought him and his mum to our PL Kicks session, and from there Leon has flourished.
Working with our community staff, Leon has grown into a confident young man, attending our sessions every single week and being part of our PL Youth Summit squad.
Off the back of this, Leon expressed an interest in wanting to go back to school full time, and he now attends a local special educational needs school five days a week.
On entering his last year in the school, he has now been made Head Boy.
TRIC’s Faye Jones, who coaches the sessions and has helped oversee Leon’s development, said: "When we first met Leon he was really shy, apprehensive and struggled to hold a conversation with anyone.
“His mum was keen to get him socializing and interacting with a group of children who had similar needs to him. That's how she came across our PL Kicks Unified Football session.
"Since Leon has started attending our sessions, we have seen his confidence grow and his social skills develop massively. He has progressed into playing for our Junior Ability Counts teams here at the club and is a fantastic leader for our other participants to look up to.
“We are all so proud of Leon achieving Head Boy status at his school and can't wait to see what the future holds for him! Well done, Leon!"