The Leyton Orient Trust and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London

The Leyton Orient Trust

“As a charity our aim is to positively impact on the lives of disadvantaged Londoners through our sports, educational and leisure projects.”

The Leyton Orient Trust celebrated their 25th year in 2014 providing solutions to some of the key social and educational barriers facing young people in their area.

They have a four tier programme.

1. Creating Opportunities

Engaging with young people in the community, so they begin their journey with them. Multi-sports, physical acitivities, creative arts and music to name a few! These are delivered in the community and are offered in the early evenings, weekends and during holidays.

Competitive sport with regular area and cross area tournaments in a number of sports.

Community safety and self-awareness workshops are held as an introduction to non-accredited learning.

2. Developing Opportunities

This focuses on offering non-accredited and low level learning, self-development, awareness and volunteering opportunites.  Aimed at 14-25 year olds and includes citizen work and light touch employability and development programmes such as Great Grass with IT skills, and Orient Opportunities with sports training and volunteering.

3. Delivering Opportunities 

This focuses on offering formal educational learning, coaching and training, resulting in measureable progress and improved qualifications.  This covers all educational and sports coaching in schools, after school sports and mentoring clubs and part and full time educational provision for 14-19 year olds including apprenticeships and BTEC courses.

4. Enhancing Opportunities 

This focuses on offering extended activities to the communities they serve.  Activities for those with a disability,  those who are elderly and socially isolated and also regular sporting opportunities through holiday clubs and afternoon sessions for children.  They work with SCORE and Leyton Orient supports the community through access to players, live matches and general involvement and connection with the   club.

The opportunites that Leyton Orient offer have been enhanced by their partnerships with the Football League Trust, the Olympic Park Legacy and now one of their latest partnerships which they are developing with Leadership Through Sport & Business. 

This could not be more fitting to help them to deliver opportunities, as they can help to source the bright students from their community who employers would otherwise struggle to find.  The five part programme enhances and strengthens their belief that sports, education and leadership skills does have a positive impact on young people’s lives.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), one of the best performing further education colleges in London,  is our education delivery partner for the Leyton Orient cohort.

CONEL has provided an excellent learning environment and teaching for 4 cohorts since 2012.  Our 3rd cohort recently graduated and our 4th cohort are mid-way through their apprenticeships.

AAT Level 2 is delivered during the 4 month pre-employment programme and Level 3 is delivered as part of a 12 month apprenticeship.

Andy Forbes, Principal and Chief Executive said ‘Opening doors and offering better opportunites for our students is at the heart of what the college aims to do.  We feel extremely privileged to be able to offer our students such a worthwhile programme.’