Academy players take part in Terriers Together training session
- Town supports Anti-Bullying Week
- Academy players take part in Terriers Together training session
- Comments from Academy Head of Education and Player Care Adam Powell
This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and today we shine a spotlight on how awareness campaigns such as these form part of our Academy player education programme, linking into the Club’s ‘Terriers Together’ work on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Adam Powell, recently appointed to the role of Head of Academy Education and Player Care, spoke to htafc.com about his role and how important he feels it is for young players to be aware of the impact that bullying, and discrimination can have.
“My role consists of managing and supporting the Academy players’ educational journey through the League Football Education programme, and I also manage the safeguarding, welfare and inclusion of all our young players.
“An important part of my role is to prepare players for life away from football, using a holistic approach to support the internal and external delivery of the life skills programme to enhance our players’ knowledge and positively influence their behaviour.
“Bullying is strictly not tolerated in the Academy or anywhere else in the Club or Foundation, and through the education programme our players learn to recognise the detrimental impact it can have on people’s lives, as well as how to report any bullying they may have witnessed.
“In addition to sessions run by organisations such as Kick It Out, our players recently benefitted from a Club-developed ‘Terriers Together’ training session with our HR Manager, Zoe Shackleton and Head of Safeguarding, Karen Crosland. The workshop gave an overview of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, detailed the zero-tolerance approach we have to bullying and discrimination of any kind, and focused on how our players can be role models for others.”
Shane Maroodza, one of the Academy U17s players in attendance at the session said: “I really enjoyed the ‘Terriers Together’ workshop because it made us aware of the severity bullying can have on a person’s life, and made us think about how other people perceive and respond to our language and behaviour. In football and sport, racism and bullying do take place and more education is needed to make everyone aware that this is not acceptable, and that everyone has a role to play in creating a positive and supportive environment. I am confident I know how to recognise when bullying and discrimination are taking place and I know the importance of reporting them, and how I would go about it.”
The theme for Anti-Bullying Week 2020 is ‘United Against Bullying’. For more information please CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Club’s ‘Terriers Together’ initiative, please click HERE.
