Vocational Educational training projects
Discovering More offered Vocational Educational Training (VET) experiences abroad to vocational students living in the UK. This set of postcards showcase some of those life-changing experiences, where students have been able to develop personal and professional skills. A few months after their return we asked participants the question ‘Do you feel you have benefitted professionally from this experience?’, 95% agreed (67% strongly agreed, while 28% agreed), 5% partly agreed.
We would like to thank our amazing partners and the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union for funding this project.
My name is Nicole Manning, i’m 17 years old studying at Kirklees College. I went on a project in Aruba to work in a donkey sanctuary, vets and dog groomers. During the 2 weeks, I worked in a donkey sanctuary which helped me learn about animals i would not usually work with. We did basic husbandry and, worked in a vets which was an amazing experience. I was able to inject a cat with antibiotics. I really enjoyed this work as I would never have the chance to do this. During my free time, we went snorkelling which was my favourite activity. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally i learned how to treat donkeys with severe ear conditions. Personally, I feel this experience has increased my confidence. - Nicole Manning
Hello my name is Georgia Bates, I am 17 years old and studying L3 equine management at kirklees college. I thought this was a great opportunity to extend my knowledge and learn how other cultures manage a variety of animals. During the project I have been volunteering at the dog groomers, vets and the donkey sanctuary. At the sanctuary I undertook husbandry tasks as well as treating injuries and ailments. We also got free time between volunteering, which we used to visit sites and complete activities such as horse back riding, water sports, snorkeling and visit local beaches. Thanks to erasmus+ professionally I learned how to prepare animals before surgery and got a basic understanding of vetenary practice. Personally, I have enjoyed the project and developed a number of new skills which I can apply to my college course. I also feel more confident around new people due to this experience. Georgia Bates
My name is Laura shaw and I am 16 years old. I am studying animal management at Kirklees College. I went on a project to Aruba working in the donkey sanctuary, vets and dog groomers. During the 2 weeks I worked at the vets by helping prepare for the surgery’s. When at the donkey sanctuary I fed the donkeys and poo picked. At the groomers I washed, brushed and clipped the dogs. I enjoyed every task that was put my way. In my free time we went to the beach and did some water sports and snorkelling. I also tried horse riding for the first time. Thanks to Erasmus+, I learned how to prepare and care for the animals before and after surgery. Personally I believe that the project has allowed me to become more confident around animals. I have also found out about different cultures throughout this amazing experience. Laura shaw
Hi, my name is Renee Cheytanova. I went on a project in Aruba, I am 17 years old and currently studying animal management at Kirklees College. During the project, we did work at the donkey sanctuary, dog groomers and the vets. At the sanctuary we poo picked, fed hay and pellets and interacted with tourists by telling them about the donkeys. In my free time I went to the beach, did water sports, went snorkeling and went horse riding. Thanks to Erasmus+, personally I learned how to prepare and look after animals before and after surgery. Personally, I think the project has helped me become more confident around animals and has given me the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds and cultures. Renee Cheytanova
Hello my name is Caroline Slack, I’m 17 and studying equine management level 3 at Kirklees College. I was given the opportunity to go to Aruba and work with the local donkey sanctuary, vets and dog groomers. When at the sanctuary I fed, generally cared for and preformed medical care on the donkeys. In the free time we explored the local landmarks like natural bridge. Thanks to Erasmus+ I have become more employable in the animal industry due to my new found skills. I have come out of this placement a lot more confident. I can’t recommend this type of experience enough. Caroline Slack
My name is Caitlin. This project has enabled me to develop key skills in preparation for university. During my project in Martinique, I worked in a team of around 2-3 other people delivering and helping out coaches. I took part in many athletics sessions over there. Aside from coaching, our group took part in many water sport activities such as sailing and kayaking which were really fun but hard work! During our free time, in the first week of the project, we travelled to Fort De France. There was a lots of food places and souvenir shops and tourists. The most important skill I developed whilst in Martinique was team working skills. Another good skill I developed was communication- both verbal and non-verbal. Personally, I think that I became a lot more confident. Caitlin Lunn
I am Caitlin. I am 18 years old, I live in Cleckheaton and study sport at Kirklees College. During my time in Martinique I gained a wealth of experience in sports coaching. I coached Football, Athletics, Biking and Gymnastics. Through this experience I have learnt different methods to coach different age groups. During free time we took part in numerous water activities. I enjoyed kayaking, the most. I have learnt how to improvise coaching drills when the scenario changes such as having less participants than I thought I would. I have also learnt some of the French language. I have become more confident within myself and particularly when coaching large groups. Caitlin Ramshaw
My name is Dan North and I am 17 years old, I am currently studying at Kirklees College. During the project, I have coached and assisted in rugby, athletics, gymnastics, football and basketball. I have enjoyed all the coaching so far and feel it has all be successful as the children have been engaged and seemed to thoroughly enjoy it all. My favourite free time has been the trip to Fort De France as we were able to look in some shops and pick up some souvenirs, grab some tasty food as well as walk along the pier and have a laugh within the group. Thanks to Erasmus+ I have been able to develop my coaching skills as well as meeting some new people and learning about new culture. Personally, I feel like I have been able to prove my teamwork skills as well as my ability to work on my own. Dan North
My name is James Smith I am currently studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport at Huddersfield Kirklees College. The day to day of the project has involved being a part of many coaching sessions in a variety of sports such as Rugby, Football, and Athletics. My favourite free time activity was snorkelling on a beach near Le Carbet. I saw multiple species of fish and a sting-ray. I have learnt some very useful skills that are very hard to obtain if not for projects like this, skills such as how to coach using diverse skills other than just verbal communication such as the use of demonstrations, hand gestures and body language to pass across messages. I have learnt about how how to overcome a language when trying to communicate with different people. James Smith
My name is Josh, I’m 18 and I’m a second-year student at Kirklees College. During the project, I coached kids in sports such as gymnastics, basketball, athletics and football they seemed to have fun. I enjoyed the challenge of communicating in a different language as the kids were helpful and assisted me on the words that I struggled with. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I learned how much of a factor the language barrier is when running sessions and this taught me that the skill of demonstration is highly required when the kids are struggling to understand what you are trying to say to them. Personally, I learnt that everyone in Martinique is very generous and joyful as well as being very relaxed especially when trying to communicate with them. Josh Newman
I am 18 years of age and live in Huddersfield, England, studying a level 3 sport BTEC at Kirklees College. What motivated me to participate in this project is the fact that I had never been abroad until now and wanted to experience flying, a new country along with the activities Martinique has to offer. During our free time, my favourite place we visited was the Port De France, the place had a lot to offer and had many amazing sights and tourist attractions. Thanks to Erasmus +, I professionally learned a few words in French, these assisted my coaching whilst delivering numerous coaching sessions during my time on the project. I now want to visit more places to continue experiencing different places. Kai Stannard
Hi, I am Kyle Render, I am 18 years old and currently studying at Kirklees College. I wanted to come to Martinique to gain more experience in coaching and develop my coaching skills. During the project I coached different sports and gained the experience I was seeking. The language barrier was a difficult hurdle to overcome but I relished the challenge. During free time I have played beach volleyball and went on a Jet Ski with Luke. I learnt how to use visual aids to supplement my coaching, I learnt how effective these can be to relay coaching instructions more effectively. I learnt that I am an independent and responsible student, who is ready for my next life venture of university. Kyle Render
My name is Leigha Summers, I am 17 years old. I study sport at Kirklees college. During the project I worked alongside three different coaches and assisted in the coaching of different size groups of children. Our scheduled coaching sessions were predominately planned for late afternoons, during the day time we learnt about the culture of Martinique, we visited the slave museum and spent time with youth in town, visiting different places on the island of Martinique. Thanks to Erasmus +, I have gained more confidence in speaking to large groups of young children. I have also learnt to be more assertive, this is important when coaching as the children need to listen and respect my instructions. Leigha Summers
My name is Luke Cranswick I am 18 years old and I am a student at Kirklees college. During the week I took part in multiple coaching sessions for a range of age groups. I really enjoyed the coaching session as the kids where easy to work with and where very enthusiastic. During my free time my favourite experience was diving in off the jetty. Thanks to Erasmus+, I professionally learned how to communicate efficiently without having to use words and relying and realising that using demonstrations and actions can be used as an effective method of communication. Personally, I became more confident in terms of being able to coach a large group of kids and being able to run a fun and exciting session. Luke Cranswick
My name is Luke, I am 18 years old and I am a student Kirklees College studying sport. I wanted to gain this experience coaching as I have not coached outside of college before. During the project, It was good to observe other coaches and the different method on how they deliver their sessions. All the sessions I took part in were fun and a huge learning curve. My favourite session was rugby, at the end of the coaching drill we played a mini game against the open age team, it was great to engage with them and even better we won! Learnt how to adjust to the language barrier by using demonstrations and hand gestures, such as thumbs up and down. I have learnt how to improvise sessions in a timely manner to allow the session to smoothly run, some challenges I overcame were not enough equipment, low numbers and language barrier. Luke Norcliffe
My name is Olly, I am 17 years old and live in Bradford, West Yorkshire. For the past two years I have studied sport at Kirklees College. During the project in Martinique I gained valuable experience coaching four different sports (Athletics, Gymnastics, Football and Basketball). The language barrier was a massive challenge, but I enjoyed this challenge, it has put me out of my comfort zone, and I have learnt a lot as a result of this. I learnt to overcome communication barriers with the use of demonstrations to supplement instructions. I also learnt to check for understanding by a simple yes or no question. I learnt to open up, interact and build new relations with people. Olly Scanlon
My name is Rhianna, I am student from Huddersfield. I took part in the Martinique project. During the project I have coached Athletics, Biking and Gymnastics to groups of young children. I have also been shopping for, prepping and cooking food for the group. We have also learnt different nautical activities. I have enjoyed the experience as it is something I would not be able to experience at home. I enjoyed the trip to Forte De France. My favourite souvenir I bought was banana jam because I had never heard or seen it before. I have learnt that coaching plans need to be flexible and that having progressions keeps the activities interesting and engaging. Through watching the coaches, I have learnt some new drills that I will use in my coaching practice. Rhianna Finch
Hello my name is Alex Francis and I am a student doing level 3 Animal Management. During my project I worked at the donkey sanctuary carrying out tasks like poo picking, feeding, treating and worming. I also helped the vet with catching and restraining. I also worked at the dog grooming doing bathing, drying and clipping nails. I worked at the vets preparing animals image for surgery and sitting in during consultations. In my free time we visited some beaches, are ice cream, visited De Palm Island, saw the natural bridge and natural rock formation. We also explored the island. Thanks to Erasmus and I gained skill in looking after donkeys and giving treatments. Personally, I have learnt how to live with other people and improved communication skills. Alex Francis
My name is Harry Bouch. I’m 16 years old and I live in a small village in the UK called Kirkoswald. I wanted to go to Sweden to see the difference in cultures and sports because I might want to instruct winter sports later on in life. The project: We are into Swedish schools and learning about their culture, life style and history and how this is different to the UK. We have been into two different schools: a secondary school and 6th form. We have helped run scout activities for a Swedish group of children ages 8-10 and also worked on a reindeer farm for some Sami farmers. In my free time I have done cross country skiing, snowball fights, swimming, snowmobiling, sledging, walking, dog sledging and ice skating. Me favourite was dog sledging because my Dad breeds sheep dogs and I enjoyed discovering how they train their dogs differently. I have learnt how I can be independant. Harry Bouch
My name is Ellie, I am 17 and I am from the Lake District in England. During this experience I have learnt lots about Swedish culture including the sports, such as ice hockey, the foods like meatballs and reindeer and the traditions like the Sami people and the Midsummer celebration. In our free time we did lots of fun and exiting activities such as skiing, husky sledding and snowmobiling. We also had big snowball fights with the local children which as a lot of fun. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt a lot about communication with others, even despite language barriers. I also learnt about working with children and how to teach them new skills. Personally the biggest thing I enjoyed was learning a new language which I intend to continue learning after I return home. Ellie Kidd
My name is Jon-Paul Vass. I went on a project in Valencia During my project, we trained every morning with the Spanish pro football academy and then later coached children from San Jose academy. As well as the football we did lots of other cultural activities which included, making paella, going to the beach and seeing the fresh food market in the town centre. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I learned how young children in Spain get brought up to play football and how it is different to the way English kids play the game and how they are taught it as well. Personally, I learnt that Spanish football is a lot less demanding than the English game and that they struggle to play at a very quick tempo as they like to slow the game down and build up through the pitch. Jon-Paul Vass
My name is Mitchell Parker, 17 from York. I went on a project in Valencia. Over the two-week project we took part in football sessions designed to help us understand the Spanish way of playing from SPF staff. We also visited a local club to help coach their players and learn from their coaches. During my spare time we cooked paella went to watch Valencia men and women play vs Bilbao as well as explore the city. I learn new skills mainly around communication and how to adapt mine to suit the audience I was working with. I surprised myself with how sociable I was, I didn’t know everyone before we went on our project, but by the end of it I had a new group of friends. Mitchell Parker
My name is Georgia Dickens, 18 and I went on a project in Valencia, Spain We did loads, we trained with Spanish coaches from SPF, we coached players from San Jose Football club, took morning classes at a Spanish college, visited the Mestallea and watched both men and women’s team play vs Bilbao During our free time we explored the River park that runs through Valencia. We had a few Spanish lesson that has helped me pick up a few words in Spanish, but the main thing I learnt during the trip was around how to put on fun football sessions for players and how to deliver them. During the project I really saw my confidence grow to try new challenges and don’t be afraid to give things ago. I also feel I have become more approachable to meeting new people. Georgia Dicken
My name is Molly Swales, 18 from Scarborough and I went on a project in Valencia, Spain. I had the best two weeks ever! We took part in and lead football sessions, made paella for our lunch, visited one of Valencia’s top colleges and took part in their sports lessons. I loved every second. During our free time we had time to explore the beautiful city of Valencia and absorb the culture of the city. We also spent time at the beach. I learnt a lot about coaching and how to set up coaching sessions for both adults and children. I now know the level of detail required. My confidence due to this has improved so much. Before this project I was quite a shy person and conscious about myself. Now I put myself outside my comfort zone regularly. Thank you Everything Is Possible. Molly Swales
My name is Maddie Abbishaw, from Leeds and I went on a project in Valencia, Spain. The project was designed for me to understand the Spanish was of coaching and playing football. We had 6 sessions with Coach Javi from Spanish Pro football and then used this to coach under 6’s at San Jose Football club twice a week. During my free time I spent time relaxing in the River Park, either at the basketball courts or watching local teams play matches on the near by trip. Professionally I learn how to conduct myself in new situations, for example leadership skills that allowed me take charge of the coaching sessions or my station making the desert during our paella experience. I learnt how confident I am and how much self-esteem I have. I had a brilliant experience that has changed my life. Maddie Abbishaw
My name is Zoe Belding, I am a female footballer. I went on a project in Valencia. During the project, most mornings and evening we spend either coaching for playing football. We had two Spanish lessons to help us with the language as well as visiting colegio mascamarena where we took part in their morning sports lessons playing padel. During the free time, we visited the beach had a tour of the Mestalla, and watched both Male and Female Valencia side in their La Liga games. Time management is a key skill I have learnt, during the project you have to make sure your on time for each event. For our coaching we had to take public transport getting the right bus at the right time was important. Personally I learnt that I can adapt to a new culture and city. I now feel really confident about making new step after this project. Zoe Belding
I’m Harvey Ribbons, I went on a project in Valencia During this two-week project, we participate in and lead football coaching sessions with a leading Academy in Valencia Spanish Pro Football and a local team called San Jose FC. During the project we didn’t other activities such as cooking paella, spending the morning at a College and watching the mascleta fireworks. We also explored the city visiting the old town and spending time absorbing the culture. Alongside a little bit of Spanish, I learnt professional how the coaching styles in Spain vary to that in England. There is more of a focus on technique and positional relationships in Spain compared to England I discovered that I am a very good active listener and have a calming influence to support others during difficult times. Harvey Ribbons
My name is Ben Kite, I went on a project in Valencia. We did loads! A highlight for me was coaching the Under 6 San Jose team on four occasions, I absolutely loved the experience teaching them new skills and tricks. On top of that we had sessions delivered to us by Spanish Pro Football which was brilliant. We visited the Valencia training ground and stadium to watch both male and female teams train and play. I spent a lot of time socialising. Professionally I learnt about how to tailor my personality to correctly fit the environment I am in. I now feel I have the ability to gauge the environment and use the appropriate language to successfully fit it. I really gotten to know who I am and what makes me tick. I am grateful for the experience given to me by Everything Is Possible. Ben Kite
I am Matthew Scurry. We did so much in Valencia. A highlight for me was coaching and training with Valencia’s Disabled team, I enjoyed this so much. We trained most mornings, visited a local college and took part in lessons and supported coaches a San Jose FC where I was with the under 12’s age group I struggle in social situations but I came out of my comfort zone and enjoyed playing cards, basketball and I even hosted a quiz on last night. How to adapt session for disabled players who have varied ability. The time spent with the Valencia disabled team was brilliant for me to see how this is done at a high level. I had a tough time being away from home for 2 weeks but feel I have grown and have the ability to know I can do it. Matthew Scurry
My name is Katie Naylor I am 20 years old, I am from Oakenshaw. I am a student. During my Malta project I worked at the cat sanctuary where I helped with general cleaning duties with the cats. At the Mediterraneo park I helped feed the birds. In my free time I enjoyed going to Valletta, we went at night and through the day it was beautiful on both occasions but I preferred Valletta at night as it was lit up with many pretty lights. Thanks to Erasmus plus, professionally I learned how to medicate some of the sick cats that are at the cat sanctuary, I also learned how to flea cats correctly. Personally, I learned that the cats are very well looked after, they get the care they need, the medication they may need and the professional help they need such as the vets. Katie Naylor
Hi, My name is Eliza Rudge. I went on the Malta experience to work at the cat sanctuary. During the two weeks of the experience we cleared the cats beds, cleaned all the beds we then swept and moped the floors of the cat sanctuary. Once done, wet feed. We dished out all the wet fed to all the cats and medicated some of the feeds so it was suitable for the more poorly ones. My favourite free time was when we went exploring all the different parts of Malta; we went to Valletta, Madeira, Saint Julian’s, blue grotto... Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I learned and widen my knowledge on new skills that I can input into everyday tasks or future employment. Personally I feel this project has helped me increase my confident in interacting with new people. Eliza Rudge
I am Morgan. I am 17 years old, I live in Liversedge and study Public Services at Kirklees college During my time in Valencia I gained cultural and football knowledge through this experience. I have learnt dstyles of living and the language. During free time I enjoyed the stadium tour the most as it was great to find out the history of the Spanish birth of football. I have also learned how to cook traditional Valencia dish - Paella I have learnt some basic Spanish when going to shops and coaching speaking to the children I have also learnt how to develop further as a football player myself from the Spanish coaches and the style of football they play. I have developed and improved my communication skills, demonstrations skills and I have also seen the importance of time management and team work. Morgan East
I am Rhys, I live in Huddersfield and I study Level 3 sports academy at Kirklees College. During my time in Valencia, I have gained more experience in coaching from shadowing and assisting Spanish coaches at the CF Valencia. During the free time we had, we took part in many activities including football at the beach and cooking a traditional paella. My favourite free time activities were playing against local Spanish opposition in friendly football matches and watching the Valencia CF academy matches. My overall knowledge and skill with coaching has definitely improved as I have learnt other ways to make it easier for participants in the sessions to learn key skills and to improve current skills. Rhys Kelly
I am Nathan. I am 17 years old, I live in Meltham and I study sport level 3 at Kirklees college. During my time in Valencia I gained the skills and experience of sports coaching and training. I coached football. Through this experience I have learnt different methods to coaching the kids and adults. During the free time we had, we took part in different activities. But I enjoyed the Mestalla stadium tour, the Spanish lessons and the beach. I have learnt in coaching drills that I have to learn to improvise during coaching drills and when the scenario changes such as less people playing. I learnt the Spanish language. My skills have become more confident within myself and when coaching in large groups I am more confident. Nathan Moore
I am Amos. I am 18 years old, I study sport at Kirklees College. During my time in Valencia I gained a wealth of experience in coaching young children and Disabled children in football. Through this experience I have learnt different methods of coaching different age groups and abilities. During free time I took part in numerous activities such as cooking paella, visiting the Mestalla for a stadium tour and going to the beach. I have learnt how to improvise coaching drills when a scenario changes and how to coach children with a language barrier. I have also learnt parts of the Spanish language, such as the numbers and popular phrases. My confidence has also improved through coaching and speaking to so many locals. Amos Robinson
My name is Tom. I am currently studying sports at Kirklees college. During my time in Valencia, I have gained a great amount of knowledge on the different methods of coaching used over here in Spain compared to the methods used in England. I have coached and played football. It has been very interesting to see how different age groups have been coached. The two most enjoyable things I have done in my free time is paella making and visiting the Mastella, where we were taken on the tour of the stadium. I have learnt how to get across my point in a drill and how to get the minds of the younger children focused on the session. My coaching skills that I had have definitely improved especially when coaching younger children. Thomas Gledhill
Hola, my name is Jacob, I am 16 years of age. I am a level three sports student at Kirklees college. During my time in Valencia I gained a mass amount knowledge about coaching football from the coaches I have been coached by and also coached alongside. I have learned loads of new drills and styles of coaching. During my free time I have enjoyed the activities we have done such as a stadium tour of the Mestalla, watching the Valencia academy games and Spanish lessons. I have learnt how to coach and improvise with a language barrier by using sign language, demonstrations and basic Spanish. Doing this has helped me improve my coaching skills as well as my self-confidence when coaching, especially in large groups. Jacob Parsons
My name is Alhagie Bakary Jobe. I am currently studying BTEC sport at Kirklees College. During my time in Valencia I have developed professionally and personally by gaining a wealth of experience in football coaching. I took part in observing Spanish coaches working with young players and I assisted coaches by setting up small coaching skills.. My favourite free time activity was stadium tour, I enjoyed this the most as I would like to be professional footballer and play at similar venues. During this project I have learnt how to improvise when coaching players that don’t speak the same language as me. It has thought me how to be the adaptable coach, think on my feet and make sure I use different coaching skills such as demonstrations and body language. I have become a more confident individual. Alhagie Bakary Jobe
I am Declan, I am 18 years old, I study sport at Kirklees college in Huddersfield. During my time in Valencia I gained some experience in coaching, we coached football. In this experience we learned the key ways that Spanish coaches control the participants and also the drills that they do. We coached with all age groups. During our free time we got to do a lot of things these include a tour of the Mestalla stadium, we got to watch games and we learned to cook paella. I have learned many things during this project, I have learned to speak some simple Spanish terms which helped during coaching. I also learned different drills and skills. I have developed as an individual in terms gaining more confidence and becoming more educated in different football methodology. Declan Osborne
My name is Anna, I am studying Sports development, coaching at Askham Bryan College. During my time in Martinique we did many different types of coaching, including, football, bikes, gymnastics. Sometimes we ran the whole session on our own and other times we helped the coach with the training and got the chance to join in with the games. In the free time, we had the opportunity to learn French, visit a rum distillery museum, go to the beach and many more exciting activities. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt new techniques to progress my coaching career and I am able to use those techniques with schools within this country. Personally, I feel I have experienced a different culture and what it is like to live in a different country. I am very grateful to of had this amazing experience. Anna Swales
My name is Bethany Moody, I am studying Level 3 Sports Development, Coaching and Fitness. When I was coaching I did various different types of activates they were, football, biking, gymnastics, water sports and rugby. We did a wide range of activities and got involved and took part when we could. In the free time we went to various different beaches, we also went to the slave museum, it was really interesting. We also had an intercultural evening with the young people from youth in the town. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt how to teach and help coach children that speak a different language. Having the language barrier there was very difficult but it made me push and challenge myself. Bethany Moody
My name is Hannah I am 18 and I am studying Uniformed Public Services at Askham Bryan College. When coaching I did athletics, gymnastics, bikes, basketball. In the free time I went to the slave museum, chocolate factory, we went and played a small game of football and went to the beach. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt different ways of coaching and how different communities live compared to us. I also saw how different countries undergo their sport sessions. Personally, I really enjoyed this experience and have taken a lot away from the time we have had there. Hannah Elliott
My name is Izzy I am 17 and I am studying sports at Askham Bryan College. I wanted to take part in this project, because it would look really well on my cv as well as picking up new coaching techniques and skills. When coaching I did basketball, gymnastics, athletics, biking, football and rugby. All of these activities were really fun and interesting to see others learn and take part. We had a barrier with our French and English but this made it more fun and challenging. In the free time, we also went to the slave museum, beaches, rum factory, sailing, canoeing and we took part in walking up mount pele. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt how to socialise with new people and learnt so much from this experience. So thank you again very much for the best opportunity. Isabel Wheeler
My name is Josh I am 18 and I am studying Level 3 sport at Askham Bryan College. When coaching I did football, bikes, athletics and gymnastics as of which was a challenge at times this is because I knew a little bit of French however, demonstrations was the best way of doing the session so they understood as of which my confidence grew as I became more frequent with the system of how they are coached differently. In the free time I enjoyed visiting mount Pele, rum distillery, beaches. Professionally I have learnt how to communicate in a different language but also gain experience within coaching in a different culture and country. Personally, I would like to thank Erasmus for this fantastic opportunity of a lifetime which was thoroughly enjoyed and for giving me an advantage of getting a better insight for a sports coach job. Josh Reid
My name is Katie Smith. I am studying Sport development at Askham Bryan College. I wanted to take part in this project, to develop more coaching skills and confidence. I had never been abroad before, so this was a chance for me to get the opportunity to experience what its like living and teaching in a different country and experiencing a different culture all together. When coaching I participated in a range of different activities such as gymnastics, athletics, biking and rugby. In the free time we visited the rum distillery, and to the slave museum. Thank to Erasmus+, professionally I have gained skills needed for working in a different culture. Personally, I have gained confidence and independence. Katie Smith
My name is lia I am 16 and I am studying level 2 sport and public service at Askham Bryan College. I wanted to take part in this project, because I belived that this project would of helped me gain more confidence in myself and help encourage others to enjoy sport. When coaching I helped out with young children and helped them gain more confidnece and skills In the free time i took part in a few things for example we climbed Mont Pele and we also had a meeting wjth youth in the town. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt many new things from this including a new culture and cuisine and picked up on better french and great leading skills Lia Greenwood
My name is Lydia Pattinson I am 17 and I am studying level 3 Sports at Askham Bryan College. I wanted to take part in this project to get some real-life experience form coaching abroad as I might want to do this as my job. When coaching I did gymnastics, basketball, athletics and bikes all off these were very fun and interesting. During these sessions we got to put to practice our coaching skills that we have learnt from our course at college but to also practice some off our French. In the free time I socialised with new friends who I didn’t really know before and met new friends form Martinique. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt so much form this experience in such a short period of time. I would love to go on this again for longer as it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Lydia Pattinson
My name is Meghan Scadding I am 18 and I am studying at Askham Bryan College. I wanted to develop my coaching skills and to see how other countries coach sports. When coaching I did. When I was there I took part in gymnastics, basketball, football, athletics, biking. In the free time, we also had a intercultural evening where we tasted different foods from Martinique and heard a few songs. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt that different countries have a different way of coaching and also I leant on how different communities live. Personally, I enjoyed this experience a lot and I got a lot out of it as I learnt a lot of different things, if I got the opportunity to do a longer project I would definitely do it as it was amazing. Meghan Scadding
My name is Zak Mullier I am 17, and I am studying SPORT and Coaching at Askham Bryan College. When coaching I did football, gymnastics, basketball and athletics. The hardest part of the coaching was the language barrier as they didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak French. To get past this we did hand signals and lots of demonstrations and In the free time we went to beach a few times, we also did a few cultural visits like the slave museum, chocolate factory and rum distillery. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learnt how to communicate and teach other people sports that don’t speak the same language through actions and demonstrations. Personally, I would like to thank Erasmus+ for the amazing opportunity and for potentially making me more employable. Zak Mullier
I am Kristina, I am 18. I took part in this project to Sweden because it looked an amazing opportunity to embrace new cultures and learn new skills. During the experience I spent a lot of time in schools developing my personal skills and learning about their culture. I have also done fun activities like snow mobiles, reindeer farming and snow bbq. In my free time I went for walks in the snow, cooked tea and played pool tournaments. Personally I have learnt about the Swedish culture and language. How to budget and plan meals. I also worked with refugees from different countries and over came the language barrier. Kristina Fell
Hi my name is Erin. I am 17 and I am from Cumbria. During my project I have been in two different schools to learn their culture as well as show them what our lives are like in England. I have worked with kids to learn what they do in their spare time and organised sport activities. In my free time I have experienced many activities from playing ice hockey and going walking as well as going out with some local teenagers. Thanks to Erasmus+ I have professionally experienced teaching the younger generation of the Swedish kids sporting activities that we undertake in the England. Personally I have gained a lot more confident taking to a group of people, I have experienced Swedish activities that I can take back to England and help with my education and expand on my future career. Erin Walsh
My name is Shane Blaylock, I’m 17 years old. I went on a project in Sweden to do a 2 week experience doing winter sports. Also I have never been overseas before so I was very excited to fly. During my project, I have experienced things that are nearly impossible to do in England, I have gained confidence in new skills such as ice skating, cross country skiing and reindeer farming. I also got to know Swedish people my age by going into their schools and talking to them, comparing Sweden to England. In my free time, I really enjoying learning how to ice skate. Skiing is something I’d never thought I’d do and I’ve really enjoyed doing it. Thanks to Erasmus+, personally, I have build my confidence in talking to strangers whether it being kids in school or people I’ve bumped into down the shops or an a walk. Shane Blaylock
My name is Joe and I went on the Sweden project. During my time here, i have been able to work with a range of different people from different backgrounds, teaching them about our culture and learning about there’s through questions and quiz games. In my free time we have been doing a range of different activity’s, including snowmobiling, cross country skiing, feeding reindeers and ice skating. Thanks to Erasmus+ I have been able to learn a lot about the Swedish culture. I have had many opportunity’s to work with different cultures that will benefit me in the future. Personally I feel I have became more confident working with others and improved on my teaching skills from working with the scouts and school kids. Joe Rimmer
I am Archie and I am currently taking part in the Martinique project. I have learnt many things from this project so far including cooking for myself and leaning basic french. My favourite experience so far has been the rugby session with the local team of a similar age to us. This is because it was enjoyable playing with people from a different background. From this experienced I have learnt how to coach even with the language barrier by using demonstrations and basic french. I feel this will massively benefit my college work and future carer in the sport industry as it will allow me to interact with a wider range of people. I am also planning on going to university so the independent living experience will benefit me greatly. This has been an amazing experience for me so far and I look forward to continuing with it. Thank you for this opportunity. Archie Fillingham
During my experience at Martinique I have learnt that biting the bullet and taking part in new activities is very important because you will become a lot more confident. This will lead you to a better place than what missing out on the activities will. I say this because I wasn’t the most confident prior to this trip and it has changed the way I look at different activities, I think I should just try my best and give it ago. Also learning to communicate with people from Martinique in different languages has been a challenge. I feel like I have been a lot more independent on the trip that what I usually would be as I have been making meals for the group and keeping the apartment clean and tidy. I feel like this trip has given us more freedom and independence as we have to do things for ourselves and not rely on the adults or other people to do stuff for us. Charlotte Graham
I am Ellie and I am 18 years old. My project is in Martinique with youth in the town. My favourite experience on this project is Gymnastics. I enjoyed this project as I got to see how the parents got involved with the activity and working with different ages. What I learn from this session was new french phrases and how there might be a language barrier, however, we can still complete the same activity through physical actions and the importance of demonstration. This experience has showed me how I can communicate through demonstrations and actions, something that will help me. I have found that this experience has made me more independent as we have been cooking and cleaning for ourself. I will take this skills home with me and they will help me in life. Ellie Barrow
I’m Mia and I am completing a project with Youth in the Town in Martinique. During this trip I have been assisting and being involved in different physical activities. I have not only participated in sporting opportunities but educational opportunities as well. For example, we visited the slave museum and participated in a french lesson. This opportunity helped me establish that I enjoy teaching kids as they are fun to teach and that different cultures or teachers have different ways of teaching. I also learnt how to deal with the language barrier that exists. This will help me in life as I now have more experience and can use what I have learned to gain a wider understanding on what I want to do in the future. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Mia Johnson
My name is Matthew and I have been completing a two week project in Martinique, giving me experience in coaching. Some of the skills that I’ve learned during the trip are how to interact with other people without verbally instructing, through the use of demonstrations and short phrases in their language. My favourite experience during the trip was our day at the slave museum. This gave us chance to see how much of a different place Martinique used to be and really made you realise how tough it was for the local people. From my experience I feel I can take a lot of things out of the trip. I feel like this training has had a positive affect on me, giving me experiences that would have been hard to get the opportunity to do at another time. Thanks Matthew Rudd
Nicholas Bliss - 17 Years Old. My Project - Youth In The Town in Martinique. Going to coach in a different culture has been a great opportunity for me as I have learnt many skills. My favourite experience has been doing the gymnastics with the local children. It was a fun experience to be able to interact with them and help with their session. By taking me out of my comfort zone, the experience provided me with the chance to develop my communication skills. After all, if I can coach kids who speak a different language, then there is no reason why I can’t do this back home with kids of my own culture and language. Overall this experience has been amazing and I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity as it has helped me in many ways. 3 Skills I have learnt: Communication, Social, Coaching. Nicholas Bliss
My favourite experience from the project was the rugby sessions because they were both different age groups. I got to learn about rugby as well as learning how to communicate with the locals in the country even though we didn’t speak the same language. This will help me in the future because when I’m on deployment I’ll be in different countries and will need to communicate with people from the country in order to do my job, in which communication will be important. I learned how to work as a team and more about rugby and how to play it. This will help me in college and my future job because they both involve working in a team. I also learned how to interact with the locals that played in that team and working well with them during the session. I have enjoyed learning about the culture and meeting people that live in Martinique as well as getting to do sport activities with them. Natalia Carroll
My name is Nathan Alcock and I did a project with Youth in the Town in Martinique. I have learnt that it’s a lot easier to teach kids in spite of a language barrier than I originally thought. I have become more aware of the actions and demonstrations that I perform. The project has also made me aware of how little the language barrier affects what you do and that sports are universal and anyone can understand what I mean with basic actions. Learning to become more independent has also been an important part of the project, as I have had to do more than I usually do at home. I will take these skills and use them in later life as I am interested in coaching and this project has provided me with an opportunity to understand what type of career will involve. Nathan Alcock
My name is Nathan Alcock and I did a project with Youth in the Town in Martinique. I have learnt that it’s a lot easier to teach kids in spite of a language barrier than I originally thought. I have become more aware of the actions and demonstrations that I perform. The project has also made me aware of how little the language barrier affects what you do and that sports are universal and anyone can understand what I mean with basic actions. Learning to become more independent has also been an important part of the project, as I have had to do more than I usually do at home. I will take these skills and use them in later life as I am interested in coaching and this project has provided me with an opportunity to understand what type of career will involve. Nathan Alcock
Hi, my name is Megan lowrey. During the week we cleaned the cattery, fed and watered the cats, prepared the medicine for the individuals that needed it and interacted with the public that came to look round. We also got to work in a marine park where we have enrichment to a range of birds, prepared the feed and feed them, help train the coati, and talked with the keepers about different methods of training. My favourite free time activity was horse riding as I work with horses. Thanks to Erasmus+ I learned how to work with stray cats. I learned how to give cats medicine, how different countries treat and look after animals and how to restrain a cat for injections and ear cleaning. This project has helped me gain confidence in speaking to people and living away from home. Megan lowrey
During my project I worked at a cattery. My jobs and responsibilities included help with the cleaning of the entire building and feeding all 300 cats each day. He cleaning included changing all dirty bedding, picking up bowls to be cleaned, replacing water. Once this was finished I would help the owner with setting out specific food with medication in for certain cats. We also spent some time working at the marine park. I was allowed behind the scenes and find out more about their welfare and train-ing techniques. Thanks to Erasmus +, professionally I have learned how welfare legislations and Laws are very different to what they are here in England. nd gave me a better understanding as an Animal management student. Being abroad for the first time alone was very scary, but I settled quickly and was even able to cook meals for myself. Jordyn Cowing
Hi, my name is Martyna Slomczynska. I went on a Mediterranean Marine Park project in Malta. During my project the activities consisted of preparing pellets, fresh fruit and vegetables with additional treats for the Macows, Amazon’s, Loris and small bird species; cleaning the enclosures and preparing the stage for the parrot presentations. My favourite part of the activities is the training session after the presentations and the interaction with Baggies and Coctials species during the bird feeding programme. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I have learned how to care for Macows during nesting periods and understand the animals body language during handling activity. Personally, I believe this projected had provided me with the opportunity to develop my confidence and work with incredible individuals from different nationalities. Martyna Slomczynska
Hi my name is Sam, I’m 18 and I worked at the cat sanctuary in Malta. During the week, we would arrive at the sanctuary and begin by picking up the empty food bowls from the previous day. We then would proceed with cleaning which involves wiping down surfaces, changing bedding, poo picking and changing the waters. Once a week I would go to the vet and help out with the cats there. My favourite free time activity was definitely swimming as the water sea is incredibly warm, and clear enough to see all the different fish species. Thanks to Erasmus+, professionally I learned how to safely take a blood sample from a cat for testing. Personally, this project has helped with my confidence and shown that I shouldn’t be afraid when it comes to moving away from home or working in a new environment. Sam Pilot
Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union – The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.