The Leeds United Foundation is kicking off 2012 with exciting training and employment opportunities for budding football coaches through its apprenticeship scheme.

The charitable arm of Leeds United in partnership with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and Lifeskills is offering young unemployed people aged 16-to-18 the opportunity to undertake an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Activity Leadership and Customer Service at Elland Road, and train as a coach within their favourite football ground.

The 48-week course started in September 2011 and aims to put 12 promising school leavers, sourced through the local job centre and directly through the football club, through their paces. The current programme is the first to be delivered by The Leeds United Foundation and the organisation is planning a second intake this year.

The Foundation's Project Officer Michael Kinsey is championing the course which trains the teenagers up in everything from football coaching to leadership skills, customer services and health and safety.

As well as being coached in the classroom, the students are undergoing practical training sessions and given invaluable experience as an ambassador of The Leeds United Foundation in areas of coaching within Sports Participation, Education, Health, Disability and Social Inclusion Programmes

After completing their NVQ, a number of candidates may be taken on to work with children in The Leeds United Foundation. Others may use the course to gain points towards their university placement, or study for a teaching qualification or as a pathway to higher education.

The Leeds United Foundation was accepted onto Leeds City Council's Education Leeds framework in 2010, becoming an approved education provider for 14-to 19-year-olds.

The club is one of a small number of organisations in Leeds to be accepted onto the framework to teach sport and educate Children and Young People, and the status gives schools and businesses across the city the assurance that The Leeds United Foundation is qualified to deliver various high quality, academic programmes.

Michael said: "We're delighted to be offering this new training programme through the Foundation which really helps to secure the futures of unemployed young people in Leeds, who often find that school just isn't for them and have a real passion for coaching.

"The 48 week programme is designed to give youngsters a unique insight into the sports industry and equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed."

"It also gives the Foundation the opportunity to spot real coaching talent and take people on permanently after the course is complete."

The initiative comes after it was announced last year that youth unemployment figures are the highest since comparable records began 19 years ago, rising above a million.

Apprentice Josh Maskill, 16, of Kirklees Garth in Farsley Leeds, said: "I'm really pleased to have been accepted onto the NVQ course, I'm a big Leeds United fan so it's great to be working with my favourite club.

"I hope to be kept on as a coach by the club at the end of the course, and if not, I'd like to find work in a school or somewhere where my skills are needed. I have already trained with the Leeds United Foundation in the past as I was part of a previous Education programme whilst still at school and it gave me an insight into coaching and boosted my confidence."

As well as a NVQ Apprenticeship in Activity Leadership, The Leeds United Foundation is in developments to establish NVQ Apprenticeships in Catering, Retail, Conferencing and Banqueting in the near future.

If you require any further information, Please contact The Leeds United Foundation on 0113 367 6307 or thefoundation@leedsunited.com