Schoolchildren with complex needs living near to Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium are learning how to lead thanks to the work of the club and the help of the Premier League.
The "So Lead" programme is run by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to support youngsters with learning disabilities in schools and colleges in the London Borough of Haringey.
The programme is part-funded by the Premier League and the People's Postcode Lottery.
At Riverside School, a special-needs school on White Hart Lane, the Foundation uses So Lead to give young people a new understanding of how they can use leadership skills in their day-to-day lives, as well as giving them the knowledge, skills and competencies to lead a basic activity session.
Reaching full potential
"We deliver a range of adapted games and activities to meet the needs of the participants, and work with them on a one-to-one basis to ensure they reach their full potential whilst having fun at the same time," said Gareth Jones, equalities and inclusion manager at the foundation.
Spurs left-back Ben Davies visited Riverside last week to see the programme in action and joined a classroom workshop where he helped the teenagers present identify qualities that make a good leader and coach.
"Sports leadership courses such as these are a great way of giving these youngsters the opportunity to learn new skills, help grow their confidence and self-esteem," Davies said.
"Some of the stuff we went through today in the classes, where he talked about communication, leadership, confidence, these kinds of things can all be seen when you just play football and have a bit of fun."
So Lead is one of the programmes the foundation delivers on a weekly basis to disabled students aged from five to 24 in schools and colleges across Haringey, with physical activities such as basketball, boccia, curling and wheelchair football also catered for.
