Several local young children have passed a free ‘Young Leaders’ course, which helps boost life skills and build leadership attributes from a young age.

The Hull FC Community Foundation has been delivering the ‘Young Leaders’ course to participants of the ‘It’s Your Game’ programme in Beverley.

During the ‘Young Leaders’ course, participants were able to learn about sports coaching and the different aspects that come with such a role.

Participants had the opportunity to deliver a coaching session to the other participants, demonstrating their development and level of maturity.

Youngsters learnt how to link sessions and how to explain skill games in a clear and concise manner. This culminated in the learners planning and leading their own varied sports sessions in the final week.

Upon completion of the six-week course, several youngsters who took part received a certificate of completion, as well as a coaching pack.

Charlie, aged 11, said: “I really love sport. I’ve now learned about sports I have never even played before. I even enjoy playing rugby more than I did before I started coming to these sessions.”

Aged just nine, Rudi, another participant, said: “I love coming along to the sessions because they’re a lot of fun. I have learned more about rugby and also how to plan sessions, which I have really enjoyed.”

Youth Diversionary Lead at the Hull FC Community Foundation, Ryan Gibbons, has been impressed with how engaged the youngsters on the ‘Young Leaders’ course have been.

“All seven of the kids who stayed the extra hour after It’s Your Game completed the course and that is a credit to them for how much they bought into the Young Leaders course,” he said.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic to work with the kids to help teach them about the skills and qualities required in sports coaching.

“Getting the kids engaged and offering them something not many places do at this age has been brilliant.

“Seeing their skills, knowledge and confidence develop during the course has been brilliant to see and so rewarding for us as coaches.”

Both the It’s Your Game (6-7pm) and Young Leaders (7-8pm) sessions run on Wednesday evenings at Beverley Leisure Centre – and they are free to attend.