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Jamie grasps his second chance

A former alcoholic has turned his life around and is now thriving in his role as a football coach thanks to a University scheme.

Jamie Rendell has been one of the success stories of the Second Chance project, which allows people with a substance misuse background to access weekly sport sessions on campus - coached by our student volunteers. It is part of the wider Sports Universities North East England (SUNEE) scheme, which aims to transform the delivery of sport across the region.

Five years ago Jamie was a self-confessed alcoholic with no direction. But Second Chance enabled him to rediscover his passion for football at the University.

He gained his Level One coaching badge, quickly followed by his Level Two and it wasn’t long before He was actually coaching Second Chance sessions himself.

Jamie has also been coaching the Northern Region Soccability team who he took to the 2009 Special Olympics in Leicester.

It has given me confidence and self belief Speaking about Second Chance Jamie said: ‘I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and I am progressing and working now.

‘It was a case of someone had offered me a chance, a way out, and I took it. It enabled me to get back playing football on a regular basis and do something constructive with my life.

‘My confidence is sky high and I’ve got some self belief at last. I would like to stay in disabled football, it’s something I really enjoy.

‘The SUNEE scheme as a whole and the Second Chance project has been fantastic. It’s spot on for what it does and it offers the people who get involved a great opportunity.’

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