IMPROVING grassroots coaches is the latest initiative by The Albion Foundation to engage with the local community and provide footballing opportunities for all.
An APNA Albion initiative, the course was targeted towards the local Asian community - an under-represented demographic in football.
Coaches at the Foundation have been sharing their best practice to upskill a group of local coaches with a subsidised FA Level One Course, which was delivered by two staff members at the charity who are also FA Affiliate Tutors.
Shin Auja, a local grassroots coach and member of APNA Albion, was delighted with the work that the charity is doing to support local teams and children.
"The Foundation have been top notch," he said.
"There's nothing that I would change, they have been exceptional.
"We believe this project is pioneering and we want to bring the whole community together to show West Bromwich Albion cares about the area that it operates in.
"I'm over the moon that we have managed to get all the local teams sat around the same table and singing off the same hymn sheet. This has galvanised the local community."
Chris Foreman, a School Sports Coordinator at the Foundation, was proud that the charity stepped in to provide qualified volunteers for local grassroots clubs - and was impressed with the batch he upskilled.
"The group have been really receptive to the content," he said.
"They have enjoyed the practical sessions and they have gone away and delivered sessions with their new content from the course.
"It's important to encourage Asian grassroots coaches as this will improve the quality of coaching that Asian youngsters are getting and therefore provide more opportunities for them in football.
"I think it's really important to give something back to the grassroots coaches in the local community and I am really proud of the Foundation for doing this work."
The course not only supplied an introduction to coaching, but it also provided them with their first aid and safeguarding qualification. Harjinder Singh Jheet, a coach for Hampstead Diamonds Football Club, was appreciative of the vital work that the charity is doing.
"This FA Level One Course is really important," he said.
"The Foundation has been major players in this community and it is wonderful to see that this community is being upskilled.
"Football starts down here at the grassroots level."
To find out how to get involved, please contact gurdial.singh@albionfoundation.co.uk.