Foundation volunteers recognised by royalty
The Liverpool FC Foundation has numerous sports schemes running across Merseyside on a weekly basis, with Respect4All being one of the main community coaching programmes provided by the club's official charity.
Two of Respect4All's young coaches, Jake Marr and Kathryn Roberts, have been announced as two of the Football Association's 150 grassroots football award winners and have been honoured at a special Buckingham Palace reception hosted by The Duke of Cambridge.
Respect4All is a coaching centre for young people and adults with severe additional needs and has disability coaching running four evenings of the week. The centre is multi-sports, focusing on football, and is designed for young people and adults who have previously not had the opportunity to get involved in sports.
18-year-old Jake, a disability coach on the scheme, was nominated by the Foundation for his hard work as a volunteer at Respect4All where he has put together goalkeeping coaching activities catered to each group. On top of this, Jake has volunteered in many disabled sporting events.
The young volunteer also helps to coach the Liverpool FC Foundation's Ability Counts teams, which he used to be a player in, acting as a fantastic role model to the young people about what can be achieved.
Kathryn is also a volunteer coach at the club's Respect4All centre, where she is an integral part of the Foundation's team. She is ambitious and extremely dedicated to becoming the best coach she can be, has demonstrated skills and knowledge beyond her years and most of all she is funny, caring and a genuine person. The children and adults she coaches, their parents, guardians and carers love her and she is a role model for anyone with a disability.
Ryan, the Respect4All programme lead said, "Jake and Kathryn are inspirations to the young people and adults they volunteer their time to work with. Both genuinely care for people and they are a great example of people who are willing to give their time and skills to help support others.
As part of the Football Association's 150 anniversary celebrations, Jake and Kathryn were two of 150 grassroots volunteers who travelled to Buckingham Palace on Monday to receive their awards from Prince William, in recognition of their dedication to the sport.
For more information about the Liverpool FC Foundation's work in the community, including Respect4All, follow @LFCFoundation.