Duo reward Prince's Trust youngsters

Marc Pelosi and Joao Carlos Teixeira were at Anfield on Tuesday, accompanied by LFC Education and Welfare Officer Clive Cook and 16-year-old trainee physio Luke Murphy to award certificates, sign autographs and pose for pictures with eight members of the Prince's Trust scheme.

Over the past three months, the youngsters have taken part in a range of projects and Liverpool's Action 4 Health scheme were with them from week one.

Assistant Project Manager, Christine Mounsey, first met with the participants to devise a strategy that would help them develop a healthier diet.

"We went in for two sessions," Christine told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We had an introduction with them to find out what they were eating already and had an assessment as to how we could make some small changes.

"We then made an eating plan, so that they could cook some healthy meals before coming back as a group and analysing how those healthy changes went and how we could make them even healthier."

During the following two weeks the youngsters were involved in a residential stay, where they put the culinary talents LFC taught them to the test. The group then took part in a three week community programme working at the Waterside Lodge in Southport, re-vamping the canteen there.

Next was a two week work experience program and a team challenge involving care for three vulnerable groups in the community. As part of this section of the course, some of the participants took a group of young offenders to Reducate centre at Anfield.

"I think it's a great course that the Prince's Trust runs," said Clive Cook, LFC Education and Welfare Officer. "I saw the DVD last week and I saw some of the activities the children have to do and I think the skills they learn like teamwork, leadership, communication skills - I think they're just valuable skills that they need to be successful in life.

"It's important that the club supports everything in the community. LFC obviously has a big standing in the community and I think these kinds of events are so beneficial."

Rob Pritchard, Merseyside Fire and rescue Service District Manager for Sefton, worked with the youngsters throughout the course and he was delighted with the progress the group had made.

"They've done all sorts during the course," explained Rob. "They've done work in the community and done some charity events. They've raise money and provided services to local charities. They had a good time and enjoyed the community breaking down some barriers.

"The aim of the course is to help young people grow and become more confident and move on with their lives. Merseyside Fire Service and the Prince's Trust, so far, are averaging about 80 to 90 per cent success rate for people going on from their courses into education or employment. So the future is bright for this group."

Mark Haig of the Liverpool FC Men's Health programme explained why the club got involved in the scheme and spoke about the importance of Liverpool FC giving its backing to the program.

"We got involved in this program because we actually, really do believe in what the Prince's Trust are doing in supporting these young people," said Mark. "We primarily class it as part of our Men's Health program but, as you can see today, there are also some girls on the course.

"We're very aware that the Liverpool badge is very powerful. It just adds a little bit of spice, a little bit of an ingredient in this programme that, for the youngsters themselves, is something a little bit special.

"Coming here to Anfield, being presented with the certificate, having the Academy lads come down and a few photographs and autographs makes it that bit special and it's our way of saying, 'we value what you're doing on the course'"