UoB Junior Programme
The club’s junior volleyball programme started in April 2007, when the club signed a school-club link agreement with Bishop Walsh School in Sutton Coldfield; this was a big first step into junior volleyball for a higher education based club which had previously focused only on adult participation and teams. The school-club link was developed by Grant Huddleston, PE teacher at Bishop Walsh and national league player for the University of Birmingham. Since the creation of the link, the club has supported volleyball in that school through visits by the club’s teams for demonstration games and the donation of balls and t-shirts.
Since April 2007 the club’s junior programme has developed rapidly, encompassing the delivery of volleyball programmes in over 30 schools across the whole of Birmingham, including both primary and secondary. Currently, the club’s junior development programme reaches over 300 children each week in their own schools.
Much of this junior development work is financed solely by the club, with significant funds coming from both the Local Network Fund and more recently Awards for All lottery funding.
The club employs a full-time community sports coach, Anton Dimitrov, to deliver most of the coaching in the schools although his work is supported by other professional coaches and student assistant coaches from the University.
You can find out more about the club’s junior programme and the services the club can offer to schools in this section, if you wish to be involved or would like to know more please contact the Junior Development Officer or Head Coach.