Celebrating Success with the Prince

March 02 2010 - posted in role models

Yesterday I had the privilege to be invited to the Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards. For me this year, there was something a little more special than seeing the young people receive their awards. This year, one young person who was supported not only by the Prince’s Trust, but also by Sport England’s Respect Athlete Mentoring Programme. Karen Mclaughlin has had a troubled life, finding herself at a very young age involved in serious drugs. After a serious health concern, having been asked to leave home at the age of 16, Karen turned to the Prince’s Trust for help. It was through the Prince’s Trust that Karen had the fortune to meet her RAMP Mentor Nick Gillingham. They have worked together now for the last 18 months…

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Role Models - Born or Bred

February 03 2010 - posted in role models All eyes have been on the sporting world this weekend. Andy Murray got Great Britain closer to a grand slam title than any other man since the era of Fred Perry, and John Terry dominated the headlines with allegations of off the pitch antics. The impact of others on our commitment to sporting participation is proven. The Taking Part survey shows dance participation increased from 8.4% to 9.7%*, and a 97% increase in dance undergraduate students with the success of Strictly Come Dancing in recent years. Equally though a recent study from the University of Alberta has found that P.E teachers can have a negative impact on the likelihood of young…

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Great News that England Women’s Football Team have reached the final of the European Cup

September 10 2009 - posted in role models

It ‘s great news that the England Women’s Football Team have reached the final of the European Cup, something the men’s team senior team have yet to achieve.
My colleagues and I along with 4000 fans were fortunate enough to watch the Ladies play a friendly match against Iceland in the lead up to the competition.  We all turned up at Weston Homes Community Stadium in Colchester full of anticipation, after 25 minutes Iceland scored, Magnusdottir gave Iceland the lead with her left foot and later in the closing stages her team mate Vidarsdóttir sealed England’s fate.
Fast forward 6 weeks, what can I say, the Ladies are in the final of the European Cup, they play England’s “Arch” rivals Germany, will the trophy…

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Prevention not cure

August 26 2009 - posted in role models

Last week I had the opportunity to visit three of the projects funded by the Team England Footballers Charity Outreach Programme. They were awarded their grants to support the football related activities they deliver in their communities, without which, I feel the youth of today in some areas would have no chance for a positive future.

Our first stop was the Smethwick Pakistani Muslim Association. Their objective was simple; find out what the young people want and provide them with an opportunity to do it. Every day over the school holidays the project workers have arrived at the community centre ready to respond to the young people’s needs. On this occasion it was football for the boys and netball for the girls. The Association…

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‘On Track with Lesley Owusu’

May 07 2009 - posted in role models

Hello and welcome to my blog! I’m Lesley Owusu, Great Britain international track and field athlete, educator, motivational and inspirational speaker. As I am making my inspirational speakers blogging debut I wanted to take this opportunity to briefly share a few facts about myself in order of provide a better insight about my diverse background and personality.

I spent my early childhood in Ghana, grew up in Berkshire and later studied Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska in the USA. I later stumbled into education due to my curiosity and pursued a path in teaching. I have been working in education for the past ten years which has been a very rewarding and challenging adventure. The experiences…

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