Sophie Cooper - Sports Coach
If, Iike me, you really got into the spirit of the Olympics
and the Paralympics, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading about the very enthusiastic and dedicated Sophie Cooper
who is a sports coach...I was totally inspired by what this young lady has
achieved so far and it was a real pleasure to meet her at Frenchay Cricket Club
recently.
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| Sophie Cooper - Sports Coach demonstrates how to hold a cricket bat correctly ©Lydia Samuel Photography |
Name: Sophie Cooper
Age: 26
Business: Sophie Cooper Sports Coaching
Location: Bristol North, Bristol Central, Bristol
South and South Gloucestershire
Website: In Progress. I am developing a LinkedIn page and a
twitter page
What do you do?
I am a multi discipline sports coach and qualified youth
worker. I create community sports projects for young people, disability groups
and children. The main sports I teach are Cricket, Football and Basketball, for
which I have taken national qualifications. My work involves creating mutually
beneficial partnerships with sports agencies, local authority and members of
the community.
My current clients are Bristol City Council’s Sport & Health
Development team, Everyone Active Leisure Centres where I do disability sports,
and Gloucestershire Cricket Board. Whilst training to become a professional
sports coach I spent one year volunteering with ‘The Catch Youth Club’ at Redcatch Park
in Knowle (a deprived ward of Bristol )
where I developed a sports programme.
I have also put my hand to assistant
teaching and tutoring roles in Primary and Secondary schools which have
encouraged many children to work towards a healthy and active lifestyle.
What do you love most
about it?
It combines an active job with meeting and working with many
people representing the diverse community of Bristol . As the Olympics has shown, Sport has
the power to bring people together for good and is brilliant for teaching life
skills like sportsmanship and teamwork.
Being freelance allows me to choose
projects I find interesting and challenging. I enjoy running a business and I
have a wonderful network of colleagues who are supportive and also passionate
about their jobs.
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| Sophie sporting a 'Do What You Love' bag with some of her Frenchay cricket students in the background ©Lydia Samuel Photography |
How did you get
there?
I developed a personal passion for basketball in 2010 when I
found a women’s local league team in my area. My degree in Arts, music and
entertainment management, which I studied in Liverpool, wasn’t - I feel - really relevant back home in Bristol
and I was facing unemployment. Joining the women’s team boosted my confidence
and helped me to make new friends.
Shortly afterwards I joined a volunteering
course at City of Bristol College which involved a 10 week Sports Leaders
course and a NVQ2 in Youth Work. I have contributed over 250 hours to local
community projects and placements in 2011 including the Youth Club and an FE
College Basketball Team.
My efforts caught the attention of the local authority
and I was asked to join the Street Games coaching team, which led to work with
National Sporting Bodies including Street Chance and Street 20 Cricket
initiatives.
How long have you
been running your business for?
In 2012 I
started to take my collection of small part-time coaching roles more seriously
and developed a business plan with the help of Outset Bristol. It was a huge
boost when I was accepted onto the New Enterprise Allowance Scheme with Job
Centre Plus and Brave.
In May I have been focusing on developing a sustainable
income from sports coaching and I have found a niche in disability sport. I now
run a successful Visual Impairment Cricket Group and two Learning Disability
Cricket groups.
I have learned many business skills for example dealing with
senior and commercial managers, managing finances and tax, maintaining a diary
of work and replying to correspondence as well as applying for work and
funding. Having had that management element of my degree has definitely helped me in my business.
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| Sophie demonstrating to her students how to stand when waiting for that red ball! ©Lydia Samuel Photography |
What was the biggest challenge you faced setting up as a Sport Coach?
Having to work and communicate with such a broad range of
people. On two levels – getting the work/projects so that can mean talking to
the head of the council on one hand and then working with the students themselves.
So far I’ve worked with students with learning difficulties, teenagers (being
the only girl working with a bunch of 16 years old boys was interesting!)
through to Asian women, actually - I think I’ve worked with nearly all parts of
the community! So being able to work well with such a range of people and to be
able to get them engaged is something I am still learning! But it is very
rewarding.
Also changing peoples perceptions of Cricket. For a lot of
people It’s seen as being upper class, so I’m trying to show It’s for
everybody.
And there aren’t many women in my position. I have met quite
a few who are involved in the sports – so as development officers, but as far
as I know I’m the only woman currently coaching cricket and basketball. Which
are seen as being male dominated sports. I’d like to see more women getting
involved at this level.
What’s been the
highlight so far?
Working with Frenchay Cricket Club as a disability coach.
Being able to help others through sport and cricket in particular has been
amazing. The benefits of how sport can help people with difficulties is hugely
important and shouldn’t be underestimated. If you’ve watched any of the
Olympics and the Paralympics you can see that for yourself how it’s changed
peoples lives – for the better. ;-)
What’s the Best piece
of Advice you’ve been given?
I can’t think of one thing in particular to be honest – but
I know my Dad has been very influential as he has always run his own businesses. And Maggie Hopkins has also been a great
influence – Maggie teaches the Level III Youth Worker Qualification at The City
of Bristol College. So really I’d like to thank them for their support.
What have you learnt
about yourself as a result of setting up your business?
That I’m determined and strong spirited. It’s hard work
being self-employed so I’ve discovered I’m very driven. This is something I’m
passionate about.
Can you tell me about
any success stories from Students?
Yes, I was involved in a three month volunteer placement at the
redeveloped Hartcliffe School as part of a programme run by Catch22. I was
working with 12-15 year old girls and coaching them during their sports
sessions. As a result the girls gained confidence – at that age lots of girls
drop out of sport as they feel self-confident – but it really made a
difference. Also after I completed the three months the school asked for two
more volunteers for the following year. This was brilliant news!
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| Sophie and I and the end of the interview and photoshoot. Sophie did try to explain the rules of cricket to me! ©Lydia Samuel Photography |
If others want to do
this I’d say...
Go for it!
What’s next?
To carry on working with the great people at Frenchay
Cricket Club, seeing my students develop, – and to get my Level II in Cricket
coaching. That’s more technical and also involves the ‘whole’ approach to the
sport – so diet, fitness - it’s a
holistic approach. Then I’ll be qualified to hold one-to-one coaching sessions.
I’ll be starting that in November and I’m really looking forward to that.
I also want to get more involved with working with elite
athletics. It’s a dream of mine to go the Rio Olympics in 2016 and support the
team as a coach. That would be AMAZING! And of course to continue to encourage
young women into sport and also into coaching.
And – to get back into playing my guitar and singing. I’ve
been so focused on setting myself and my business up that I’ve not had much
time for anything else – but those are both things I love and want to find time
to do again.
Sophie recently took part in a sports art installation at
PaintworksA
And her cricket group has recently received 40k worth of
funding!
If you'd like to get in touch with Sophie about sports coaching her email address is: sophiecoopers@yahoo.co.uk
Business support in Bristol:
Outset Bristol: http://www.outsetbristol.co.uk/
BRAVE: http://www.brave.org.uk/
Business support in Bristol:
Outset Bristol: http://www.outsetbristol.co.uk/
BRAVE: http://www.brave.org.uk/
What is The 'Do What You Love' Project..?
After printing this message on my bags I thought - ooh I'd love to find ten local Bristol business people who do what they love, interview them about what they do, why they love it and how they've got there and also 'model' one of my bags / cushions.
I really wanted to work with a local photographer - so approached Lydia Samuel via Outset to see if she would be interested in collaborating with me. She was! Perfect!
So a call-out was created, posted on facebook and twitter and people started applying! Over thirty people applied, and it was really difficult to choose ten. I spent my time going through each application and selected the ten as I felt their passion really shone through.
Everyone who applied will be featured though in some way as I think it's important to celebrate everyone who is doing something they love!
These interviews and photographs are the results.
I hope you enjoy reading this series of interviews, and that it will inspire you in some way to pursue your dreams and ‘Do what you Love!’ (that is if you aren’t doing that already! - if you are - do let me know by leaving a comment about what you do and why you love it!).
Want your own 'Do What You Love Bag?' they are currently on sale at Paper Scissors Stone in Quaker Friars, Bristol until 25 September, or email me directly bagsofloveforbristol@gmail.com. And why not come and say hello on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bags-of-Love-for-Bristol/444261982265482
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