After involvement in the University’s Mental Health Day and a work placement with a charity fighting child sexual exploitation in sport, Jamie Legge has decided to continue his studies with an MSc in Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health at Edge Hill.
Jamie who graduated with a First in Sports Development and Management in 2017 said:
“I’ve loved the wide variety of topics and modules that my course offered particularly safeguarding, child protection and mental health. The course also provided me with vital work experience and I worked with the charity State of Mind to develop workshops for students at this year’s University Mental Health Day.
“I also took a placement at Survivors Manchester, a charity working to prevent the sexual exploitation of children in sport, which has now led to a paid part-time role. Through studying and experiencing diverse topics such as mental health, exploitation and the links between physical activity and health I’ve decided this is the area I’d like to work in and ultimately become a social worker.”
He added:
“I can’t wait to continue my studies at Edge Hill. One of the main attractions of the course is that I will have the opportunity to be involved with Everton in the Community through Edge Hill’s ‘Tackling the Blues’ children’s mental health programme.
“Being involved with this programme will give me the skills I need to help me in my future career. By delivering sporting sessions to children I’ll gain first-hand experience with the population I’m hoping to work with in the long-term, as I hope to become a social worker working with children with mental health issues.”
Jamie, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, also credits Edge Hill for his growth in confidence and improved communication and time-management skills.
He said:
“I found it challenging to organise my time and complete the reading and assignments on time so I’m now better organised and manage my time more efficiently.
“For me one of the biggest challenges was presentations and delivering sports sessions to big groups. As a shy and not very confident individual these tasks were daunting but I’ve been able to develop these each year and I’m now happier and more confident than in the past.
“Through working with partner organisations my different communication skills have improved, emails, meetings, telephone calls and I’ve also learnt a few tricks from them as to how to write successful job applications.”