The prize was awarded in recognition of KMPF’s bespoke Sports and Higher Education programme for young people, which is supported by staff and students at the University of Kent, the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University.

The programme aims to showcase all the career opportunities available within sport and how students can get there with the help of higher education.

The annual award ceremony, sponsored by ITRM, took place on Thursday 6 October at the prestigious House of Lords, hosted by its Vice-President Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth CBE.

There were six award categories in total, celebrating the work and achievements of CACT participants, partners, and programmes across the past year.

KMPF was nominated for the Partner of the Year award, which was sponsored by KWisdom Consulting, by Michael Ward, CACT’s Head of Football & Sports Development.

Michael said: “It’s not often you work with a partner that really puts the young person at the centre of what they’re doing.

“KMPF are passionate about higher education. They want to take a young person from an area which doesn’t have a high intake of university entrants and push them to get there. It’s been great working with them and watching the partnership go from strength to strength.”

Gavin Delf, KMPF Hub Manager, said: “Our mission is to support underrepresented young people to consider higher education as an option for them.

“Most of the young people we work with don’t have a working knowledge of universities or the careers it can help you go into. But by working with Charlton Athletic Community Trust, we’ve been able to use their love of football to engage them and to support them to think about wider opportunities – such as marketing, physiotherapy and match analysis, and of course, degree courses can support all those careers.”

He added: “We’re delighted to win this award and look forward to continuing our work with CACT to help inspire even more young people to consider careers in sport – and the pathways to help them get there – over the coming years.”

KMPF is a collaborative partnership of higher education providers, colleges, schools and community organisations working to make sure young people from all backgrounds can see and reach their potential.

For further information about the Sports and Higher Education programme please Contact Us.

Pictured: Laura Charter, Schools and Partnerships Lead, accepting the award on behalf of KMPF from Keith Wisdom, CEO of KWisdom Consulting.