Football Coaching students inspire change at Caribbean Crime Intervention Camp

Seven football coaching students from the University of Wolverhampton joined 13 UK coaches this summer for the third annual Crime Intervention Football Camp in St. Kitts and Nevis, a transformative initiative using sport to empower young people and reduce crime.

Over the course of two weeks, the camp welcomed more than 330 children per day, aged 4 to 17, offering a safe and engaging environment where football became a powerful tool for personal development. Beyond learning new skills on the pitch, participants were encouraged to make better choices, build confidence, and form lasting friendships.

The camp’s impact was felt not only by the children and their communities, but also by the coaches themselves. For the seven Wolverhampton students, this was a first-time opportunity to coach abroad, and it proved to be a life-changing experience.

“Coaching in a high-energy, unfamiliar environment like this challenges you to adapt, innovate, and grow,” said Russel Smith, Football Coaching Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton. “It’s about more than football - it’s about leadership, communication, and understanding the role sport can play in social change.”

The camp offered unique professional development opportunities, including:

• Adapting coaching techniques to suit diverse cultures and skill levels
• Strengthening leadership and communication in dynamic team settings
• Gaining new perspectives on the social impact of sport in different communities

Third year Coaching Student, Rashid Salim, University of Wolverhampton said:

“The St. Kitts and Nevis trip has given me a greater understanding of how privileged we are and it’s helped me to engage better with groups of young people in different situations.”

Planning is already underway for the 2026 Crime Intervention Football Camp, with ambitions to expand the programme and bring even more UK coaches to the Caribbean. The goal: to make next year’s camp bigger, better, and even more impactful.

“This is a life-changing opportunity to grow as a coach and help build a brighter future for the next generation,” continued Russel.

The trip was delivered in partnership with Sport4Change.

For more information or to get involved in future camps, please visit Department of Sport - University of Wolverhampton