Pro Level Vision
Pro Level Vision is a charity working with Pro Level Academy to raise awareness and funds to support children who cannot get access to specialised football coaching.
We raise money to support children who come from backgrounds where being able to access regular high quality football coaching falls out of reach. This shouldn’t just be for those small number of players who aspire to be the future professional footballers, but all can benefit from the technical, tactical and psychological work we do. Throughout the last few years, childhood has become even more difficult. Working with PLA we can provide an environment that grows confidence, resilience and leadership qualities, while being a place where every player can thrive and feel valued.
About Us
We are a registered charity (registration number 1202772) set up with a Board of Trustees to provide the leadership and oversight of the Charity. Our Trustees are:
Tom Conlon
Co founder & Head Coach
Tom Conlon was born in 1996, he currently plays for Port Vale. He joined Stoke City at the age of 8 and continued through their ranks before being released at 16. He then went on to join Peterborough after a short period with local team Newcastle town. Tom then joined Stevenage before going on to sign with Port Vale. He has spent more than 18 years within a professional football club.
Nathan Smith
co founder & Head Coach
Nathan Smith was born in 1996, he is a defender at Port Vale, where he has spent the last 13 years. Nathan did not come into academy football until he was 13. Having come through the ranks at Port Vale he had to go out on loan for his first two professional years, to Stafford Rangers and Torquay United, respectively. He has then gone on to make more than 350 appearances for local team Port Vale, where he is now club captain.
Nick Ridgway
owner & Head Coach
Nick Ridgway was born in 1991, he has over 14 years coaching experience. He bolsters an unbelievable list of qualifications and at the top of that is his UEFA A license coaching qualification, this is what all premier league managers now require. Nick has coached in the UK and USA with an age range of 5-18. He coached at Port Vale academy but took a step away to help develop young players through PLA. He has the knowledge of current academy football and what it takes to make it at that level.
Paul Cherry
Paul Cherry signed as a youth professional going on to play 10 years semi-professionally in East and West England. After football he went into project management within engineering managing complex projects in the UK and Internationally. Changing career direction in 2007 he went to Cambridge University for Sports Science and a PGCE. He has been a classroom teacher and sports coach in primary schools for the last decade. He has worked with elite footballers through England colleges, and coaching vulnerable children in schools. He brings his experience of the education curriculum and safeguarding to the Board.
Emily Cherry
Emily Cherry is Chief Executive of the Bikeability Trust, running the Department for Transports cycle training programme for children and families. Emily has spent over 25 years in the children’s sector, largely at the NSPCC, but also at the Children’s Society and Barnardo’s. She has experience of running safeguarding services, policy, comms and is a well-known media voice on children, especially in the field of online safety and safeguarding. She is also strategic advisor to the United Nations Peace One Day campaign, and Trustee of My Black Dog (peer–to–peer mental health charity). Her experience in charity governance is critical for PLV.
FAQS
Who can be funded by PLV?
Our charity mission is clear that we want to offer to children who might not get the opportunity to experience quality football coaching. This includes:
- children from low-income households,
- children who have experienced abuse or neglect
- children in care
- young carers
- children who have special educational needs or disabilities
What do you offer?
We are just starting out with our charity fundraising and we intend to offer:
- Attending weekly PLA group sessions at Keele University on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- School based group sessions in curriculum time (for example working in alternative provision)
- Working in YOI’s and LASCH’s to provide bespoke programmes focussed on coaching and confidence building
- Kit and football boots for children to participate
We can’t offer travel and staffing to collect and drop children to sessions, but we can work in community and school venues. Because we offer these sessions through PLA, we know the quality of the coaching to help give children confidence and boost self-esteem.
How can I get a child signed up?
To get your child or someone you may know signed up please refer them by clicking the button below.
How can I support?
We can’t run these sessions for children without your support. You can
- Donate
- Run / Walk, Cycle, do your own Challenge event and choose PLV
- Attend one of our events (please follow our social channels for these)
Donating to PLV means we can give more children the opportunity to develop the confidence and skills. If you can support us:
- £53 means we can give a child a whole month of weekly football skills sessions, or a specialised 121 coaching session with our Head Coaches
- £370 means we can give a child the full training kit (Top • Jumper • Rain Jacket • Shorts • Pants • Socks • Hat • Backpack • Football Boots)
- £265 means we can give a child the essentials training kit (Donate• Top • Jumper • Shorts • Socks • Boots)
If you are connected to a company we are also looking for corporate partnership and have bespoke sponsorship opportunities available – please contact prolevelvision@outlook.com. This could include:
- Kit sponsorship
- Run a fundraising event
- Take on a fundraising challenge
- Advertise on the website
- Donate a building / venue for training for multi-use training
- Football boots donation
- Donate storage facility for football kit
Partners and supporters
We are delighted to have corporate supporters who have donated to PLV through our events and fundraising activities. They include:
- Autonet Insurance
- Ironmarket
- Experience Days
- Anna M Gough
- Vault & Casters
- AWD-IT
- Ford Mainwaring
- Lifestyle Designs
- Barkers Engineering
- Cycle Confident
- R&H Insulations
- Port Vale FC
- Brazier Bricklayers
- Pharmacist LTD
We thank all our supporters for helping us change the lives of children.