‘Highlight of the week’ | Students explain how Huddle Project makes a difference after special guest appearances

Bounding down the corridors of Duke’s Aldridge Academy, next to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Mia, Tia and Isa have energy to burn as they approach their favourite time of the week.

The Huddle Project was launched in October last year to provide increased access to free sporting activity and employment opportunities in Tottenham, and it has quickly become popular among young people.

A joint-funded programme by Tottenham Hotspur, the National Football League (NFL) and Nike, and delivered by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, the Huddle Project offers a dual sport programme for boys and girls aged 11-18, bringing together football and NFL FLAG alongside wellbeing activities.

Little do Mia, Tia and Isa know, they are about to be joined at one of their regular girls’ only sessions – on International Women’s Day – by Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, alongside Spurs ambassadors Ledley King and Jenna Schillaci.

They are equipped not to be overawed by the occasion, though, because ask all three what they have taken away from Huddle Project sessions and they all give the same answer: “Confidence.”

Tia, 15, explained: “I’ve 100% gained more confidence, whether it’s doing sports or interacting with other people in life. My communication skills are a bit better. I feel more comfortable talking to people I don’t know and, for example, if we’re doing a group activity, I can get involved instead of just sitting at the side.”

Isa, 16, said: “I feel once I talk to somebody a couple of times, I’m now able to speak to them more confidently. The Huddle’s helped me because there’s new people coming to every session, so it pushes me to be more confident.”

Mia, 15, added: “Before, I used to be really quiet and I’d just keep to myself. If I had a problem, I’d keep it to myself, but I’ve now discovered I can meet new people and talk to them. When I first met Andre, he was pure vibes, he was great, easy to build a conversation and relationship with, and that goes for all the staff.”

Andre is project coordinator for the Foundation and leads on delivering the Huddle Project. He said: “Young people see the Huddle Project as a cool place where they can let their personalities be free. This enables them to enjoy the many opportunities sport and particularly this dual football and NFL FLAG programme has to offer.

“The club envisaged building the stadium would drive uplift of the area and the Huddle Project is a great example of bringing in partners such as NFL and Nike for the benefit of our community.”

Mia, Tia and Isa, all Duke’s Aldridge students, started their time with the Foundation by getting involved in its Next Generation girls’ football sessions. They have had various other opportunities through the Foundation since, including Mia and Tia completing their Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership.

With the Huddle Project being the latest programme they are taking part in, they are enjoying the variation.

Tia said: “I enjoy the Huddle Project. With the range of activities there is to do, every session’s different. I don’t know a lot about NFL, but I enjoy playing it. I like catching and kicking.”

Isa continued: “It’s been really enjoyable. I like the way the Huddle’s done, with emphasis on the fact you’re free to pick what you want to do. If we want to do American football first, then football, or vice-versa, that’s fine. Equally, if we just want to do American football or football for a session that’s also fine.”

Mia concluded: “You can get involved in any way. Even if you don’t play sports, you can be in charge of DJ’ing, for example, just to socialise.”

Through a £1 million investment over three years, it is hoped the Huddle Project will not only provide access to sporting activity, but also employment opportunities, and the Huddle Project has got the girls thinking about futures in sports.

Mia said: “Even if I’m not involved in certain activities the Foundation does, I like to go along and watch because I want to progress to be a sports coach.

“I like watching different coaching techniques to pick up on what they do, then think about how I’d find my own way of putting things across.”

Huddle Project sessions currently run between 4.30pm and 6.30pm every Wednesday at Duke’s Aldridge, with girls’ only sessions at the school between the same times every Friday. To find out more and register email thf.activities@tottenhamhotspur.com.

Tremaine and Chicago Bears representatives were in town as part of a trip to London ahead of playing a regular season game at our stadium, the Home of the NFL in the UK, later this year.