Meghan and Harry set to visit next week
Royal couple at university
PRINCE Harry and Meghan will make their first visit to Loughborough together next week.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the Coach Core Awards at Loughborough University on Monday, September 24.
Their visit will celebrate the achievements of the young people who have taken part in the national sports coaching programme born out of an aim by the younger members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to encourage young people through sport.
The day will include masterclasses from sports stars such as marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, who has a stadium at the university named after her, British tennis star Laura Robson and England netballer Eboni Beckford-Chamber.
More than 200 young Coach Core apprentices will take part in the day of sports training and mentoring before the awards ceremony.
The royal couple will also meet some of the apprentices as they take part in drills and team games, before meeting this year’s graduates.
Coach Core was developed by The Royal Foundation in 2012 following the London Olympics in response to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry’s combined goal to encourage young people through sport, aiming to harness the power of sport, and its ability to change lives.
The programme trains hundreds of young people, aged 16-24, across the UK through the scheme.
It connects apprentices with the biggest sports clubs in the country, providing tuition, paying them a wage and giving them the chance to become sports coaches.
The year-long 30 hour-a-week contract, sees the apprentices meet every two weeks to learn new skills, receive mentoring and be trained in qualifications such as Disability Inclusion and First Aid.
Ongoing learning and training is also a key part of the programme as the young coaches begin their work in clubs and schools within their local community.
The awards ceremony will be hosted by TV sports presenter Jake Humphrey.
The royal couple will each present a category before Prince Harry gives a closing speech to the young apprentices.