John Percival - General Manager, Wallsend Boys Club & Sporting Wallsend
What were your career ambitions growing up?
I really loved sport (and still do) and wanted to be a PE teacher. I only realised reflecting back how important sport was in my life and gave me the opportunity to gain the skills and friendships I have today.
Tell me about your current role?
I am General Manager at Wallsend Boys Club, I have been in post for five and a half years – huge thank you to The Michael Carrick Foundation who have funded and supported the post to enable the organisation to grow and develop.
What is your proudest business achievement?
It has to be raising the capital funds (£1.25 million) to finally build The Peter Olsen Community Hub. I have to confess I didn’t do it all alone- huge thanks to Nathan Rogerson and the Board of Trustees for their support throughout the four year process!!
What is Sporting Wallsend?
Sporting Wallsend builds on the work, ethos and developmental approaches of Wallsend Boys Club (which remains) at the centre of operations…its a community hub for all, inspiring the community to be happier and healthier.
How has the charity sector changed in the last 10 years?
I believe the charity sector has had to modernise, adapt and be more flexible. Ways of generating revenue have changed – no longer reliant on local authority grants/ commissioning, funding becoming more tough but the need is increasing! Working together in collaboration rather than competition is a must. Demonstrating impact and worth to influence decision makers and the power of the sector.
What are you currently working on?
We have just come off the back of an awesome summer programme – providing activities to local children. We averaged 83 children per week who accessed football, surfing, cricket, arts, crafts, drumming workshops and circus skills! Not only that they met new friends and tried new activities for the 1st time, a summer programme we are really proud of!
It doesn’t stop there – The Peter Olsen Community Hub is celebrating our 1st birthday and we have launched a brand new exciting programme of activity to keep our local community happy, healthy and active. You can check out our new timetables on our socials.
How important are grass roots sports?
Vital! We are celebrating our 120th year, that’s 120 years of being a constant regular face for generations and generations, offering a safe space and trusted relationships for children to thrive, explore their passions, meet new friends, gain skills for life! We are deep rooted in communities and provide open access provision, activities for local children and families.
Tell us about the team you work with.
We have a very small and hard working team that keeps the wheels turning here at Kirkley Park. Our facilities are absolutely fantastic and a huge amount of credit goes to the team for ensuring that it is all possible.
Our strapline is ‘more than football’ beyond the gates of Kirkley Park we deliver after school sessions to local primary school children ensuring that children have access to physical activity
In addition, we are so lucky to have a large army of volunteers who give up their time each week to ensure girls and boys are able to play football – without them we wouldn’t have a club.
The unsung heroes…our board of trustees who behind the scenes set the strategic direction and drive the organisation forward to ensure that we have the best facilities in the North East.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve been given?
Not sure if its advice, my motto/mantra to life is ‘it’s nice to be nice’.
Who are your heroes?
Oooooo tough question…Not sure I can pin down a specific hero – however, I am proud of my working class upbringing and background, I believe it has given me the values I like to demonstrate each day.
How can people get involved with Sporting Wallsend?
Come along to one of our activities, tell a pal about our purpose built hub, help spread the word… and follow us on socials.
www.sportingwallsend.co.uk
@sportingwallsend