APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021 , Vol . 7 surveillance and control . In adopting this position , the experience for young people on the project is markedly different from other environments , such as school , where there is a clear-cut power dynamic between teachers and pupils . In line with a person-centred approach , the relationships between the coaches and participants are built on trust , mutual respect and consistency . Participants are given ownership of the project from the activities that are on offer and individually what they want to achieve from attending . Through long-term delivery of the project , the coaches have built credibility and have demonstrated that they will be reliable and present week in and week out . A nonjudgemental approach is adopted when it comes to working with individuals who have been involved in crime and anti-social behaviour . Coaches aim to understand the world from the participant ’ s point of view to best support them and offer alternative pathways . The core values of the project underpin developmental opportunities at Benson , for instance working as a team and valuing diversity . Not only are these values useful for participation in the project , but they are also transferrable to other aspects of life .
In summary , community projects can transform lives through coaching by :
• Creating a safe space for participants where they can have fun and be themselves . This is especially important when young people may be experiencing challenges at school or in their home lives .
• Giving participants ownership over activities will create a sense of freedom . It is important for the young people to take the lead on what ‘ they ’ want to get from the session and be encouraged to do it in their own way .
• Adopting a person-centred approach to build trust and lead to greater connection . It creates more opportunities for individualised support and can help coaches identify when something isn ’ t quite right with a participant .
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