Enzo’s story

Age 16

At the start of his journey with Sport 4 Life, Enzo was facing significant challenges both at school and at home. His daily routine was inconsistent, marked by poor attendance, behavioural issues, and a lack of focus on education. With no clear career aspirations and little belief in his own potential, school felt more like a burden than a pathway to opportunity.

Predicted grades of Cs and Ds reflected his disengagement. Enzo admits he wasn’t committed to studying for exams or planning beyond his GCSEs. Without positive role models or guidance, he faced the risk of leaving education with few options and limited prospects.

Everything changed when Enzo was introduced to Dan, a Youth Mentor from Sport 4 Life, through our School Mentoring service at Oldbury Academy. Over the course of 10 weeks, Dan worked closely with Enzo, supporting him not just academically, but personally.

Their sessions focused on the challenges holding Enzo back – behaviour, truancy, strained relationships, and low self-belief. What began as mentoring quickly developed into a trusted relationship, where Enzo was encouraged to see his strengths and explore his ambitions for the future.

1-2-1 Mentoring Support

Through consistent one-to-one support, Enzo began to develop key life skills – communication, confidence, and relationship building. With Dan’s guidance, he:

  • Improved his attitude towards teachers, peers, and family members.
  • Reduced truancy and became more engaged in lessons.
  • Rebuilt his confidence in his academic ability.

Enzo started to change not just how he behaved, but how he saw himself.

By the end of Year 11, the difference was remarkable. Enzo went from predicted Cs and Ds to achieving As and Bs in his GCSEs. More importantly, he left school with a renewed sense of purpose and a vision for his future.

He had discovered an interest in engineering, set his sights on college, and even gained part-time experience in the automotive sector during the summer holidays. With better grades, greater self-belief, and stronger relationships, Enzo entered the next stage of his journey with determination and hope.

Enzo is now preparing to begin college, ready to pursue engineering with the skills, resilience, and confidence he has built. He reflects on his time with Sport 4 Life as a turning point that helped him realise his potential and see the opportunities ahead.