Flinders University students are enjoying a six-week community placement program with Arsenal Football Club in the UK.

Now in its final year, the successful program has been funded by the Department of Education and Training Short Term Mobility Fund.

Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Physical Activity at Flinders Deb Agnew says the grants have assisted 20 Flinders University students to complete the six-week placement with the ‘Arsenal in the Community’ program in London.

“They do a special program as part of the Arsenal Gap Year program working at the club and in schools delivering football clinics,” she says from London.

“It’s one of our most popular placements and all students so far have loved the experience.”

One of this year’s group, Velvet Klass, says: “It’s a life-changing experience that will no doubt open up a range of amazing opportunities in the sporting industry for me.

“It’s also fantastic because I get to build connections and spend a lot of time focusing on developing my coaching skills for the sport I love.”

Junior soccer coach Velvet joins fellow soccer players Taylor Fiorita, Spiros Athanasopoulos and Brad Miller on the trip.

Taylor says: “I am very excited to learn and improve my coaching skills, as well as develop as an individual.

“It’s also incredible to be able to travel overseas and have a lifetime experience. ”

Casey Goudie says the experience will be “pivotal for my career and coaching development I am constantly learning new things”.

Ms Agnew teaches the topics of Sport Coaching Science, Sport Industry Project and Introduction to Sport and Physical Activity for the Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Activity.

The group of third year students return on March 1.