Our new Sidcot Football Camp, launched in partnership with British Camp, has proven to be a great success, uniting young players from across Europe for professional football coaching and English learning. This innovative initiative is already shaping the future of young athletes and we’re excited to grow even further in 2026.
Running from 6 July to 17 August 2024 at Sidcot School in the beautiful British countryside, the programme is more than just a summer camp. It combines high-level football training with language acquisition, leadership development and cross-cultural connection. Many of the participants have come from Ukraine, Poland and other parts of Europe, creating a vibrant international community.
Sidcot football camp – edutainment at it’s best
Helen Lami, CEO of Academic Summer, praised Vitalii Bresler, co-founder of British Camp, for his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit: “What I really admire about Vitalii and British Camp is that, even though they’ve faced huge challenges due to the war, they have looked for opportunity. That’s what entrepreneurs do in difficult times, they adapt and come out stronger. Vitalii moved their camps to other countries, including the UK and we’re proud to have them with us our Sidcot football camp in Bristol.”
Vitalii and his partner Daria are based in Warsaw, where they run similar camps in Poland. He describes the experience as ‘edutainment’ – a unique mix of engaging activities and structured football training while giving students an opportunity to improve their English language skills. “We don’t expect to transform a student’s English in just two weeks,” he explains, “but we do aim to inspire them, to give them a reason to speak, to make friends and to keep learning after the camp ends.”
Top coaching and unforgettable memories
The training sessions at our Sidcot football camp are led by FA-qualified coaches, including UEFA B licence holder Ricardo from Portugal, who trains aspiring professionals in his home country. Training takes place twice a day, and each week ends with a celebratory tournament to showcase the students’ progress.
Campers also take part in English lessons, leadership challenges, PlayStation e-sports tournaments, and a visit to the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC or to Wembley, the home of English football.
Vitalii acknowledges Helen’s role in bringing the project to life: “Helen really helped us during the war. When it became unsafe to run camps in Ukraine, she gave us the chance to bring our programme to the UK. We were literally jumping with joy when she said yes. We share a passion for education and have now been working alongside each other for four years, so we deeply value this partnership.”
The perfect setting for development
With state-of-the-art sports facilities, including grass, astro and 3G pitches, our Sidcot football camp provides the ideal setting. Each camper receives a full football kit, leadership development and the opportunity to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds.
This is far more than football, it’s about personal growth, confidence, and preparing young people to thrive in a global community. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re already planning to expand this exciting programme. With the strong foundation built this summer, next year promises to be even bigger and better.
Places are still available at Sidcot School until 17 August! Give your child a summer to remember with our unique mix of football, fun and learning. 👉 Register now at football.academiccamp.org
🎙️ Read our interview with Vitalii Bresler: Meet Vitalii Bresler, host of the ultimate football camp for future stars of the pitch – with FA training by day and e-sports by night!
The Clever Fox Journal is the online news section of Academic Summer Camps, inspired by our logo – a wise fox wearing a graduation cap. Just like our summer programmes, The Clever Fox Journal is a place of curiosity, learning and discovery, bringing you the latest updates, insights and stories from our academic camps in the UK and Canada. Stay informed, stay inspired – and think like a clever fox!