Project
Kick it Out (London)
Grant amount
£75,000
website
www.kickitout.org
project summary
Each project varies but we estimate that 45,000 people have been directly engaged in activity through the project and another 23,000 indirectly supported through the sign posting of unsuccessful projects. In each location we have facilitated the engagement of the County FA, other community groups and the community section of the local professional club where possible.
An example of this successful funding is the Black and Asian Coaches Association, our funding enabled the group to form and undertake several meetings bringing together coaches from a BME background to be mentored through their qualifications and gaining coaching work, sometimes by ex professional players. The group now have over 100 members and is embarking on research into the delivery of coaching qualifications to make them more appropriate and accessible to people from different communities.
Another example is the Rob Burton Soccer School. This project supported young Asian Muslim youth in West London to develop and get into football and also provided footballing opportunities for disabled young people from within this community. Talks were set up in Hayes Mosque to break down stigma around disability and following this, training sessions were given for both groups of young people on adjoining pitches. Towards the end of the project the group joined mixed sessions to further break down barriers. As a result of this project regular football sessions happen within the community and several young people have progressed further into mainstream affiliated football.
Tell us about the positive affect on individuals
This project has provided the opportunity to offer organised football to both the disabled and Muslim communities in Hayes. The project coordinators were happy to give their time and effort to bring the two communities together but the grants gave the practical opportunity to do this appropriately.
quotes
Name: Rob Burton
Position: Project Coordinator
"I work with special needs children on an every day basis but this project was totally new and enabled me to work with a totally new faith and community and help them reduce stigma around disability. It has been an inspiration to both myself and the community. The net effect has been more players from newer and mixed communities, a win win situation."
Name: Rikin Shah
Position: Level 3 Coach
"I'm an FA Level 3 coach and I think the only Level 3 coach in the country in a powerchair. Even as a disabled coach I don't work that much with disabled players and not with Muslim or Asian players either. This project has been an eye opener all round and challenging but rewarding."
