Project
Move Football Project
Grant amount
£73,362.00
Project summary
The project uses football and other sport and leisure activities to promote social inclusion, increase young people’s confidence and self-esteem and thereby reduce the likelihood that young people will become involved in crime or antisocial behaviour.
Based in offices in Northwich, The Children's Society, in Cheshire works with a targeted group of young people aged between 13 and 17 years who are referred to the programme by schools, police, youth offending service, community safety wardens and children’s services. We offer young people weekly football sessions in Northwich and Winsford, a range of exciting school holiday activities, issue based group sessions and one to one support advice and information.
what was the grant spent on?
The grant funds a Football Coordinator post, sessional project staff, equipment and premises costs which enable two football sessions each week, school holiday activities and group discussions sessions. The grant has been made for three years.
What are the long term benefits of the project on the community?
Young people on the project are engaged in meaningful fun activities which mean that they are less likely to be committing offences or causing antisocial behaviour in their community. The activities on the project are accredited which mean that young people are encouraged to have aspirations which will be more likely to result in their future employment.
Tell us about the positive affect on individuals
Joe was referred to the programme following a number of problems in school, including bullying, intimidation and bringing a knife into school and using it to threaten other pupils. The school were very worried that Joe’s behaviour which was heavily influenced by older brothers and friends would continue to get worse unless something was done. The project agreed to help Joe’s self esteem and provide him a positive focus and some good role models to try to alter his behaviour. Joe's pastoral head says “Joe was a pupil who despite the best intentions of many staff was beginning to fail at school. Since attending the football project Joe has become very keen to involve himself with other positive activities. Paul and the staff of the football project have spent time getting to know Joe as an individual and his self esteem has grown considerably.”
Joe initially took part in the summer programme with activities such as mountain boarding, canoeing, golf and community football matches. He received certificates for his participation and skill based achievements in these activities. Since then Joe has attended the football project on a regular weekly basis, barely missing a session, he has also been involved in various community tournaments which have enabled him to meet young people from different regional, cultural and ethnic backgrounds in a competitive yet friendly environment. Joe has also attended numerous life skills workshops where they look at issues that young people face in every day life. Because of the time spent with Joe the project staff have got to know him well and developed a good relationship with him. Now that Joe has been involved with the project for the last nine months there has been a marked improvement in his behaviour, he is gaining more confidence and self-esteem, and he has more respectful attitude towards other people.
quotes
Name: Kate
Position: High School Pastoral Manager
“The Football Project has provided the young people with an incentive to aim for. In some of their lives it is the only positive aspect where they feel included and appreciated. In school our football project pupils may not have turned into perfect pupils but they definitely have a better self identity and are engaging in healthy, positive, out of school activities. This has increased their social skills dramatically and given them insight into their own potential. For many of the young men I work with, the football project has enabled them to engage with positive male role models and has given them examples of how adults and young people can share interests and common objectives.”
Name: Ryan, 15
Position: Participant
‘They don’t just play football, they proper sort your education out and stuff…. If you’re having trouble at home they help you to deal with it too’
Name: Mother of Pete (a participant)
“The project has been absolutely brilliant for Pete and has acted as a real lifeline for him. His confidence has really increased so much so that the school has commented on it. I have also seen a vast difference at home and the project gives him a purpose. He always wants to go, gets himself ready and builds his week around coming to the sessions.”
