In 2009 the Football Foundation funded a new three year football and literacy project which is delivered by the Arvon Foundation in the South West and North West of England. Writing the Game takes young people's passion for football to ignite a life-long interest in writing and words, and helps build their confidence, self-esteem and communication skills too. During a week-long residential course at an Arvon centre, young people are supported by professional sports writers to produce work for a football newspaper and to write and perform a football themed musical. They also visit a local professional football club for a behind the scenes experience and take part in a football training session. The project has already seen some positive results; many of the young people have achieved higher pass marks in exams than predicted, and their positive experience during Writing the Game is credited with being the main reason for this turnaround.
South West project
This film was made during the course which ran at the Totleigh Barton Arvon Centre in Devon during 2010.
North West project
This film was made during the course which ran at the Lumb Bank Arvon Centre in West Yorkshire during 2010.
