Community Kicks

The environment

Our sessions have encouraged young people to spend more time being active and less time on screens, promoting healthier habits and reducing reliance on technology. By creating a safe, structured space, we’ve helped reduce anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and misuse of facilities, which contributes to cleaner, better-maintained community areas. Through teamwork, positive role models and a sense of pride in their surroundings, young people are learning to respect shared spaces and look after the environments they use.

The local economy

Our project has supported the local economy by creating paid roles and volunteer pathways that help young people develop skills for future employment. By keeping young people engaged in positive activities, we’ve contributed to safer community spaces, which can reduce local service costs. Families attending our sessions also bring increased footfall to nearby businesses. By offering free access to football, we’ve removed financial barriers and ensured all young people can build skills such as teamwork, discipline and leadership, strengthening the future workforce and contributing to long-term economic growth.

Volunteering, jobs & education

Our project has created new volunteering and paid work opportunities for young people, giving them valuable experience in coaching, youth work and sports leadership. Several participants are now progressing through training, with one moving into full-time employment. We’ve also offered a coaching workshop and continue to signpost young people to further training, courses and educational pathways. Through mentoring and positive role models, we’ve helped raise aspirations, build confidence and develop key employability skills, supporting young people to take active steps toward their future careers.

Arts, culture & heritage

Our project supported arts, culture and heritage by bringing young people together in a safe community setting where they could build relationships, share experiences and connect with local identity through positive activities. By engaging young people in structured sessions with strong role models, we helped strengthen community pride and respect for local spaces and facilities. This sense of belonging encourages young people to value their area, its culture and the shared environments that form part of the community’s heritage.

Activity, health and leisure

Our project has promoted physical activity by providing fun, free and accessible football sessions where all young people can take part regardless of background. Through skill-based games, teamwork and regular weekly participation, young people have improved their fitness, coordination and mental wellbeing while building healthy habits. The sessions have also created a welcoming community where participants form friendships and develop social confidence. Alongside the football, we’ve encouraged healthy lifestyles through positive conversations around wellbeing and healthy eating, helping young people stay active and engaged in sport beyond our sessions.