Local teenagers got an amazing opportunity at the weekend as they travelled to Middlesbrough to represent Accrington Stanley’s Kicks Project against Boro’s Kicks Project.

A group of teenagers who regularly attend our weekly Kicks sessions where invited to represent the club and then watch the FA cup tie between the two side. Although the end result could have been better all the young people had a great day and enjoyed the experience.  A big thanks goes to those at MFC Foundation who invited us up to take part, it was great to be involved.

The project  provides weekly free football coaching sessions for 11-19 year olds. These sessions will give local youngsters an opportunity to train with professional coaches, get fitter and be healthier and learn and develop new skills. The weekly sessions in Accrington will take place as follows;

Mondays and Fridays (term time only)

Venue; Hyndburn Leisure Centre (3G pitch), Henry Street, Accrington

6pm – 7pm 11-19 year olds

What is Premier League Kicks?

The vision was to build safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young peoples’ potential. It has proven successful, working with vulnerable young people which may otherwise struggle to join in with other mainstream activities. The programme helps guide young people towards leading a healthier and more pro-active lifestyle, using a relaxed approach. By adopting this method of delivery, it ensures Kicks can be pushed out in some of the most challenging and disadvantaged areas within various communities, including those of high rates of crime and anti-social behaviour statistics.

By engaging youngsters in constructive activities, including a wide variety of sports, coaching, music and educational and personal development sessions, communities up and down the country have been transformed with impressive sports participation rates and the authorities reporting significant reductions in anti-social behaviour. The scheme has also enabled thousands of youngsters to find routes into education, training and employment.

The growth of Kicks has been phenomenal and today 47 Premier League and Football League clubs run a combined 112 projects across England, with 45,000 kids engaged in their local community in just one year and 85,000 personal outcomes achieved overall, including 5,500 educational qualifications.

Following the announcement last summer of the partnership with Sport England, an extra 30,000 young people will be engaged over the next three years with a further 3,000 volunteers being trained.

Kicks has gained an excellent reputation and its format and approach to monitoring have been recognised as a model of best practice by the Audit Commission.

More about Kicks:

• Delivered in partnership with many police forces
• Funded nationally by the Premier League and Sport England, local funding is also required
• It began with three pilot projects in 2006
• There are now 47 Premier League and Football League clubs running PL Kicks
• In excess of 71,000 young people have been helped over the last eight years

For more information about the programme please call 01254 304071