Street Soccer London have been able to develop deeper relationships with their participants by being part of the Levelling the Playing Field network and receiving Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Funding.
That’s the opinion of Street Soccer London coordinator Jack Badu, who together with manager Craig McManus and other staff has seen their programmes at the Black Prince Trust in Lambeth grow in numbers and increase their positive impact on participants.
Street Soccer London’s designated Levelling the Playing Field sessions take place on Wednesday evenings with U12s, U16s and U19s groups on separate pitches. A typical session will be attended by 60-70 players in all.
After coaching and matches, all youngsters have access to ‘The Boot Room’, where they can chill out, watch Champions League games, play on the PlayStation and have informal conversations with staff. In those conversations, their voices are heard and they are supported and encouraged to take positive steps towards achieving ambitions within football and beyond.
Those ambitions could involve coaching or refereeing, volunteering, youth work, work experience or employment. Street Soccer London has built a web of partners to whom they can signpost young people to achieve these next steps.
Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund (which was secured for many Levelling the Playing Field specialist partners by the Alliance of Sport) has given Street Soccer London the capacity to set up this supportive environment.
“The TIF money has been crucial,” said Jack (pictured below). “It has allowed our participants to have more of a say and engage on a deeper level. It has given us space to develop better relationships and provide further support. It’s where I can be a critical friend, not just a football coach.”
The funding has also improved engagement on the pitch, with older groups supporting activities for younger ones through informal peer mentoring, coaching and refereeing. Participants also play in a league seven-a-side team alongside staff.
Street Soccer London have also partnered with fellow Levelling the Playing Field specialist partners Palace For Life Foundation to give youngsters the chance to enter a Premier League Kicks tournament at Crystal Palace Academy’s training ground.
One participant in his late teens was at one stage at risk of homelessness. “Having had mentoring from staff and support from peers who have been in similar situations he now feels he can come to any of our sessions and there is a safe place him to play, coach or referee," says Jack. "He is just one young person who has benefited from the sense of community we’ve been able to create."
The organisation’s work aligns perfectly with Levelling the Playing Field’s common goals:
- Increase the number of ethnically diverse children taking part in sport and physical activity
- Prevent and divert ethnically diverse children from being involved with the Criminal Justice System
As Street Soccer London manager Craig McManus puts it: “It’s not about us changing people’s lives, it’s about the young people changing their own lives but using us as the mechanism to allow them to do that. We want to put a smile on young people’s faces, give them hope, experiences and opportunity, then what we class as success for each young individual will follow.”