The amazing work of Levelling the Playing Field’s specialist partners impacts first and foremost on young people – but it has a knock-on effect on the lives of their parents too.
There is a well-known phrase which any parent will tell you is absolutely true: ‘You are only ever as happy as your unhappiest child.’
Sport and physical activity can be key to ensuring the happiness, wellbeing and safety of children who are vulnerable to the pitfalls of crime, gangs and violence in their local community. It can help to keep children’s lives on a positive path – and can be a godsend for concerned parents.
Sharlene Hines is one such parent. Mother to four children, she is eager to explain the huge impact that our specialist partners NPV Football Development - led by founder Joe Jackson - have had on her nine-year-old son Ishmael.
“Every other day there was some sort of incident at school,” says Sharlene. “Ishmael was playing for a different football team then, but they disbanded during the pandemic so I went to NPV. Hand on heart, it’s been the best decision I ever made.”
Sharlene took Ishmael to NPV’s Saturday morning community sessions and school holiday camps. He then started in NPV’s Under-8s team. Recently, he was scouted by Wolverhampton Wanderers and now trains with their academy.
“I started speaking to Joe and he gave me so much support. Him and the other coaches create a great community feeling. If you’ve got a child with a passion for football, it’s the place to be,” says Sharlene.
“The coaches have so much patience with him. They develop discipline and respect for each other. Ishmael’s attitude has really changed. He’s come so far since he first started. He’s getting regular reports in school for good behaviour and a positive attitude.
“It’s like a family at NPV. Joe focuses on getting children together to encourage them to get to know each other, whichever area of the city they’re from.”
That is particularly relevant because Wolverhampton is beset by postcode wars, particularly amongst its ethnically diverse young people. Sharlene is well aware of these issues as she is an officer in Wolverhampton’s Youth Offending Team.
“I personally think these issues have developed because there is nowhere for young people to go in Wolverhampton,” she says. “There are no youth clubs or other places where they can gather and socialise.
“With NPV Football, you’ve got children coming from across the city. When they’re encouraged to play together, it eradicates that postcode issue and the mistrust of not knowing someone just because they come from a different area.
“If I was to come into any money I would happily donate it to NPV. If we had more organisations like that around Wolverhampton I do think it would help solve the youth tensions and the terrible things happening in the city at the moment.”