The Sky Blues in the Community Premier League Kick’s project is continuing to support young people through competitive football opportunities.
Premier League Kicks is a national flagship programme which uses the power of Football and Sport to inspire young people in some of the most high – need areas in England and Wales.
Thanks to funding from the Premier League Charitable Fund, Sky Blue in the Community provides activities for 8 – 19 year olds in priority areas of Coventry.
Across Coventry and a small part of the Premier League Kicks project, has given opportunities for young people aged 16 - 19 to represent Sky Blues in the Coventry Alliance Football League, playing weekly with friends and improving their Footballing ability.
In 2018 - 19 so far, 25 young people from the Sky Blues Premier League Kicks Football Team have benefited from attending training once a week and playing weekly against other local opposition.
In addition, these young people have been given further opportunities to play regular Football through the project during school holidays, where professional clubs community schemes such as Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion have been part of regional tournaments involving the Sky Blues Premier League Kicks Team.
When asked, the young people have said the low cost and being able to play alongside their friends are the main reasons for them being involved with the Premier League Kicks Team, and continuing to engage with the project in 2018 – 19.
The Premier League Kicks Football Team has also supported the young people, who can be and are at risk of becoming involved in negative behaviours/activities, to be part of a team, for a low cost, local to them and part of the Premier League Kicks project they have been involved with for many years.
In 2018 – 19, the young people who are part of the team will have the additionally opportunity to take part in FA Level 1 Award in Coaching Football, which will them give them further opportunities for voluntary or paid work through the Premier League Kicks project.
Sam Flatley, Inclusion Coordinator at Sky Blues in the Community said “It has been fantastic to see the development of the young people who have been and are part of the Sky Blues Premier League Kicks Football Team, with the young people showing great commitment and work ethic to build a positive team experience through playing regular competitive Football.
"With team affiliated to the Coventry Alliance League, it has meant the young people have been able to represent Sky Blues against varying opposition from Coventry, with young people showing great respect and representation when playing to Sky Blues in the Community and Coventry City Football Club.”
To find out more information about the Premier League Kicks programme, please contact, Sky Blues in the Community’s Inclusion Manager, Craig White, via Email: craig.white@ccfc.co.uk or Telephone: 024 7678 6313.