Football week aims to give youngsters a fresh start (From Swindon Advertiser)

Football week aims to give youngsters a fresh start

10:10pm Tuesday 30th June 2009

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THE power of football is to be used to encourage disaffected youngsters to re-engage with society.

Swindon Town Football Club has teamed up with the Prince’s Trust to create a new course for young people who are not in training or employment.

Former young offenders, educational underachievers and teenagers who are currently in care, or who have previously lived in care, have all been invited to apply for a place on the trust’s Get Started With Football programme.

The week’s course will run at the County Ground from Monday, July6, and will see 16 people aged 16 to 25 working towards a Junior Football Organiser coaching award.

The course is open to young men and women and the trust will pay for travel and lunch for those people taking part.

Nick Bonnie, the programme executive for the trust, said: “This is an opportunity for someone who maybe hasn’t been on the straight and narrow to identify themselves with a way of making something positive of their life.

“The course acts like a springboard. It will get them back into a routine or a structure.”

The young people who sign up to the course will be taught to develop leadership, communication, team work and organisational skills.

They will be given tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle and will also be given a look behind the scenes at the Robins’ home.

Mr Bonnie said some of the young people on the course might be able to apply for funding from The Prince’s Trust which would enable them to retrain, equip themselves for a new job or take further football coaching qualifications.

He added: “This course will enable them to build their self confidence and their self-esteem.

“Everyone is 100 per cent behind them and it could enable them to take a different path.”

Adam Greaney, of Swindon Town’s Football In The Community Trust, said: “Young people are passionate about football.

“It is something that inspires and motivates them and it is something we can use to engage with them. This will also look great on their CV.”

To apply for a place on the course call 07984 022 564.

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