Another positive three months for Street League!
Firstly, on 16th January we attended a reception at No.10 Downing Street to celebrate the 12 months charity of the year partnership. Some of our participants, who have gone on to achieve employment outcomes, attended alongside executive representatives of their employers. Each had an opportunity to discuss the progress made with the Prime Minister David Cameron. This was a fitting celebration of the achievements of Street League's service model and the dedicated efforts and commitment of our participants. Also in attendance was ex-England and West Ham United legend Sir Trevor Brooking and world famous Arsenal and Dutch international Robin Van Persie. The latter was introduced as Street League's new ambassador!
We are currently looking to launch a new centre in some of the most deprived wards of Edinburgh, Scotland and are currently locating a suitable office venue.
Our service in Manchester has quickly become established and we have now commenced our first Education and Training "Academy", progressing our first participants from that region into employment or college education.
Since April 2011 we have delivered 364 employment outcomes nationwide and look to achieve 500 by the end of March. Our work with young people helps prevent them from becoming entrenched in an ongoing situation of unemployment, providing training and education opportunities and creating positive alternatives to current life styles. With your help we can reach more people and change their lives!
Street League have now officially launched in Manchester! We have recruited a manager who is putting the partnerships in place to ensure we reach even more of the most disadvantaged individuals within the poorest districts and change their lives through football.
We are also awaiting the results of three funding applications that could take us into 5 new areas of the UK. Funding for each young person we reach is essential as it has the opportunity to progress young people from the point of physical, employment and educational inactivity,due to their multiple disadvantage, through our holistic programme into a sustained outcome.
A recent quote from one of our participants; "Before I got involved in Street League I had no plan for my life. Street League has made me realise what I really want to do in my life and has given me a platform to make my dreams a reality"
Look out for us on Saturday 12th November as the England vs Spain friendly international will officially be a "Street League international! This has been provided as part of our Charity of the Year status with the Football Association. 40 of our young participants have been invited as guests. These individuals would not usually have the opportunity to attend such events.
It has been an exciting 2 months for Street League!
We are currently raising funds and securing key partnerships to launch our service model across the Manchester region of England! We want to reach and change the lives of the most disadvantaged young people of the UK using football and will be targeting the most deprived areas within Manchester to achieve this. we are aiming to take this exciting step in the next Quarter. More news to follow in the next report.
Five of our participants had the amazing experience of meeting the one and only Pele at the one and only Downing Street last Wednesday. They played football in the gardens and were coached by the great man! This made national news in England.
Finally, this Wednesday marks the first "Street League international" at Wembley stadium for the England vs Holland friendly. Our young patrticipants will be involved in on pitch, pre-game activities and will also play a representative Dutch team at a nearby venue before the main game! This is all in recognition of our status as the Football Association's charity of the year and the hard work we put in to change lives of disadvantaged young people- helping them back into mainstream education, training or work- providing fantastic football opportunities on the way.
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