Street Life Soccer

The Street Life Soccer Project was launched in August 2007, after a group of hostel residents approached local education providers The Blue Cat Initiative. The project was then developed in partnership with The Community Sports Foundation and piloted to over 50 people. The successful pilot led to funding being sourced to deliver a full programme which has benefited over 400 individuals in four years. Now after a short break, Street Life Soccer is back!

The project works with individuals and groups over who may be experiencing one or more of the following: homelessness, vulnerably housed, seeking asylum, refugees, ethnic minority groups and offenders / ex-offenders.

Street Life Soccer also provides preventative work for those at risk of becoming homeless with the opportunity to learn new skills, gain qualifications and integrate with new peer groups, weekly football coaching and National Open Collage Network accredited training. This approach supports progression into further education, volunteering, training or employment.

Street Life Soccer uses football as the tool to engage participants and provide a routine that allows participants to access social and health benefits. All education elements are then linked back to the sporting disciplines required, allowing for key skills development. Participants have the opportunity to set goals for themselves, no matter how big or small and are given the support to monitor these progressions.

Participants also have the opportunity to earn sports clothing as part of a reward scheme and to play in regular, competitive tournaments.

The project has successfully up skilled and provided sports and educational qualifications to a number of former participants, who have gone on to represent voluntary or be employed by the charity. Other participants have gone on to progress back in to full time education or employment and many have continued their love of football by representing local affiliated football clubs.

Street Life Soccer is funded through the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund. For more information or to get involved, contact Marc Campbell by email or on 01603 761122.

"Street Life Soccer made me feel so much stronger mentally, emotionally and physically and the sessions took away the negative thoughts that I had. I found myself being a key character and sometimes the leader in the groups, taking additional sessions with other lads that were regular drinkers and many who were drug takers, we were all moving in the right direction..."
Former Street Life Soccer participant

Community Cohesion programme partners

For a full list of the partners and organisations who support our initatives, please visit our Partners page.