Thames Gateway Youth Football Project

The Thames Gateway Youth Football Project works with children and young people who live in the most disadvantaged areas of east London where poverty, dysfunctional families, low aspiration and discrimination are common-place. The West Ham United Project works in Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Thurrock and Tower Hamlets.

The Project:
Enhances the personal and social development of young people;
Combats social exclusion;
Contributes to the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour;
Aids young people's return to mainstream education;
Assists young people to achieve qualifications and employment.

In the last year 1,100 hours of provision were delivered to in excess of 400 young people as part of the Thames Gateway Project

From Offending to Employment (FOTE)

FOTE is a project specifically aimed at engaging socially excluded young people. FOTE works in seven north-east London boroughs and parts of Essex with young (ex) offenders and those at risk of offending between the ages of 9-25 years. The project works with participants around the development of social skills, communication and teamwork skills as well technical football skills. The popularity of football and West Ham United in east London provides a positive 'hook' to engage young people who otherwise may be reluctant to take part in mainstream activities. The project uses the positive activity of football as a vehicle to engage young people and to increase their self-esteem and confidence channelling their energies in a constructive direction away from anti-social/ offending behaviours.

FOTE develops its project in two distinct ways:
1. Open Referral Projects - Taking referrals from YOT, Probation Service etc
2. Area based projects - In crime hotspots as identified by borough crime audits

FOTE provides the opportunity for young people to gain accredited qualifications recognised by the Football Association, Including the FA Junior Football Organisers Course, FA Level 1 Certificate in Football Coaching (and the Level 2 certificate). The FOTE project also provides volunteer opportunities to young people, through the Millennium Volunteers Scheme, giving young people with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in a professional environment. Through the training and work experience provided, the young people enhance their prospects and ability to get back into mainstream education, training or employment.

In the last year, 520 hours of provision were delivered to in excess of 480 young people as part of the FOTE Project

The Kickz Project

In October 2006, West Ham United In The Community were granted funding by the Football Foundation and the Met Police Authority (MPA) to deliver The Kickz Project within the London Borough of Newham.

The project is a unique project partnership between the Football Foundation and the MPA enabling young people to access a youth Social Inclusion Project within identified crime hotspots within the borough, using football as a vehicle for change and working towards and achieving objectives connected to the Governments Every Child Matters framework.

The West Ham United Kickz Project is actively supported by Beckton Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, Local Authorities, the Met Police Armed Response Team, UEL, Connexions, Newham YOT, Millennium Volunteers and GRAPPA.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Team in Beckton utilise the sessions to break down traditional barriers between the police and local young people via structured knife, drug and gun workshops alongside core sporting activity.

In September 2007 West Ham United were awarded further funding from the Football Foundation and MPA to successfully deliver a further five Kickz Projects across the London Borough of Havering from September 2007 and across Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Havering from February 2008.

In the last year, 750 hours of provision were delivered to in excess of 400 young people as part of the Kickz Project.

For more information contact Dan Godfrey on 0207 473 7720 or email dgodfrey@westhamunited.co.uk