Kick-off for Kickz scheme

YOUNG people in Oldham are to get the chance to take part in a football project run by Oldham Athletic.

Starting later this month the football club will offer sports sessions to young people in deprived areas as part of Kickz, a national scheme managed by the sports charity, the Football Foundation, and delivered by Premier and Football League clubs across the country in partnership with local police forces.

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Andy Burnham announced that eight more professional clubs would be joining the 31 already running the scheme, during a Kickz football session in Liverpool, where he joined young people and showed off his own football skills.

Kickz gives youngsters aged 12–18 the chance to play sports and other activities three nights a week, 48 weeks of the year.

As part of the scheme educational sessions are also offered, teaching young people about issues such as healthy lifestyles and the dangers of drug use and carrying weapons.

Seven other football clubs will also be taking part in the scheme, including Brighton and Hove Albion, Norwich City, Southampton, Plymouth Argyle and Southend United. Nottingham Forest and Notts County will run a joint project.

Mr Burnham added: “If you ever needed evidence of how sport can reach out and help young people then Kickz is it.

“It shows how football can work in the community to reduce crime and give young people hope of a better life.

“It is vital that football stays in touch with its roots.

“Kickz is a fantastic success story and continues to go from strength to strength.”

Football Foundation chief executive Paul Thorogood said: “The fact that more than 16,000 of our most disadvantaged young people are already engaged in the scheme demonstrates what a roaring success Kickz has been at achieving its stated aims of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour through engaging young people in sport — particularly football.”

For more information visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk/kickz.