During the project, the main activities implemented were football coaching sessions, developing Kingsley United  U16 players to become coaches within the club

The activities started in February 2020 half term at Kingsley United  new 3G football facility based off Lodge Lane, Toxteth, Liverpool.

In the implementation of the project several collaborations have been made, in particular with Kingsley United FC, Merseyside Police, CELLS (Choices Education Life Long Skills)

The resources needed for the project were £3445. However, the football club runs weekly training sessions and matches for all teams for £6 per week for both sessions.

As part of the project 50-60 young people attended every day. The activities were run daily by Kingsley United coaches and 6 nominated U16 player who were trained to become future coach/mentors. In the evaluation, the young people testified that they now are aware of the exploitation that happens in communities and that they would feel confident in speaking with their parents or a person of trust (School teachers, Coaches, other responsible adults).

The assessment of the project revealed that both the  young people and parents were satisfied with the project: (1) the parents, many of whom single parents,  or disadvantaged and mostly BAME(Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) had their children supported and looked after for virtually no cost, (2) the young people learned how to identify and tackle Criminal Grooming should they or their friends ever become a victim to this.

Parents fed back that it was an excellent idea and shared the knowledge the young people had taken home. Kingsley Utd as a club will continue throughout the football season to pay for pitch hire from weekly subscriptions, and run teams with volunteer coaches. However, the football camp would only be sustainable if similar funding is granted. One possibility would be to look at charging affordable fees (in line with other providers) however the club is located in an area of high deprivation although no young people are ever turned away on affordability grounds, this would require a budget.

One positive aspect of the project was the fact that the young people spoke with ex-prisoners, ex-offenders, and parents of offenders who had been exploited. This gave a holistic view of the impact that crime and gang violence has on families and how it may not even stop when people have been imprisoned.

One less positive aspect worth mentioning is that February weather was miserable all week but it never dampened spirits at the camp.

Kingsley United proposes a focus on other issues that affect young people’s lives such as racism.

One recommendation from the Kingsley United  side when replicating this practice is to focus on education, and educating young coaches. In their case, having the U16 players become coaches has improved their confidence and have acquired work experience. This practice helped also with raising the number of BAME coaches entering the game.

In terms of the U16 players becoming coaches this has given them confidence.

Work experience.

Future direction in how to stay involved in football should they not go far as a player.

Helps to raise number of BAME coaches entering the game which is a major issue currently.