It's the final day of the EFL's Week Of Action for the 2023/24 season. Every day of this week we have been highlighting and celebrating the work done in our community by the football club and the Cheltenham Town Community Trust.
To round off the week, we take a look at the Premier League Kicks Programme, which the Cheltenham Town Community Trust help run sessions for in the local area. First team players Rob Street and Curtis Thompson attended last night's session to join in on some of the fun.
Premier League Kicks has been working in local communities to inspire thousands of young people. The programme started in 2006 and has a long history of using the power of football and the value of sports participation to help youngsters in some of the most high-need areas.
The community trust have been running the programme since the beginning of 2019/20 season, providing a place for young people to get involved in activity and socialise. Rob and Curtis played football tennis and pool with some of the attendees at Whaddon Youth and Community Centre.
By engaging people in constructive activities, including a wide variety of sports, coaching, music and educational and personal development sessions, communities up and down the country have been transformed with impressive football and sports participation rates and the authorities reporting significant reductions in anti-social behaviour in the areas in which it is delivered.
The programmes aims are to:
- Increase playing, coaching and officiating opportunities in football and a range of sports (8-18yrs)
- Enhance physical and mental wellbeing, including self-esteem, ambition and social skills
- Strengthen communities with a culture of volunteering, social action and positive role models – supporting education, training and employment pathways (focusing on 16-25yrs)
- Work in partnership with young people, the police and other stakeholders to support the younger generation with the societal challenges they face (eg youth violence) and to improve community safety
- Inspire young people to develop positive, supportive relationships with one another and the authorities
- Promote integration and champion equality, diversity and inclusion
For more information on PL Kicks and its operation through the CTFC community trust, get in contact with will.mills@ctfccp.com.