£609K NETTED BY FOOTBALL PROJECT AIMING TO ‘CHANGE LIVES’

Grant to help boost activity levels for people aged 25-49

STAFFORDSHIRE FA has been awarded more than £600,000 to boost the activity levels of people in Stoke-on-trent through football.

The Active Through Football project will aim to increase participation in the sport - but there will also be an emphasis on weight management, fitness, employability and mental health.

The county FA will also be aiming to identify and upskill community champions and volunteers to help their personal development for employment.

The scheme is targeting residents aged 25-49 living within the most deprived wards in the city who may be experiencing health inequalities and economic hardship due to unemployment and the impact of Covid-19.

The new programme from Sport England is funded by the National Lottery and delivered by the Football Foundation.

Staffs FA – which was successful in bidding for the £609,155 funding – will deliver the scheme locally in partnership with key organisations across the city.

These include Stoke-on-trent City Council, Stoke City, Port Vale, Engage Communities, Staffordshire University, Together Active and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Kevin Staples, head of delivery at the Staffordshire Football Association, said “Securing this funding for Stoke-on-trent is a fantastic opportunity for us to work closely with the communities across the city to make a difference to their lives, utilising the power of football.

“The Active Through Football Programme will aim to engage as many residents as possible to take part in the activities and provide social, wellbeing and volunteering opportunities for local people to be involved.”

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: “There is a reason why football is followed and played by so many the world over. It brings people together and helps build connections in communities.

“It’s also the sport that is played the most in England and has a reach into places where our research shows activity levels are lower.”

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award to Staffordshire FA is fantastic news for Stokeon-trent. Football is a game for everyone, regardless of their background, and it’s only right that people across all walks of life are able to play the nation’s favourite game.”