Footie scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour

A FOOTBALL programme aimed at kicking out anti-social behaviour is being launched in Wokingham borough.

The Kicks programme aims to engage young people from targeted areas using football as a main focus. The initiative, which has been set up in partnership with the Premier League, Reading Football Club, and Wokingham Borough Council, offers free football sessions, and has recently won a winning endorsement from Bracknell MP and the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Youth and Family Justice, Dr Phillip Lee.

The sessions are held at:

Monday – Goals Soccer Centre, Woodley (3pm to 5pm) and Piggott School, Twyford (3pm to 5pm)

Thursday – FBC Centre, Finchampstead (6pm to 7.30pm)

Friday – St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, Wokingham (6pm to 8pm)

Kicks organisers aim to engage with hard-toreach children and young people, and offer a range of additional workshops on topics including bullying, healthy eating, sexual health, substance misuse, money skills and careers.

Dr Lee MP joined a recent session at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, in London Road, where he celebrated the programme’s work.

The organisers are now looking into other opportunities to reach more young people through activities such as cheerleading.

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for sport and leisure said: “Kicks is a great initiative. It helps to support and engage with those that probably need it the most, through something that they can all enjoy. I was able to join Dr Phillip Lee MP and was very impressed.”