Kelly MorganWiltshire political reporter, Swindon
A football club which is now offering free sessions for a range of different sports is helping to give young people a “positive outlet”, organisers say.
Premier League (PL) Kicks, has offered free football sessions in Swindon, Wiltshire, for six years – and this year, has started to coach netball, basketball, tennis, tag rugby and badminton.
It says this expansion in options has led to more young women and girls signing up.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson said such schemes were crucial in keeping young people away from anti-social behaviour (ASB) and helping them to become “better citizens”.
Up to 160 young people, aged 10-18, take part in free activities with PL Kicks at Foundation Park.
Coordinator Andy Tye said activities were shaped around what the children were interested in to make sure they “felt in control” of their sessions and “had a reason to keep coming back”.
“We’ve tried to accommodate every sport we can across the week, and it’s just gone from strength to strength,” he said.
“We feel the free provision and our amazing team of coaches really does give a positive outlet for those young kids to get stuck into,” he added.
Mr Tye said he was “really proud” to see an increase in girls signing up and engaging with their coaches, something which he said was “really important” for the organisation.
Friends Amelia and Evie, aged 10, said they joined due to the variety of sports on offer.
They said they enjoyed staying healthy and “using up all their energy, but in a good way”.
Noah, aged 11, described the new multi-sport session as “fun” and a great opportunity to “train and get better at sports”.
PL Kicks is funded by the PCC and the Premier League.
PCC Wilkinson said organised group activities offered a “respectful, responsible and compassionate” outlet for young people.
“This generation has come through Covid and that has isolated them and made them more vulnerable to unhealthy and dangerous pressures,” he said.
“Getting them involved in team sports like this is a brilliant way of, in many ways, reintroducing them into society.
“Sport is a great medium to give young people diversionary activities,” Wilkinson added.
