QPR and council boost soccer skills
Budding football stars can improve their skills at free training sessions with professional football coaches thanks to Neighbourhood Working funding from Brent Council.
Councillors from Wembley Central and Alperton have given £5,500 Neighbourhood Working funding to develop the Kickz project at Copland School, High Road, Wembley.
Run by professional coaches from Queen's Park Rangers Football Club, the free sessions are open to all young people aged 12 to 18 years old.
Kickz is a partnership formed between the Metropolitan Police, Football Association, FA Premier League, Football League and Football Foundation to develop young people's potential and helps create safer, stronger and more respectful communities.
Sessions typically include football coaching and competition as well as flexible sessions including other sports, music-based sessions or developmental activities such as drug awareness, healthy lifestyles or volunteering. Neighbourhood Working funding will enable additional outreach activities to be run and pay for the cost of floodlighting.
The project is delivered by coaches from Queens Park Rangers Football Club and takes place at Copland School on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, 4pm-7pm. Sessions are free of charge and young people wishing to take part can simply turn up on the night.
Christine Collins, Neighbourhood Working Manager said: "This is an exciting opportunity for young people in the area and it is brilliant the Neighbourhood Working money can help fund the project. I am sure it will prove really popular with our football stars of the future."
Dave Robinson, Kickz co-ordinator and Football Development Officer at Queens Park Rangers football club, says: "The project is starting to grow steadily with two projects running in the borough. With the continued support of Copeland school and Cardinal Hinsley as well as funding from Brent Council I am pleased to say that the affect on anti-social behaviour has been positive over the three nights in which Kickz runs."