Sports savvy young people in Thurrock have a chance to be part of an on-going sports project that not only provides physical fitness but empowers them to make positive changes in their lives.
The Thurrock Community Sports Project has been put together by Thurrock Council and Nacro (a crime reduction charity).
The project aims to develop football based sessions that help improve self confidence and self esteem while providing physical fitness and health.
Cllr Sue MacPherson, Thurrock Council’s Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “The council is committed to creating ways to engage our young people constructively and this project, through the language of sports has created tremendous opportunities for them.
“The project sessions have been successful and include during and after education periods as well as working with disability and excluded groups.”
She added: “At the end of it young people would have learnt excellent life skills that will have a lasting impact in their lives.”
The sessions are held Monday to Friday until March 2009 at various locations in Thurrock.
Look out for a session near you:
Mondays
Street football – Riverside Youth Centre, Quebec Road, Tilbury, from 4pm to 6pm.
Football coaching – St Cleres School, Butts Lane, Stanford Le Hope, from 7pm to 8pm
Tuesdays
Match night – Palmers, Chadwell Road, Grays (Astro Turf), from 4pm to 5pm
Wednesdays
Football coaching – The Gateway Academy, from 3pm to 5pm
Thursdays
X2i (an alternative education programme for young people excluded from mainstream education that can aid their development in gaining qualifications, skills and employment) – Riverside Youth Centre, Quebec Road, Tilbury, from 10am to noon
Football match – Tree Tops disability session, from 3pm to 4pm
Football coaching – Palmers Sports & Fitness Centre, Chadwell Road, Grays (Astro Turf), from 4pm to 6pm
Fridays
Indoor football – The Culver Centre, Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon, from 4pm to 6pm
As part of the project, a Junior Referee Course will be held in November and December for Stifford Clays Junior School and in different primary schools across Thurrock over the coming months.
