Connections Centre Campaign
On the 14th of February 2021 Street Soccer Academy marked ten years as a UK Registered Charity and are planning a number of events throughout the year to celebrate the occasion. We would like to invite friends and supporters to join us by engaging in events, either in person when this is possible later in the year, or by joining in the online conversation taking place on our social media platforms. Presentations over the year will look at some of the successes of the last decade, highlighting the impact made in the lives of many individuals in the region and additionally feature some of the individuals, companies and organisations who have provided support along the way, making many memorable moments whist undertaking our work.
Above all else the one thing 2020 taught us all is the value of human interaction. Those moments in our everyday life, that we all probably take for granted, that make our very existence manageable. For most of us these connections exist throughout the many layers of our lives, whether it’s the very intimate interaction we enjoy with our close family and friends or the more professional exchange that exists with work colleagues or business contacts. It is clear that these connections are not only essential in us effectively going about our daily lives but also in maintaining a healthy state of wellbeing
Isolated Individuals
At Street Soccer Academy we work with individuals, referred onto our programmes from a number of welfare agencies, generally classified as having complex and multiple needs. We help individuals work through issues related to homelessness, physical & mental health problems, unemployment and learning needs. The complexity of these needs sees our service users classified, in the main, as ‘hardest to reach’ by many other agencies. Like Chris explains in the video above for most of our beneficiaries the essential connections are either non-existent or dysfunctional due to the effects of personal needs and result in detachment from mainstream society and problems with isolation.
How We Engage
Beneficiaries are referred onto our programmes by welfare agencies across our region, such as, The NHS, accommodation providers, Job Centre+ and community projects. Once referred our beneficiaries engage in a Coach Education & Personal Development Programme based around learning basic life and work-related skills. The use of football coaching as the basis of our programmes means we have an attractive method of engagement and retention, allowing us to incentivise learning and development.
Why Street Soccer Academy
We are a UK registered charity and an FA Charter Standard Football Club, meaning that our programmes are delivered by fully qualified and vetted staff. As with many sports clubs the involvement in team sports allows for meaningful relationships to develop and positions of trust to be established between service users, staff and volunteers. It is from these relationships that we are able to work with our beneficiaries to try and address the needs that hold them back from achieving their full potential in life.
We Are Ten – Our First Event
In partnership with the Aviva Community Fund we are launching a fundraising campaign, which is outlined below
To assist in our efforts to help our beneficiaries combat the causes of isolation and defeat loneliness we are looking to develop a connections centre at our HQ. This will be a meeting room where beneficiaries can discuss with us any of their current needs. In turn we will look at ways our beneficiaries can access appropriate help, from our network of partner agencies, to address these needs. Help may be in the form of directing to appropriate services, assistance with form filling, online research, initial telephone enquiry or in some cases, purely a listening ear. As with all our work in this area appropriate action planning will be put in place with timescales for review and follow-up agreed to ensure satisfactory outcomes are achieved.
Donations will help to furnish the centre with seating, desk space, a computer (to access the internet and database) & telephone.
What Do We Hope to Achieve
For many of our beneficiaries the complexity of their needs often results in loss of confidence and any hope that the lifestyle they desire can ever be achieved. Through our connections centre we hope to see confidence restored through the systematic working though of issues, ultimately seeing individuals establishing for themselves sustainable lifestyles and realising their full potential. In achieving this we believe we will see isolation and loneliness defeated as individuals establish for themselves contacts in community to help maintain healthy and fulfilling lifestyles.
Can You Help Us?
If you would like to help us by making a donation towards our Connections Centre campaign click here and follow the onscreen instructions. Any help you can give us in our efforts to defeat isolation and loneliness is very much appreciated.
