As part of Levelling the Playing Field’s ‘Sport for Development Month’ in December, we hear from our specialist partners Street Soccer London on how they guide young players from the pitch towards progress in many different areas of their lives.
Street Soccer London’s first one and a half years have been all about building trusted relationships with the young people who come through the door. The next stage in their players’ journey begins in January, with the launch of ‘The Boot Room’.
The Boot Room will be a safe space where the organisation takes its support for young people to the next level. The 46 young people on their Wednesday night Levelling the Playing Field sessions, for example, will be able to stay afterwards for informal one-to-one chats, talk about their lives, issues and ambitions.
These interactions are part of a ‘Socratic’ process which will help each individual identify what they want to achieve and formulate their own bespoke plan to achieve it.
“We don’t believe we can fully solve people’s life problems, however, we very much want to be part of the solution” says manager Craig McManus. “We’re here to support each young person’s life journey in an environment where they’re all part of a family. We’ll be there to support them and find pathways to what they want to achieve.
“Our community sessions have been massive in building relationships, creating a sense of connection post-lockdown, improving mental health and self-esteem, diversion from “risky choices” and creating constancy. We’re now looking forward to phase two.
“It’s not about us changing people’s lives, it’s about the young people changing their own lives but using us as the mechanism to allow them to do that. We want to put a smile on young people’s faces, give them hope, experiences and opportunity, then what we class as success for each young individual will follow.”
'PLAYER VOICE'
Feedback has taught staff that, especially through the pandemic, young people do not feel listened to. Recognising that, the organisation has ensured that ‘player voice’ is the guiding force of everything they do from board level down to the delivery team. The Boot Room will be an environment where young people can have their voices heard – and more importantly, where they get tangible and whole-hearted support in helping them take the next step in their chosen direction.
That step could be taking a coaching or refereeing course, volunteering, youth work or work experience in any sector. The organisation is building a web of partners to whom they can signpost young people and help fulfil these ambitions.
“What we have to be as an organisation is agile enough to supply what young people want,” explains Craig (pictured below with SSL coach Matthew Fogbawa). “We can’t over-promise and under-deliver, but we will be honest and say to each individual, ‘We will try our best to make it happen.’”
Street Soccer London’s continued work during the pandemic has been supported by over £10,000 from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which was secured by the Alliance of Sport for them and other Levelling the Playing Field specialist partners. It has enabled their services to continue through a severely tough time for many children and young people.
Their work aligns with Levelling the Playing Field’s common goals:
- Increase the number of ethnically diverse children taking part in sport and physical activity
- Prevent and divert ethnically diverse children from being involved in the Criminal Justice System
Next year will see Street Soccer launch a Player Voice programme with young people making videos, vox pops and mini documentaries and engaging in focus groups. As well as expanding their skills in digital media, it will drive purpose-driven interaction between the players that they don’t get just from football.
OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES
The organisation also has a volunteer programme which brings their players into contact with people from diverse backgrounds and careers. Currently, people working in sportswear design, strength and conditioning and finance are conducting one-to-one support and mentoring, expanding the youngsters’ horizons and opening them up to new influences.
“Our volunteers are very purpose-driven people who want to make a difference,” states Craig. “Young people don’t always feel they have access to opportunities, perhaps because of class barriers, racism, education or where they’re from. Our staff and volunteers are here to show them they absolutely can achieve things.
“We are people who have moved on from challenges that they can identify with, whether it’s mental health, criminal justice or addiction. Their stories will engage our young people and influence them in a positive way.”
External organisations have also come in to offer new and refreshing perspectives, including Football’s Black Pioneers talking about the game’s struggle against racism. Memorably, the players were paid a visit by former England midfielder Joe Cole and had an online Q&A with Chelsea and England’s Mason Mount as part of the Sure Breaking Limits programme.
In mid-December, a few youngsters will have the chance to train at Crystal Palace’s new training ground and several volunteered in support of Team England at the Homeless World Cup (an event close to Craig’s heart).
A recent tournament attracted 122 young people with 17 teams, making young people feel part of something bigger than their weekly sessions. Many of the under-15s group were part of a pilot project with an hour on the pitch then an hour off it, doing spoken-word poetry in partnership with the mental health charity CALM.
It was a very simple scene that recently showed Craig that what he’s building at the organisation’s base at the Black Prince Trust in Lambeth is something special. Due to terrible weather, an evening session was cut short, so players decamped to the office and hung out, chatted and played on the PlayStation. “I thought, ‘How great is this?’” says Craig. “We’ve got such a positive environment that the young people want to be here whether there’s football on or not.”
That environment can only be created through connection and trust. Despite a difficult last 18 months, Street Soccer London have now built that with their participants through being 100% player-focused.
Craig says: “As time goes on, we understand each individual more and more. I know from my own experience that you have to overcome fear and pride before you engage. It doesn’t matter if it takes years, we’re driven by the process, not the outcome. I talk a lot to our staff about providing ‘world-class basics’; we are true to our word and don’t leave anyone behind.”
Read more about Street Soccer London here.