Northampton Town FC Community Trust run established Premier League Kicks programmes at sites in Northampton and Wellingborough.
Rushden is the newest site, offering free weekly football sessions for young people as a positive activity. Anyone aged 11-18 is welcome to attend, and the programme also targets young people at risk of anti-social behaviour.
Premier League Kicks inspires children and young people to achieve their potential and improve their wellbeing; working together to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.
The programme aims to use the reach and appeal of football to regularly engage children and young people of all backgrounds and abilities in football, sport and personal development – providing a trusted, positive influence in high-need areas across England and Wales. Each Kicks project works in partnership with local agencies to respond to the needs of children and young people locally.
In setting up and running the sessions at the Pemberton Centre, Rushden site, the NTFC Community Trust are working in partnership with Northamptonshire Sport, Freedom Leisure and North Northants Council. In June, a disability session will start running at the same site.
Northampton Town FC Community Trust are delighted to have received a grant from, local charity, Northamptonshire Sport. Using the funding, two of our community coaches are delivering weekly Wednesday coaching sessions at the the Pemberton Centre.
Northamptonshire Sport has been chosen as the local funding partner of Sport England and is supporting their national ‘Unite the Movement’ campaign. Northamptonshire Sport is also leading on key pieces of work to help children and young people remain active and reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels in those disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This will ensure that gaps between those who are active and those who aren’t, don’t widen further.
During the lockdowns, Northamptonshire Sport - whose mission is to support Northamptonshire residents to be ‘more active, more often' were forced to find creative ways to continue with their work. Via their existing network of Development Officers and School Sports Team who work across Northamptonshire, the charity has ensured that physical activity remains accessible for residents.
Matthew Peleszok, Northamptonshire Sports lead on Satellite Clubs, said:
"We’re excited to be supporting the local community to stay active during COVID-19. As an organisation we have worked hard to ensure that the inequalities gap doesn't widen and we are delighted to have awarded funds to Northampton Town FC Community Trust. We have a unique position to support the county and we look forward to working hard to provide opportunities to every resident of Northamptonshire who has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19."
“The Active Communities team at Freedom Leisure are delighted to be working in partnership with Northampton Town FC Community Trust, Northamptonshire Sport and North Northamptonshire Council in being able to support this opportunity on the MUGA opposite The Pemberton Centre. As the facilities we manage only opened on Monday 12th April following the easing of Covid restrictions, it’s fantastic to be involved in a project that offers a quality opportunity which will enable local young people to become reconnected with sport and physical activity” Christopher Bryden, North Northamptonshire Active Communities Manager and Freedom leisure.
Joe Bailey, Healthy & Active Lifestyles Officer at North Northamptonshire Council said, “In partnership with the Northampton Town FC Community Trust, Northamptonshire Sport and Freedom Leisure, I’m really pleased to be able to offer children and young people aged between 11 and 18 years old the opportunity to receive free football coaching sessions at our Pemberton Leisure Centre site in Rushden. This project is one of many that we hope to introduce this year to improve the opportunities within the area for children and young people to be healthy and active. The team at Northampton Town FC Community Trust have got some fantastic sessions lined up so I’d encourage everyone who is interested, to get signed up, put your trainers on and go and have some fun!"
“Having set up and run our Premier League Kicks programme from the beginning in September 2019 and seeing it grow and benefit so many participants has been a positive experience," said NTFC Community Trust Programmes Manager Anna Letts. "Expanding to include the Rushden area is great news as we can offer free fun sessions to local young people to help increase physical activity and improve their confidence and self esteem.”
To find out more about Kicks or for young people to register, please visit: ntfccommunity.co.uk/pl-kicks