Large grant gives young people in Derry ‘Sporting Chance’

Teenage Kickz, a football in the community project, has been awarded a grant of £9,850 from the UK’s largest Sport for Development charity, Sported. The grant will fund ‘Sporting Chance’ - a three year programme that uses football to integrate communities across four areas in Derry/L’Derry and provide 60 young people with the chance to gain an accredited award in leadership, thus harnessing the potential of the young participants in becoming positive and active members of their community.

Teenage Kickz is an innovative new project led by former Derry City DC captain, Peter Hutton. The group’s vision is to target some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country in order to create safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young people’s potential.

As a charity, Sported provides business support to grassroots groups which deliver Sport for Development programmes. These groups use sport to help disadvantaged young people fulfil their true potential in life, by improving their education, health and well-being, and reducing their risk of becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

Prior to receiving the large grant, Teenage Kickz received business support and advice from Karen McFarland, one of Sported’s skilled volunteer mentors. Karen worked closely with Peter to develop the group’s long-term business plans and its ‘Sporting Chance’ programme, in addition to supporting its grant application to Sported.

Peter Hutton, Coordinator at Football in the Community - Teenage Kickz, said: “Teenage Kickz is delighted to have been awarded this grant from Sported in support of our new ‘Sporting Chance’ programme. Teenage Kickz recently received mentor support through Sported’s volunteer mentor programme and was grateful for the expertise and support offered throughout the process, culminating in the award of this grant.”

He added: “The money awarded towards the ‘Sporting Chance’ programme will be used to target several communities within the Derry City area in a bid to develop young people’s potential and help build stronger, safer and more respectful communities. Through this new initiative the young participants will avail of sporting activities whilst also having the opportunity to gain an accredited leadership award.”

Karen McFarland, Sported mentor, said: “Teenage Kickz is an exciting and dynamic youth initiative. A small team drives the project and there is a real and genuine passion for young people. The vision for ‘Sporting Chance’ allows for a long-term programme that will have greater impact on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds”.

She added: “The four communities from which young people will come needs investment, not just in financial terms, but also in the social capacity of the community. The engagement of young people in youth leadership and personal development skills is a hugely important aspect of this project.”

Brenda Kelly, Northern Ireland Manager for Sported, said: “Teenage Kickz has demonstrated its commitment in using sport for social change in its area through its three year programme. The mentor support has enabled them to develop a strategy which will support the sustainability of this valuable work. We are very pleased to be able to support Teenage Kickz with its work using Sport for Development with this group of local young people.”

Sported is a free members organisations which works with over 2,800 community sport groups across the UK, including over 200 in Northern Ireland.

If your group is working with 11-25 year olds and using sport to make a positive impact on their lives, then you may be able to benefit from Sported funding. Our funding and support is open to Sported members and we are accepting membership applications from groups across Northern Ireland . Organisations can apply for FREE membership at www.sported.org.uk.

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