A LOCAL short football scheme has been supported by the owner of Coventry City FC, Doug King and David Busst of Sky Blues in the Community.
The grassroot sessions started in 1995 and are free for the public every Saturday morning at Longford Park – an area with high level of deprivation, crime and child poverty.
The Sky Blues community has worked with Jim Sweeney, co-creator and co-head coach of Short Football, in the past – £1,000 donation was given to the club for new sports equipment and bibs.
Jim said: “The people who live in this area are described as being within the most deprived in the UK in respect of income, health, education, employment opportunity, houses, services and crime.
“Short Football proved popular with all demographics and our culturally inclusive community sessions/events have actively engaged with over 10k socially disadvantaged/marginalised young people, giving them a healthy activity to focus on and providing good role models/mentors to guide them from a future life of Juvenile Delinquency.”
Jim was seeking a corporate sponsor to help take his Short Football sessions into schools.
Doug provided funding of £3000 and £750 gift aid towards the scheme.
David Busst, added: “Following the initial email requesting funding from Doug King, I met with Jim to discuss a scheme of work around community engagement for his short football programme in the Longford area.
“Jim wanted to provide after school opportunities, alongside his Saturday morning sessions for young people.
“Having recently attended the sessions at St Laurence Primary School, you could tell how excited and engaged the young people were, taking part in this non-stop version of football.
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