28 Oct PL KICKS PROGRAMME BENEFITS YOUNGSTERS THROUGH FOOTBALL ENGAGEMENT

The Huddersfield Town Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme launches it’s ‘Kicks Campaign’ as part of the National programme’s activation week.

Premier League Kicks gives young people access to free football sessions, sports sessions and workshops, providing them with opportunities, support and pathways to achieve their full potential.

It sees club community staff working closely with young people and partner organisations in their local area, including West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner, One Kirklees, Kirklees Active Leisure, Conscious Youth CIC, Central Youth Stars, Kirklees Youth Alliance, Yorkshire Sport Foundation, West Riding County Football Association and Kirklees Council to name a few which support us to create stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.

Aimed at eight-to-18-year-olds, Kicks engages young people in positive activities through their passion for football, whilst also addressing topics covering everything from equality and inclusion to youth violence and knife crime.

Premier League support will see the programme grow so that 90 Premier League, EFL and National League clubs are able to deliver sport and education sessions in hundreds of local communities where projects are needed most. With a focus on integration, equality and inclusion, thousands more girls will be engaged, and clubs will deliver ever more inclusive sessions.

Activation week is commencing week beginning 28 October 2019 and aims to showcase the programme we deliver to mark the continuation and expansion of Premier League Kicks over these next three seasons.

The Huddersfield Town Foundations ‘Kicks Campaign’ includes a week filled with Premier League Kicks activities running throughout the October half-term holidays as outlined below;

Monday 28 October the Huddersfield Town Foundation’s PL Kicks team will compete in the Regional Kicks Football Fixture against Rotherham United Community Sports Trust. The 11-a-side fixture will take place at the Foundation’s premises of Leeds Road Sporting Complex 3-5pm.

Participants have been selected to be a part of the Huddersfield Town Foundation’s PL Kicks team based upon their recent behaviour and performance at the regular PL Kicks weekly sessions.

The weekly PL Kicks football session will take place on Monday evening, 6-7pm, for eight to 13-year olds. The community session, based at Leeds Road Sporting Complex, provides people to achieve their potential and improve their wellbeing; working together to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities. The sessions are also free to attend.

On Tuesday 29 October the Huddersfield Town Foundation is facilitating a tour of the John Smith’s Stadium for all PL Kicks participants. The British Red Cross is hosting this event to educate the participants and raise awareness for refugee and asylum seekers.

The ‘Kicks Campaign’ activation event will take place on Tuesday afternoon with a Kirklees inter-satellite competition. Lots of special guests are expected to come along to this event to surprise the participants and learn more about the Foundation’s PL Kicks programmes.

On Tuesday evening the regular PL Kicks vs Conscious Youth sessions will take place at The Chestnut Centre, Huddersfield, for 12-18 years old. This session runs in association with Conscious Youth CIC and includes board games, music, table sports and workshops to aid the development of young people.

The PL Kicks participants will gain StickIt First Aid Qualifications from St John’s Ambulance on Wednesday 30 October. A representative from St John’s Ambulance will facilitate the First Aid training to the participants by teaching them the essentials of assessing the risks and safety of situations before aiding casualties. The participants will then learn how to carry out a casualty assessment, how to dress casualties, the recovery position and resuscitation to gain their First Aid Qualifications.

In the evening the PL Kicks Disability session will take place at the Central Youth Club, Huddersfield. The session combines a mixture of footballing ability with youth club attributes alongside Central Youth Stars.

On Halloween, Thursday 31 October, the Huddersfield Town Foundation will facilitate a knife crime and gang awareness workshop for the PL Kicks participants. This will educate the youngsters on the action and consequences of carrying a bladed weapon.

Our regular PL Kicks Football and open-door session will return on Friday evening at Leeds Road Sporting Complex. The session provides a safe environment for young people to attend with their friends to play football whilst being coached by Foundation staff.

By engaging youngsters in constructive activities including a wide variety of sports, coaching, educational and personal development sessions, not only does the programme impact individuals but it also unites communities.

Huddersfield Town Foundation’s Chief Executive Office, Siobhan Atkinson Said:

“Huddersfield Town Foundation are delighted to be part of the Premier League Kicks programme.

“Now entering our second year we deliver free sessions across the whole of Kirklees reaching a wide range of participants and encouraging communities to come together in a positive way.

“This year we’ve introduced a structured workshop programme that allows young people to be educated, learn and debate about issues that affect their everyday lives. We are working to forge stronger relationships with the Police as well as Kirklees Council.

“I’m confident that through delivering Premier League Kicks we will improve opportunities for young people and see communities benefit from improvements all round.”

Bill Bush, Premier League Executive Director added:

“The Premier League Kicks programme has been running successfully through our clubs and many across the EFL for thirteen years.

“To show our commitment to young people and communities, we are investing further to ensure its continuation for another three years, until 2022.

“Kicks is our flagship community programme and we are pleased that with the support of clubs and partners across the country, not least the police, we can continue to positively impact young people, providing them with opportunities and pathways that they may not have been able to access.

“Twenty per cent of current Premier League Kicks staff are former participants or volunteers, which goes to show how a long-term commitment can provide support and pathways for young people to better themselves, in turn allowing them to be a positive influence to others growing up in their community.”

If you would like to join or gain some more information on our Premier League Kicks programme, please contact Alfie Butwell on Alfie.butwell@htafcfoundation.com.