Arsenal in the Community's Social Inclusion Programme
This project's parent organization is Arsenal Football Club
It operates in United Kingdom
It uses Football (Soccer)
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about Arsenal in the Community's Social Inclusion Programme
Arsenal has developed a range of social inclusion programmes which prioritise social contributions ahead of sporting outcomes. Arsenal’s Sport and Learning programme was set up in response to a growing number of young people excluded from school. Arsenal in the Community mobilised two local partners to offer a full-time alternative to mainstream education.
The project uses sport as the initial route for engagement, pupils are then gradually introduced to a range of academic and sporting qualifications. Arsenal’s Entry 2 Employment scheme targets 16-19 year olds who are not in education, training or employment through sport and offers a path into employment in the leisure industry. Arsenal's Kickz and Positive Futures schemes engage young people in activities on estates and local pitches. They provide pathways to volunteering and coaching opportunities.
They are delivered in a familiar environment where participants feel comfortable. The project becomes a consistent part of young people's lives like the Arsenal sport development officers who deliver the sessions. Offering positive activities and role models goes some way to act as a diversion for young people. It's not only young people who benefit, but also the communities in which they live since the projects are a catalyst for regeneration.