Greater Manchester & Cheshire
Onward kicks off partnership with City in the Community
City in the Community (CITC) has recently launched a new location for its City Kicks community football programme in association with Onward.
The scheme – which uses the power of football and the value of sports participation to help hard-to-reach youngsters in high-need areas – is already delivered in various locations across Greater Manchester, including Wythenshawe, Gorton and Moss Side.
And now, thanks to funding support from Onward, sessions have also been added at the Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham.
Nicola Williams, head of wellbeing and social investment at Onward, said: “We know that sport motivates, inspires and connects people, so we’re delighted to be working with City in the Community and helping them deliver their Kicks programme in Oldham.
“We’re already seeing first-hand the impact the programme is having on changing the lives of young people in and around this community, and there’s huge potential for us to do more within our other neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester.”
Craig Bell, football partnerships manager at City in the Community, added: “City in the Community has been delivering the Kicks project for the past ten years and it’s so important that we can open up new sites around Greater Manchester.
“The Mahdlo Youth Zone is a great venue and the relationships we’ve built with Onward and the staff at the facility allows us to jointly offer positive, engaging sports sessions to young people in the Oldham area.”
The Kicks programme is one of the Premier League’s flagship community projects delivered by professional clubs throughout the country. The scheme has enabled thousands of youngsters to find routes into education, training and employment.
The sessions take place at the Mahdlo Youth Zone every Wednesday between 6pm and 8pm for boys and girls aged 8-19 years. For more information please contact Martin.Ingham-Griffith@cityfootball.com.