Streetcage Sports involved in F.A Hat-Trick programme

Streetcage Sports is now building links with the F.A to help launch its new programme aimed at getting youths aged 8 – 16 Years of age off the Streets and in to football projects.

The FA have secured partnership funding from both UEFA and the Government for its Hat-Trick regeneration programme, a three-year scheme that will see the appointment of 19 community football workers. Their role will be to provide a range of football opportunities for young people aged 7-16, while helping to address issues such as health, social exclusion and anti social behaviour.

“This is a hugely exciting and rewarding project which demonstrates how The FA can support the Government in key areas,” said FA Chairman and UEFA Vice-President Geoff Thompson.

“The community football workers will focus on areas that suffer from multiple deprivation; poor health, housing, education, and high incidences of crime and drug abuse. These areas also include significant ethnic minority communities and this scheme will enable The FA to further its commitment to Football for All.”

FA chief executive Brian Barwick added: “The FA has made huge strides in the development of grassroots football since the launch of a five-year strategy in 2001, and the Hat-Trick programme provides more evidence of the wonderful benefits football can bring across society.”

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister said welcoming the partnership:

"In many areas, deprivation and lack of achievement are deeply entrenched and long-standing. I hope that this scheme will bring many youngsters together who will benefit in developing social and leadership skills and am delighted that The FA, UEFA and the other organisations are working in partnership with our NDCs and Neighbourhood Management pathfinders in this regeneration initiative."

The community football workers will work closely with schools and local clubs, and will have four priorities:

- To get young people into football
- To develop sustainable opportunities for children through FA Charter Standard clubs
- To develop leaders and coaches from within the communities
- To support the Government target of providing two hours of PE in schools every week

Dingle Football in the community has been selected as one of the 19 areas in need of the Hatrick Programme and “Streetcage Sports” have been chosen to deliver the programme over 3 nights a week in the area. The programme, will see children receive brand new footballs, Bibs, cones and goals and will also see each child receive a Streetcage Sports t-shirt, pictured above.

Streetcage Sports Matthew Shannon said “Finally the F.A are recognising the need to fund and develop Street football, we are delighted that not only Dingle has been chosen as one of the selected areas but that Streetcage Sports is being used to deliver these programmes. We look forward working closely with dinge football in the community over the next couple of years”

For more information on the F.A and the Hatrick Programme, please click on

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/EthicsAndSportsEquity/SocialInclusion