Street League - United Kingdom
Street League (SL) is a charity working to develop grassroots sports programmes across the United Kingdom (UK) for men and women over the age of 16. Based in London, SL's mission is to use sport to unlock the potential of homeless people, refugees, drug- and alcohol-dependent individuals, ex-offenders, and people who are unemployed due to learning disabilities. SL works to understand the issues that prevent people from participating in sports, then capitalises on the transforming effect of sport once these issues are addressed. SL's community-based sport projects and teams are intended to boost self-confidence and self-esteem, build friendship among players, inspire a sense of focus and commitment, support responsibility and discipline, and add an element of structure to what might otherwise be a chaotic lifestyle.
Communication Strategies
The national (London) project team works with regional managers and partner organisations to secure funding for regional sports teams. Regional project teams are then recruited and trained. As of this writing, there are 12 training teams in Newcastle; 16 male teams in Leicester; 10 training teams in Cambridge; and 24 male teams and 12 female teams in London. Leeds and Scotland operations are in the process of being established.
SL uses its football programme to build a sense of community and responsibility among participants. Football is, in the words of the organisers, "fun and familiar" to most of the disadvantaged people that the programme tries to reach; therefore, it "represents a low 'fear threshold' to participation". Players are recruited from organisations that have existing relationships with these disadvantaged people. (A New Team Steering Group ensures that the league represents a cross-section of disadvantaged groups within the region.) Players engage in 2 six-month seasons and 2-hour weekly training sessions with coaches who integrate life coaching into sports training. SL provides the venue and equipment. One volunteer team coordinator is assigned to each team. He or she encourages players to attend training sessions, acts as a steward for competitions, and serves as a mentor to players. In preparation for this work, volunteers attend training sessions (i.e, in mentoring), workshops (on topics like managing violence, first aid and sports injuries), and participate in sporting courses.
Another strategy is the Lifestyle Development Scheme (LDS), which is optional for participants. An LDS link worker recruits players and plays a mentoring role throughout their participation. Players must continue to train and obtain football training credits to progress through LDS. Activities might include sport and leisure industry training (including core skills of IT, communications, and literacy), training in sports club administration (including fund raising, management, and marketing), and pre-employment training within the sports and leisure industry. Those participating in LDS's Club Development Scheme are supported in setting up a sub-regional SL sports club.
SL's programmes incorporate sensitivity to issues of economic development. First, the system involves 3 "bands" to which participants are assigned based on their level of income. Each of the bands is assigned a different level of subsidised participation within the league, ranging from free participation to full charges. Second, SL features a credit scheme that is designed to reinforce commitment and cooperation among team members. One credit is awarded for every attendance at a training session. A collective 15 credits are required per team to participate in competitions, with selected players contributing at least one credit to play. On the basis of these credits, prizes donated by corporate sponsors are awarded at the end of each season.
SL uses its football programme to build a sense of community and responsibility among participants. Football is, in the words of the organisers, "fun and familiar" to most of the disadvantaged people that the programme tries to reach; therefore, it "represents a low 'fear threshold' to participation". Players are recruited from organisations that have existing relationships with these disadvantaged people. (A New Team Steering Group ensures that the league represents a cross-section of disadvantaged groups within the region.) Players engage in 2 six-month seasons and 2-hour weekly training sessions with coaches who integrate life coaching into sports training. SL provides the venue and equipment. One volunteer team coordinator is assigned to each team. He or she encourages players to attend training sessions, acts as a steward for competitions, and serves as a mentor to players. In preparation for this work, volunteers attend training sessions (i.e, in mentoring), workshops (on topics like managing violence, first aid and sports injuries), and participate in sporting courses.
Another strategy is the Lifestyle Development Scheme (LDS), which is optional for participants. An LDS link worker recruits players and plays a mentoring role throughout their participation. Players must continue to train and obtain football training credits to progress through LDS. Activities might include sport and leisure industry training (including core skills of IT, communications, and literacy), training in sports club administration (including fund raising, management, and marketing), and pre-employment training within the sports and leisure industry. Those participating in LDS's Club Development Scheme are supported in setting up a sub-regional SL sports club.
SL's programmes incorporate sensitivity to issues of economic development. First, the system involves 3 "bands" to which participants are assigned based on their level of income. Each of the bands is assigned a different level of subsidised participation within the league, ranging from free participation to full charges. Second, SL features a credit scheme that is designed to reinforce commitment and cooperation among team members. One credit is awarded for every attendance at a training session. A collective 15 credits are required per team to participate in competitions, with selected players contributing at least one credit to play. On the basis of these credits, prizes donated by corporate sponsors are awarded at the end of each season.
Development Issues
Sport, Health, Job Training, Teamwork, Economic Development.
Partners
Sport England, Football Foundation, Fulham Football Club, Sprito (National Training Organisation), Training for Life, Business in Action in Homelessness, British Sports Trust, Your Story, Awards for All, and University College of London Hospital Trust.
Sources
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