OUR CURRENT PROJECTS

In 2004 the Foundation launched Active Angels, an innovative project aimed at engaging girls aged 14-16 years in a varied programme of after school activity. The aim of the project, located at Peter May Sports Centre in Walthamstow, is to demonstrate how increased and sustained participation in physical activity can have a beneficial impact on their health.

The Foundation is also currently running five projects aimed at widening access to the football family. The All Nations Football Festival, funded by the Football Foundation and Home Office, is a project which started in 2001 for disenfranchised groups, drawn predominantly from the refugee community, which provided the opportunity to participate in an eight week Summer League. This format has successfully been repeated over the past three summers.

Teams from this festival expressed an interest in participating in a London FA affiliated league so in 2003 the London Communities Football League was established.

In order to widen access to young people and to assist these newly formed clubs to form youth section the All Communities Football Leagues was established. This is a youth competition funded by the Association of London Government.

Running concurrently with these competitive opportunities is a programme of education and training that will help clubs to become more sustainable.

Our most recent and perhaps most innovative project is Coping Through Football which delivers a programme of football coaching sessions to young men with enduring mental health problems.

The success of these projects is a testament to the power of partnership between a number of agencies including The London Playing Fields Foundation, Refugee Council, London FA, Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, FA and Football Foundation.

The Foundation appointed Sally Dolan as part time Girl Mini Soccer Co-ordinator in 2002 and she has undertaken innovative work to support the development of girls football in London.