The Mayor of Barnet (Councillor John Marshall) will be a VIP guest at the official launch of the Kickz project at Underhill School this evening.

Manager Paul Fairclough will be at the school with six of his players to support the project, a partnership between Barnet FCs Football in the Community team, Football Foundation, Underhill Junior School, the London Borough of Barnet, the police, Underhill and surrounding Safer Neighbourhood schemes .... "working together for our community".

There are to be 64 Kickz projects across London, this is the first of two for the borough of Barnet. It is based at Underhill School and already has 245 young people registered.

Kickz aims to build stronger and safer communities by highlighting such current headline issues as the use of drugs and the carrying of weapons and healthy life styles. It also aims to break down barriers between young people and the police.

Barnet FC has been playing at Underhill Stadium for the past 100 years and is an integral part of the local and borough community. The club gives hundreds of free tickets for schoolchildren and players are regular visitos to local schools.

One of the players at the launch will be Danny Hart, who lives in the Underhill area.

Dennis Signy