BARNET'S COMMUNITY STAFF WIN PRAISE FROM GOVERNMENT

Following a prestigious award to the national Kickz programme, Minister for Sport commends Barnet FC's community team for their part in its success

Kickz, the groundbreaking football project aimed at engaging young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country, has received a prestigious award for its work. Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, has praised Barnet FC for their part in making the Kickz programme such a successful a programme.

Kickz scooped the Community Programme Award at the recent national Sport Industry Awards 2009.It gives young men and women (aged 12-18) the chance to play quality football, other sports, as well as becoming involved in other activities, such as music production and dance.Kickz also offers them an opportunity to volunteer in their community, learn to coach and officiate in the game and in some cases gain employment in the clubs themselves.

At the same time, Kickz is also breaking down barriers between the police and young people, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and encouraging them to think about serious social issues such as the dangers of being involved in gang activity, carrying guns and knives or alcohol and drug abuse.

Barnet FC runs a Kickz project at Underhill School, supported by the Football Foundation, Metropolitan Police and Barnet Council.Young People from the Barnet Kickz were recently crowned National Champions in the Under 16's category.Barnet FC therefore played a major part of making the Kickz programme such a huge success right across the country.We currently have over 300 young people registered to the project, and a number of them volunteer with us within the community and at the Kickz project.Volunteers have gone on to gain their FA Level one coaching badge.Janet Matthewson, Manager of the Community Scheme said "this type of project is invaluable to our community, as it engages our young people, gives them access to positive activities and opportunities to volunteer within the community.As a football club it allows us to support and engage the community we serve."

Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport, said: "Winning a Sport Industry Award is no easy task so this recognition just goes to show what a triumph Kickz has been nationwide.

"Everyone working on Kickz has played their part and should be proud of the positive impact they've had on the lives of tens of thousands of young people.

"I want to congratulate Barnet FC's community staff and their local partners for their work in making Kickz the success story it is."

Kickz began in 2006, after discussions between the Premier League, the Football Foundation and the Metropolitan Police. From an initial four pilot project, Kickz has grown rapidly. It now has a staggering 106 projects being delivered three nights a week, 48 weeks a year, by 39 professional football clubs, local authorities across the country and 17 major police forces. Having originally set out to engage with 12,000 young people, it has instead impacted upon over 24,500 young people.

Kickz is also playing a significant part in reducing crime and Anti Social Behaviour (ASB). As part of local strategies the police and local partners have indicated that Kickz has helped contribute to reductions of up to 50% in the communities where Kickz projects are based.

The Football Foundation has invested £4.7 million into the scheme, the Metropolitan Police Authority £3 million, £1 million through the DCMS from the Premier League's good causes fund and a further £700,000 from v, the national youth volunteering charity. Recent additional contributions from the Brit Trust and the Home Office have also allowed the programme to enhance its music offering to young people and deliver a national anti-knife crime campaign and tournament.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "This Sports Industry Award is recognition of the hard work, initiative and investment that has gone into making Kickz the leading sport-based social inclusion programme in the country.

"I am very proud of my team at the Football Foundation who have delivered and managed the national project centrally. Alongside the programme's other lead partners - the Premier League and the Metropolitan Police Service - 39 professional football clubs, v and the Brit Trust, together with many other key organisations, we have worked in partnership on delivering Kickz projects in some of the most deprived communities across the country.

"Moreover, it should not be forgotten that this success would not have been possible without the dedicated and enthusiastic support from thousands of young volunteers from the estates where Kickz projects operate. The fact that many of them began as Kickz participants also makes them themselves shining examples of the programme's success."

Tim Godwin, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, said: "The Metropolitan Police is very proud to be working with the football world on the Kickz project, which through this award has been recognised nationally as best practice for sports based inclusion projects.

"This project has changed the lives of many young people and the fact that Kickz is the success it is due to the hard work and commitment of the project team and the many other people who work so hard behind the scenes and I would like to thank each and every one of them. Without them, Kickz would not be the fantastic project that it is, making such an incredible difference to the lives of so many young people."

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: "Football clubs have a crucial role to play in their communities and Kickz is perhaps the best example of the positive impact a club can have.

"The Premier League is at the heart of Kickz; bringing not just the resources to help deliver it, but also the commitment of our clubs and their players who are crucial in encouraging young people to become part of the project.

"The Sport Industry Award is great recognition for the enormous strides that Kickz has made over the past three years. To have engaged over 24,500 young people in that time is a real achievement and one I am sure that the project will continue to build on."