WHY LET DRINK DECIDE? KICKZ CUP 2010 AT BARNET
Young players learn how drinking alcohol affects their potential on and off the pitch

The latest regional qualifier in the 'Why Let Drink Decide?' Kickz Cup 2010 takes place at The Hive Training Complex, Edgware, on Saturday April 10 from 2pm - 6pm. Hosted and run by Barnet FC Community Trust, young people from Kickz projects across London will battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the national tournament. The round-robin games will also include a workshop where young players will learn about the consequences of drinking alcohol and encourage them to establish a safe and sensible attitude to alcohol.

Over 250 young people will play in the regional tournament and the winning team will go on to play other teams from across London and the south at the semi - finals, all for a place at the coveted national finals to be held at Manchester United and Derby County in May.

Speaking ahead of the tournament Barnet manager Ian Hendon said: "Drinking too much alcohol can have a serious affect on your physical performance and mean that you don't play football at your best. It is important that young people understand the consequences of even small amounts of alcohol, not only on their ability to play sport, but also in life in general. I am hugely supportive of the Why Let Drink Decide? campaign, which is so important in ensuring young people are educated and talk openly about the effects that drinking can have on their potential both on and off the pitch."

Workshops will be running at each of the regional tournaments where young players will take part in role play classes to learn about the two sides to alcohol. Speaking about the workshops, Barnet FC Community Trust Manager Janet Matthewson said: "For some young people Kickz provides a focus for their energies, helping them avoid taking a less desirable path which may include drinking. The workshops that we are able to provide through this partnership will help to ensure that we're educating our players about the affects alcohol can have in an environment they respect and engage with, to ensure they are able to make the right decisions in the future."

The 'Why Let Drink Decide?' campaign was launched in January 2010 and aims to delay the point at which young people start drinking. By encouraging parents to talk to their children from a young age about the consequences of drinking alcohol, and by talking to young people directly about the dangers they face the Department for Children, Schools and Families aims to help young people to realise the impact that underage drinking could have on their lives.

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, who launched the 'Why Let Drink Decide?' Kickz Cup 2010 said:
"Research shows that parents underestimate their influence over their child's drinking and attitudes to alcohol, yet a quarter of young people have never spoken to their parents about the issue. That's why through the Why Let Drink Decide? campaign we are giving parents and young people the confidence to have open conversations about alcohol, to ultimately delay the age at which young people start drinking."
The partnership with Kickz was launched on February 16 as another element to the extensive work of the Why Let Drink Decide? campaign. Kickz is a social inclusion programme which uses the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs brands to engage young people who may otherwise be difficult to reach. Kickz projects are now running at 40 professional clubs delivering who deliver 110 separate projects and engage over 36,000 young people.
Parents and young people who would like more information about the campaign can log on to direct.gov.uk/whyletdrinkdecide.
Details:
Saturday's qualifier (10h April) will be held at the Hive Football Centre from 2pm - 6pm. The qualifier will see under 14s, under 16s and under 18s from Barnet, Chelsea, Southend, Leyton Orient and Charlton compete.
Address: The Hive Football Centre, Camrose Avenue , Edgware, London HA8 6AG. Travel directions can be found by clicking on this link: http://www.thehivefootballcentre.com/index.php/directions.
For further information please contact:
Andrew McSteen, Kickz Project Officer, Football Foundation on 0845 345 4555 ext 4301 / andrew.mcsteen@footballfoundation.org.uk
Janet Matthewson, Barnet FC Community Trust Manager on 07984 887789 or email jmatthewson@barnetfc.com