Poole Town Football Club has supported thousands of local families in the past year through its Kids Initiative Community Interest Company (CIC). The CIC exists to involve local children in the fun of football and provide support to those facing physical, emotional, or financial hardship.
This year alone, the Kids Initiative has already run approximately 200 free football coaching sessions for children aged five to 13. The Club runs hour-long classes at three venues a week, as well as providing free-of-charge coaching to schools. Bayside Academy in Turlin Moor recently benefitted from a six-week long coaching course for a new team that the Kids Initiative helped set-up, and Heatherlands Primary School was able to offer pupils access to an 8-week programme as part of an FA Pilot scheme.
Richard Gale, director and community officer at Poole Town Football Club, said: “Poole Town Football Club was founded in 1880 and has been a part of the fabric in Poole for over 140 years. We pride ourselves on playing an active role in our community and are proud to hold the FA’s Charter Standard Community Club designation.
“The power of football goes far beyond the sport. For children who are struggling, we provide a physical and mental outlet, and access to a group of trusted, supportive, caring individuals who they grow to listen to and learn from. It’s therefore important to us that we utilise every route possible to supporting individuals and groups in need.”
In addition to free coaching, Poole Town Football Club also facilitates coach and player attendance at several early intervention courses held in Poole secondary schools during the year. As well as offering time and expertise, the Kids Initiative has also donated £3,000 towards the cost of the courses over the past 12 months.
Gareth Sherwood, CEO of YMCA Bournemouth, commented on the work of the Kids Initiative: “All the evidence suggests that the more we invest in the development of children and young people, the better our society will be in the long term. I am so grateful to the Club for the ongoing, longstanding, and purposeful work it is doing with children and families in the community.”
Poole Town Football Club’s work with schools also enables children to benefit from free match tickets, and access to new and reconditioned kit and equipment.
Hillbourne Primary School, situated between Creekmoor and Broadstone, is a recent beneficiary of Poole Town Football Club’s support. The Club supplied the school with 20 pairs of football boots, school award tickets, and free family vouchers to Poole Town matches, encouraging pupils to further engage in football as a healthy outlet. The Club are also delighted to be providing the coaching for the school’s after school football sessions.
Laura Bennett, head teacher at Hillbourne Primary School, commented: “Poole Town Football Club has enabled us to offer our children so many more opportunities than they’d usually have access to. The response from our pupils has been outstanding, and we’ve seen huge benefits on an individual and school-wide level.
“Richard and the team have provided a direction for the school when it comes to getting more pupils involved in sports. Their eagerness to work with the community is amazing and we’re incredibly thankful for the generous support. We look forward to developing our relationship with the club even further next term.”
Representatives of Poole Town Football Club, YMCA Bournemouth, and the Gale Foundation Trust CIO recently submitted a concept plan for a community sports village in Creekmoor as part of BCP Council’s Local Plan consultation. Poole Town Football Club is now seeking support and investment to enable the delivery of this scheme.
Richard added: “At present, Poole Town Football Club does not have its own space to operate from. In addition to the men’s first team, the club have an Under 23’s side as well as two ladies’ teams who all struggle to find pitches to play and train on due to the severe lack of sports facilities within BCP. A dedicated space to harness all these teams, as well as the 21 junior teams of Poole Town FC Wessex, would result in a tenfold increase in the good work of the Club, and provide space for increased collaboration with other community organisations.”
As well as a new football ground and training space for Poole Town Football Club, the concept includes increased nursery facilities, a community hub, a multi-use games area, cycle and walking links, a sports centre and sports village comprising of independent sport and recreation providers. The future of the whole scheme is reliant on support from key stakeholders including BCP Council. First, the land must be allocated for community benefit in the pending BCP Local Plan to enable the delivery of this scheme.
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