Street Life Soccer
Street Life Soccer, run by Blue Cat Initiative and Football in the Community, began as a workshop at Norwich's main homeless hostel three years ago, and has since seen more than 200 homeless and vulnerable learners step out onto the football pitch.
Working with Norwich City Football Club's Football in the Community team, Street Life Soccer now runs daily Team Talk sessions of learning and a further hour of football coaching. Many of the learners have gained a first qualification and some have gone on to become coaches.
With a variety of needs, from acute mental health disorders to dependency issues, most learners are based in Norfolk hostels. Street Life Soccer also works with the Norwich International Youth Project to encourage refugees and asylum seekers to join in.
"Football is the most basic hook", explained Mike Smith-Clare. "A love of the game, an interest in getting fit, being part of a structured league, playing for the Norwich City Representatives team and earning free kit are what motivates participants".
Funded by the East of England Development Agency - Investing In Communities and the Football Foundation, the initiative provides personal support for individual learners. Those learners who have completed the programme often go on to work as mentors to offer ongoing support."
Business in the Community offers guidance to learners leading to work placements, job tasters and employment."
Trials for the Homeless World Cup are now held each year in the city and Street Life Soccer is working with other professional football clubs to roll the scheme out nationally, with matches already played against social inclusion project teams from Charlton Athletic, Ipswich and Millwall."