Great Grass Project

Great Grass Project takes place at South West football clubs and offers a combination of football and IT training, physical fitness, as well as developing practical and social skills. It is a unique programme built on partnership, following on from the success and experience of Great Day Out it connects Eden Project, the Football League Trust, Cisco Systems and South West Football Clubs. Funded by Comic Relief since 2009 it is currently based at football clubs in Bristol, Plymouth, Exeter and Cardiff.

The Programme

Great Grass is an introduction to a more structured way of life for the participants who attend the football club one day a week for a minimum of 9 weeks. Mornings consist of fitness sessions with qualified coaches and discussion around issues including  healthy living, fitness, substance misuse, and sexual health. Participants also gain insight to the different business areas involved in running a sports club by meeting with football club staff to show how they manage catering, ticketing, grounds maintenance, marketing etc.

A healthy lunch is followed by an afternoon doing a Cisco Networking Academy accredited NVQ Level 2 Award to help participants gain ICT skills and improve their career and educational opportunities.

The course ends with a Great Day Out at The Eden Project to celebrate achievements and inspire participants for their future.

Exit Routes

Great Grass offers sustainable exit routes for participants, and clear progression opportunities. Each course includes an employability day with local partners such as Connexions, JobCentre Plus, Action 4 Employment, Entry 2 Employment, local businesses, employment agencies, colleges and members of the football club. Here participants are able to discuss their future direction and seek placements, ongoing training or employment where practical. Participants are mentored by Cisco employees and football club staff to help them to identify and achieve their aspirations.

outcomes

So far 46 people have taken part in the Great Grass programme and some results from the first courses include:

  • Five participants have gained employment
  • Eight participants are mentoring new participants on the second course
  • Nineteen participants gained the FA's Age Appropriate Football Coach qualification
  • Two participants completed the Level 2 PC Maintenance and ICT Essentials course
  • Nine participants are continuing to work towards their Level 2 PC Maintenance and ICT Essentials course
  • Seven participants have signed up to a Skills for Jobs course
  • One participant has taken their NSLA security course
  • One participant has undertaken a forklift drivers course
  • One participant signed up to an Accountancy Course
  • Three participants have moved from sheltered accommodation into secure housing through Devon and Cornwall Housing
  • Two participants are currently volunteer coaches at Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

How it works

The programme is being coordinated by a part time post within Plymouth Argyle and assisted by collaborative input and management from both the Football League Trust and the Eden Project who will continue to support, develop and expand the programme. The courses are planned, facilitated and administered internally within each football club’s community department with central guidelines and support from Eden and Plymouth Argyle. The main partners meet regularly to monitor progress and trouble shoot, share best practice and help develop the programme in the most efficient and appropriate ways.

Further information

Great Grass have commissioned a short set of films to be made about the programme which are available to watch on You Tube.

If you would like to find out more about Great Grass courses in your area, please get in touch by Email:

Eden Project's Great Day Out: Great Day Out

Plymouth Argyle Football Club: Mark Lovell
Exeter City Football Club: Jamie Vittles
Bristol City Football Club: Geoff Stevens
Cardiff City Football Club: Matthew Holland