Results off the pitch

Sport and physical activity is a common language and passion for people around the world that can help move people towards independent living while developing key social and practical skills. People experiencing homelessness may not have the self-confidence, resources or information to get involved in sport activities and gain from its social, physical and mental benefits. Here we hear about individuals who have had sport make a lasting impact on their lives and in some cases, turn it around.

DePaul UK

David has been attending the sports project for many months now. He regularly attends the football and multisports sessions and plays for the Depaul football team on a Sunday. He has won player of the tournament at many of the tournaments Depaul has entered. Last year David came very close to making it into the England squad for the homeless world cup. He has just recently tried out again this year and impressed the judges, so we hope he will make it to the squad, which will fly to Brazil later in the year to compete. With the help and encouragement of the sports team, David has also just recently applied for a sports apprenticeship with Newcastle council and has secured an interview. The sports workers will support him in anyway he needs during this process and will help him prepare for his interview.

Donna has been attending the BFTS project for several months now, she is a very motivated person and has completed a lot of activities with us including accredited courses, such as the Community Sports Leaders Award and the ABA Boxing Tutors award. Donna has used her motivation and the new skills she has learnt on this project to volunteer at her local karate club, and to assist on the BFTS with the ABA boxing awards and the latest community sports leaders’ award. As a direct result of these qualifications and experience, and contacts she has made through the BFTS programme, Donna has secured a volunteer placement with the Northern Learning Trust as a volunteer mentor. Donna continues to access support from the BFTS programme as and when she needs it.

FAsT (Football As Therapy)

T joined FAsT in 2002 and despite feeling that his football and fitness weren't where he'd like them to be, he felt welcome to the programme by the participants and coaches. Being a flexible programme, T was able to re-join FAsT after getting through a rough patch in his life and volunteered to help out and raise some funds for the project. Supported by the project staff, T improved his fitness levels and realised he had a talent in sport and working with others. Through a scheme in York he began volunteering as a boxing coach and is now there as a paid employee, working with young athletes. You can read about T's experiences with FAsT in his own words, by downloading a letter he wrote a couple of years ago to the coaches.

"You see FAsT is more than football it’s a program that encourages disaffected people to achieve and believe." T, FAsT participant.

K wasn’t working when he heard about FAsT about seven or eight years ago from his cousin who was already training with the coaches in Wetherby. He stuck with the FAsT programme because of his love of football. He eats, sleeps and breathes football and at the time this was something he could do to keep his mind ‘activated’ and prevent boredom. When asked what the most helpful aspect of FAsT to move his life forward K replied “(…) because you meet new people all the time. You mingle with people and get used to talking to them. You get the coaching off Mark and the football benefits but Mark also helps if you’re stuck”. K has been working now for four years and has received promotions during his time there. He still goes to FAsT when possible but doesn’t get to go very often because of the long hours and when he does get some free time he likes to go on holiday. Last year he was in the Caribbean and he’s planning to return in January to see some of the other islands. K tries to get as many people as possible to go to FAsT. "I tell them; go straight away. One, it's a laugh and Mark always helps you out. He'll introduce you to people and support you to get a job and things. It gets you motivated."

Homeless World Cup

Read one of the 2010 England player's account of his 'Road to Rio' with the Homeless World Cup Team.

Further Information

If you have some results off the pitch that you would like to share, please get in touch with our Sports Development Officer, Lindsey Horsfield.