semi-pro football project AFC HILLGATE

Aim

Created a football team for the local youth to keep them away from crime, 2 successful seasons, going semi pro, also have youth centre

Established on the playing fields of London in 2007, AFC Hillgate started with a few individual volunteers concerned with the problems youth faced in modern day society with crime, drugs and anti social behaviour. They set up AFC Hillgate to engage young people through sports (mainly football) and open doors for disadvantaged young people from a variety of backgrounds, and help tackle the complicated, personal and social problems the community was facing.

AFC Hillgate is now a non-profit organisation which relies on grants and donations, to work to overcome day to day issues within the community.

We work to develop access to a safe and secure environment by promoting the potential of young people through sport activities, educational programmes and youth support services. This enables the youth to openly discuss these issues, identify and challenge racism and other forms of discrimination within themselves and their communities, including that of race, gender, sexual orientation, faith, religion, disability, appearance and social class.

The staff and management are highly skilled and experienced in a range of sporting disciplines. Their backgrounds range from Football Association (FA) coaching to qualified youth workers, and from sports industry workers providing a broad range of experience as both managers and facilitators within formal and informal educational/social settings.

AFC Hillgate believes through sports and mainly football, young people can have the opportunity to build friendships and experience cultures that may otherwise may never be encountered. Give young people the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures and equip a person with a range of tools to meet new challenges one may face in their future.

We believe to inspire young people through football, raising aspiration and achievements.

WHAT WE DO

AFC Hillgate has recruited and involved advisors and staff with extensive knowledge and experience of the football industry, coach and player development and the youth and community sector to ensure our work is cutting edge, relevant and of the highest standard

So far, AFC Hillgate has launched the Coaching4All which has given some exposure to our cause.

 Coaching4All is a project which provides high quality FA qualified coaching to children aged 14 to 25 years.

We aim to develop young people’s football skills and technique, and give them an opportunity to express themselves through football. This is delivered by our FA qualified coaches in regular structured football sessions in a safe and secure environment. These sessions allow them to build confidence within themselves and develop as football players, as well as young people.

At AFC Hillgate we have been running successfully for over 4 years coaching over 65 young people while running 2 football teams under 18s and a senior team. We have given opportunities to a number of players with trials at both professional and semi-professional

This project closed unsuccessfully on 16th December 2015