THE STREET SOCCER FOUNDATION LAUNCHES SLEEPOUT WITH MAIDSTONE UTD
The Stones now working with football charity to tackle homelessness in Kent.
Maidstone United FC has teamed up with The Street Soccer Foundation, to launch the charity’s inaugural sleepout event at The Gallagher Stadium to help tackle youth homelessness in the County town.
Launched in 2015, the Kent-born charity provides development programmes for vulnerable and homeless 16-24 year olds across the UK, offering them a fusion of professional football training, positive mindset coaching and employability-driven workshops.
The Street Soccer Sleepout, which will take place at 7pm on Saturday 13 July 2019, will see a number of local business leaders, community champions and fans of the club spend a night on the pitch to raise awareness and sponsorship from friends, family, business colleagues and corporate contacts.
Kay Skelton, Head of Community at The Stones Community Trust (Maidstone United’s own charity arm), said: “Having worked with The Street Soccer Foundation over the past couple of years and specifically this season co-delivering the Street Soccer Academy supporting young people who have experienced homelessness, this is the perfect way for the club and the Trust to support these individuals further and the greater community who need our help the most.”
Keith Mabbutt, CEO of The Street Soccer Foundation, added: “We’re delighted to be hosting this important event together with Maidstone Utd and its Trust. The night itself won’t be exactly the same as what it is to sleep rough out on the streets but it will go some way to giving everyone participating time to reflect on what homeless people go through on a nightly basis. Alongside the experience, the event marks a crucial fundraiser for us ahead of the new season to help us support more vulnerable young people from the local community through our award-winning programme.”
“We expect the event to be hugely successful in raising awareness of the issue of youth homelessness in the region, with the funds raised making a significant difference to vulnerable and homeless young people across the County and Maidstone specifically.”
The Street Soccer Sleepout will take place on Saturday 13 July from 7pm and run through to 7am on Sunday, at The Gallagher Stadium. To register and sign up to sleep out to help make a difference to young lives, visit: www.streetsoccersleepout.co.uk.
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