Street Soccer Academy
"CHANGE YOUR MINDSET; CHANGE YOUR LIFE"
Communities Being Supported Nationwide
Street Soccer Academy
The Power of a Positive Mindset
Having the right, positive mindset is a crucial internal attitude for young people. Throughout the delivery of the Academy programme, young participants will begin to believe in themselves and in their capacity to reach their goals and thereby increase their own learning and development success.
The programme is typically for 18 to 30 year-olds who are currently experiencing homelessness or who may be deemed at risk of becoming homeless, such as ex-young offenders, long-term unemployed and NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
The aim is to motivate young participants to improve their lifestyles and to enhance communities nationwide by empowering others to believe in themselves, to help build confidence and self-belief, to improve mental and physical health and well-being, and to have programme participants learn not just for knowledge, but for positive action, so young people can reach their goals both on and off the pitch; and inspire others to do the same.
A Participant's Academy Journey...
The first official session looks to empower the group to realise it is their responsibility to commit to the process of personal development and improving their prospects. We challenge beliefs & seek to change habits.
We help the young people to create a Personal Development Plan (PDP), establishing and committing to SMART Goals for developing a better self and journey pathway.
We challenge the group to step out of their Comfort Zone to learn new skills and develop. We then move on to Positive Thinking – looking at the Growth v Fixed Mindset.
This session will encourage the group to share their goals and ambitions and what they would each ideally like to achieve. The aim is to determine career / job / work interests and aspirations and to set a plan to achieve a pathway beyond the programme.
In this session we drill down into the importance of our mental health, encouraging a discussion around the offered tips to enhance such. We also cover self-discipline as fundamental to enhancing personal development.
This is also the session that attendees receive their full SSF kit.
The Academy group will learn how to develop and build their resilience and how specifically to develop a resilient mindset. We will discuss how resilience is linked with behaviour and how you respond to things is what forms who you are.
CVs & Covering Letters. In this session we have a ‘light touch’ on employability offering tips for what makes a good CV and effective covering letter. We discuss with the Academy group how skills are for life and can be learnt and practised whatever we are doing.
This session highlights the definition and purpose of an interview, and as part of the activities we conduct practice interviews with the Academy group, with teammates interviewing each other.
In this penultimate session before the group graduate, we invite their sponsors to come and meet with the group providing the benefit of hearing and learning from professionals about how they got to where they are today. The meet and greet opportunity allows for discussions on career ambitions, and to learn about real-time work opportunities and how to apply to such, all to support the development and aspirations of all Academy participants.
The final session is a celebration of achievement. A programme overview is offered with a re-cap of key learnings. Academy participants will discuss their experience and desired next steps. Additional Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) will be offered, and the session will include an awards presentation.
Throughout each week, workshop sessions will follow a format of having a re-cap from the previous week and encourage reflections to talk over individual thoughts & feelings. The practical football coaching sessions focus on fun, team-building exercises to help improve general health and fitness and will each week link specifically to the workshop theme of the week, to further reinforce learning objectives as well as encourage conversations to support and improve mental health and group cohesion.
The Street Soccer Foundation also provides all participants with an official Street Soccer Academy playing kit as well as an exciting opportunity to represent the club leading on the delivery of the programme in a National Cup tournament each Summer and Winter.
Together, Changing Lives through Football.
How has the Academy course helped people?
How participants rate their self-esteem after completing the course...
How much participants think the course has improved their communication skills...
How participants rate their mental health after completing the course...
How participants feel about their future prospects after completing the course...
Paulo Borges-Garcez
It is not only a safe space where individuals can express their true selves but also a place where they are challenged to grow and pursue the lives they envision. I truly believe in the positive impact and outcomes it generates for its participants.”
Apply for a Delivery Grant
If you represent a Club Community Organisation, you can now apply for a Delivery Grant to run your own Street Soccer Academy programme in your local community.