Free Swindon sports sessions giving children ‘positive outlet’

A football club which now offers free sessions for a range of different sports is helping to give young people a “positive outlet”, organizers say.

Premier League (PL) Kicks have been offering free football sessions in Swindon, Wiltshire, for six years – and this year they started coaching netball, basketball, tennis, tag rugby and badminton.

He says this expansion of options has led more young women and girls to enroll.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson said such programs were crucial to steering young people away from anti-social behavior (ASB) and helping them become “better citizens”.

Up to 160 young people, aged 10 to 18, take part in free activities with PL Kicks at Foundation Park.

Co-ordinator Andy Tye said activities were designed around what the children were interested in to ensure they “felt in control” of their sessions and “had a reason to keep coming back”.

“We tried to accommodate every sport possible throughout the week, and it just got stronger,” he said.

“We think that free and our incredible coaching staff really provides a positive outlet for these young kids,” he added.

Mr Tye said he was “really proud” to see an increase in the number of girls signing up and engaging with their coaches, which he said was “really important” for the organisation.

Friends Amelia and Evie, aged 10, said they joined the group because of the variety of sports on offer.

They said they like to stay healthy and “use all their energy, but in a good way.”

Noah, 11, described the new multi-sport session as “fun” and a great opportunity to “train and get better at sport”.

PL Kicks is funded by the PCC and the Premier League.

PCC Wilkinson said organized group activities provided a “respectful, responsible and compassionate” outlet for young people.

“This generation has been through Covid and it has isolated them and made them more vulnerable to unhealthy and dangerous pressures,” he said.

“Involving them in team sports like this is a brilliant way, in many ways, of reintroducing them into society.

“Sport is a great way to provide young people with fun activities,” added Wilkinson.