Wembley Football Project

Young people and children, Involving the community

In November 2009, the Octavia Foundation, in partnership with Solidarity Sports, began a pilot project; a free weekly 5-aside football club for 12-16 year olds.

This project provided young people with an affordable opportunity to get involved with a sport they had chosen; football.  The project also helped address issues around personal health.  The football club ran for five weeks and was held at Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley.

The project started in response to concerns raised to us by residents of the King George Crescent estate in Wembley, via their local MP Barry Gardiner.  The general concern focused around the lack of affordable, local activities for young people.  After consulting with local residents, parents and young people, it was confirmed that there were limited affordable sports facilities, as well as much interest in the Octavia Foundation setting up a project.

Reena Mukherji, Director of the Octavia Foundation said; "This was a great project that was inititated by local young people who wanted an affordable and regular football project in the area.  Solidarity Sports have worked with the Octavia Foundation in the past and provide first class coaching and support for young people.  This pilot project, over one of the coldest Decembers on record, shows that there is a huge demand for positive activities in this part of Brent".

Project participant Ashraf, 15; "I enjoy this club because it's easy to get here.  It's good because it's free and you get food as well".

Following the success of the pilot project in 2009 the Octavia Foundation and Solidarity Sports, ran a further free weekly football session throughout February and March 2010.

The success of the weekly football sessions is a testament to the hard work of both Solidarity Sports and the young people taking part.  As a result of a demand for continuous activities such as these the Octavia Foundation and Solidarity Sports facilitated an additional football club in the autumn of 2010, which ran for 10 weeks.

Solidarity Sports now run the football club continuously on a weekly basis, at Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley.  For more information please contact Sean Mendez.

This project is funded by the Octavia Foundation.