Goals! Life Skills

‘Goals!’ is a project with a difference. Using football’s universal appeal and the attraction of Southend United FC, the project deliver's a Life Skills and Training programme for Young people aged 14-18 at risk of leaving school with no job or future aspirations to remain in education.

It is in fact through this highly successful project that Southend United Community & Educational Trust were the only football club in the UK to be a finalist for the prestigious International Beyond Sports Award.

Members of the judging panel and ambassadors of Beyond Sports include Tony Blair, Michael Johnson, Nawal El Mountawakel, Lord Sebastian Coe, HRH Prince Faisal Al Hussein, Sergey Bubka, Dame Kelly Holmes, Simon Fuller and Senator Bill Bradley. For more information please visit www.beyondsport.org

The Southend United 'Goals! Skills for Life' project helps young people, girls and boys aged between 14 and 18, identified as having severe emotional or behavioural issues, and to deal with complex issues in their lives. The ultimate aim of 'Goals' is to positively re-engage young people into education and steer them away from anti-social behaviour and crime. We achieve this by providing 4 programmes (seasons) of eight weekly sessions (matches) at Southend United FC. Classroom based activities are complemented by physical activity such as football and dance.

It should be recognised that the football and dance sessions are vital in engaging with the young people and to reward positive behaviour and good attendance.

How is Goals delivered?

‘Goals!’ is a programme of eleven 3-hour group sessions, known each as a Match and collectively as a Season. Each Match starts with the team sharing a healthy lunch together.

The "season", like all of ‘Goals!’" is based around football metaphor and comprises eleven matches. Over the 8 sessions young people cover the areas of…

Increase self awareness, self confidence & self esteem
Develop communication, teamwork & leadership skills
Reduce engagement in anti-social behaviour and crime
Increase physical activity, healthy eating & general well being
Reduce the misuse of drugs & alcohol
Help prevent ill health & sexual health problems
Increase awareness of good money management & reduce financial exclusion
Develop home management skills
Reduce exclusion from education
Increase access to further learning & training opportunities
Increase access to employment opportunities
Increase awareness of available support & services
Ultimately the project will increase understanding of the wider community and the positive contribution that Young People can make.

Goals