Care-experienced young people gain life skills and confidence through football

• Name St Christopher’s football team

• Provider St Christopher’s Fellowship

For seven years, at St Christopher’s Fellowship, Friday evenings have been set aside for playing football. The attendees are a mixture of young people who currently live in our homes and services, and young people who have moved on or left care.

Young people lead on all aspects of the games – who we invite, when and where we play, and how we communicate – while us professionals listen and learn about what’s important to them.

From the start, one person explained: “Lots of places are running football but I don’t want football to turn into school. I want to just play football for football’s sake.” Another player said: “You don’t live our life, face our challenges, if you did you would see how sometimes we just need a bit of fun.”

We make sure that Friday evenings are purely for playing football and fun – the team play in a weekly seven-a-side league and take part in an open access game or training. It also helps with their routine as they know football happens every Friday, which can be helpful for young people when they may be disengaged from education or employment and navigating independent living. This builds skills in timekeeping and communication.

Taking ownership of football has taught them about problem-solving, repairing friendships and relationships with professionals, and grown their confidence. We have also supported young people with job applications, attending appointments and finding volunteering opportunities.

Young people have also developed resilience and support networks. Conversations around football often lead to young people learning from each other

They support each other off the pitch in a way that would not have emerged without the authentic relationships they have formed through doing an activity together that they are passionate about.

One young person who was struggling with his finances, says: “I was so lucky to have football. I nearly didn’t come that week…I wanted to give up. Then when I came, it just gave me such a boost. Everyone cared and gave me encouragement to not give up and to try and sort it out.”

When the first players were due to move onto independence and leave St Christopher’s, we wondered how to mark the end of football for them. They asked why it had to end, making us reconsider who football is for. In addition to young people living in St Christopher’s homes, we widened its reach to also include those who have moved on and players’ relatives and friends. This has created a place where they feel they belong.

One player says: “I don’t just turn up and take part, I am part of it. Together we all make it happen.” Another highlighted how they feel reassured by players who have already transitioned to living independently. He says: “Coming to football, I realised other people are going through similar struggles to me. It made me feel a bit stronger. I saw others who have had it hard and now they are doing okay. I’m playing football with them and we are equals. If they can do it, I think maybe I can.”

Football has reminded us that listening to children and young people inevitably yields ideas that work for them. One young person says: “Football taught me that I matter, that what I say is important. Now, when someone asks me what my opinions about my care or placement are, I tell them.”

All the ideas come from listening to young people in the ways they want to talk to us – which just happens to be at the side of a football pitch.

By Alex Jones and Sam Edwards, participation workers, and members of the St Christopher’s football team

MY VIEW

Alfie, team captain, London

“I honestly don’t know where I would be without St Christopher’s football. Football is everything to me. It always has been. I have definitely improved at football but what I have learned most is how to be a good, responsible person. The thing that changed me is learning how to put effort and work into something so that you get the reward. I have learned how to see everyone’s strengths, to help people feel confident and do their best, and to resolve conflict respectfully. Football wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for the staff that facilitate the sessions, but it is our thing. With their support, we manage and lead every aspect of it. Having the chance to be a leader and create something yourselves helps you grow in confidence and self-belief. I now take that to every part of my life, like being a young dad and getting a job.”