Youth employment and football charity nets investment
Laura McCardle
Friday, January 17, 2014
A charity that uses football to change the lives of unemployed young people has received a cash boost of £600,000.
Philanthropic organisation Impetus-PEF has donated the money to Street League as part of a two-year investment in the charity, which works with 16- to 25-year-olds who are Neet (not in education, employment or training).
Street League uses a mix of football and education to engage with struggling young people and to help them overcome barriers such as youth offending, substance misuse and lack of qualifications in a bid to help them find work.
The programme is designed to help young Neets develop a set of key skills, including communication and teamwork, which can be transferred to the workplace.
The investment extends Impetus-PEF's support for the charity, after providing more than £700,000 to Street League since 2008.
Matt Stevenson-Dodd, chief executive of Street League, is grateful for the charity’s support.
He said: “At Street League, we are entirely focused on tackling youth unemployment by supporting unemployed young people in the most disadvantaged communities.
“With Impetus-PEF’s support, we supported more than 600 young people in 2013 to progress into education and employment, and helped them gain 3,000 nationally recognised qualifications.”
Julia Grant, portfolio director at Impetus-PEF, is keen to continue providing support for the charity.
She said: “With our additional investment and continued pro bono support, Street League can expand its national footprint and deliver lasting outcomes of sustained employment and education.”
