Each Street Soccer Academy consists of a ten-week personal development training opportunity which uses football as a catalyst to engage 18-30 year olds who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness by not being in education, training or employment. Weekly sessions provide mentoring, positive mindset training, employability skills, CV-writing and football coaching to support the young individuals in making positive changes in their lives.
Colleagues from Daisy will be taking to the football pitch to compete against 30 other IT organisations in a national football tournament. The real goal however, will be to raise awareness of how the sport is being used to help young people who are attending Street Soccer Academies throughout the country.
Tony Wright, Head of Sales at Daisy, said: “At first, we decided to join the Big Goal simply because it seemed like a way to do some good and have some fun at the same time, but at the launch event it all really sunk in.
“I found it truly inspiring, and it affected me more than I had thought it would.
“The messages really resonated with me, particularly around how we at Daisy could help the cause as individuals and not just as an organisation contributing to the longer-term success and achieving that finite outcome.
“The teams I manage at Daisy are by and large, young people setting out on their careers and finding their feet in life.
“You can’t buy that kind of job satisfaction in supporting people as they develop and helping to make a difference – and there are obvious synergies with the objectives of the Street Soccer Foundation and the Big Goal Initiative.”
Daisy is committed to making a positive impact in the communities it is a part of and has charity partnerships with organisations including Girlguiding, The GreggsFoundation, Groundbreaker and Chapter One.
Colleagues from Daisy also work with schools and colleges as STEM ambassadors to raise awareness of career opportunities young people can consider and share real-world experience to help prepare those already working towards a career in STEM.
Reflecting on how The Big Goal will benefit Street Soccer Academy participants, Mr Wright added: “It’s so direct, in that we don’t just sponsor as an organisation and then not know how our contribution is being put to use; our teams actually get to meet the young people and find out first-hand how we are making a difference.
“It makes it much more personal – more relatable; so everyone involved is more engaged and affected by the realities that are being addressed, and more likely to take that understanding into their future endeavours.”
Keith Mabbutt, CEO and Founder of the Street Soccer Foundation, said: “I am so excited about our new industry-wide initiative, The Big Goal. It’s a true call to action across one of the largest sectors in the country and the way in which we are using football as the anchor to unite these brilliant organisations not only sees several of our Academies become sponsored for the benefit of young people as well as local communities nationwide, but through the offered tournament element, it helps brings to life how by playing football, these wonderful companies can experience for themselves the power of playing for change.”