SRDF continue Tackle Unemployment Success
17 February, 2014
Salford Red Devils are about to celebrate the culmination of 3 years work as part of their Big Lottery funded Tackle Unemployment programme. Since April 2011 the Foundation has successfully worked with 100s of young people aged 14-21 across the whole of Salford.
The Tackle Unemployment programme was conceived originally by a willingness of local young people to engage with a professional sports club outside of the traditional classroom setting. We set about to help improve local young people’s self-esteem, attitudes towards work and the local community, as well as providing a service for local community sports clubs.
Split over 2 phases, the Tackle Unemployment programme firstly runs an education programme to improve the skills of local young people. These courses include First Aid, sports coaching qualifications, CV writing and food hygiene. In addition SRDF organises visits to Salford City College and University of Salford as part of developing their long term educational aspirations Secondly, SRDF then take these newly qualified young people on to our Volunteer Development Programme where they use their new skills to deliver activity sessions in schools and community clubs. Part of our 3 year aim was to engage an additional 5000 residents this way and this target was met with more than 6 months to spare.
Featured here are 5 of the project’s young participants and Liam Robinson said “its great to be involved behind the scenes with the Foundation and im looking forward to finishing my BTEC course and going on to Uni”
Originally taking place in the community classrooms, pitch side at the Willows, but more recently being delivered at the Foundation’s facilities at the AJ Bell Stadium, the project has transformed a great deal over the last 3 years. Opportunities and activities such as driving lessons have emerged and the Foundation has greatly improved its ability to find young people jobs locally
As a direct result of this project we have greatly developed our partnership base and grown relationships with organisations such as Greater Manchester Police, Lloyds TSB Foundation and Salix Homes, which have had many fantastic spin offs. The latest project we are launching is a social inclusion programme based at our former home ground, The Willows, to help replace some of the activities lost after the club moved on.
For more information about the programme, including how to get involved with any of activities please contact us via 0161 820 2739, foundation@reds.co.uk or @SRDFoundation