OS grew very frustrated at her school’s lack of girls; football provision, she started to turn her attention elsewhere, she would go out late with friends and began vaping. At the beginning of the reporting period OS began attending Kicks session, these sessions reignited her passion for playing football. OS loved attending and wanted to go to more sessions; she was referred to the Girls only Kicks sessions at Westway. OS thrived in this new environment, making new friends and forming a close working relationship with her coach.

OS started to attend Kicks twice a week and noticed her fitness was improving, after having several conversations with her coach she decided to stop vaping and dedicate her attention and effort to football. She soon realised all the work she put in during sessions was paying off, fast becoming very skilled and effective during matches. Her work ethic had rubbed off onto her peers as they became inspired by her progress and started to follow suit by dedicating themselves within sessions and working hard. It was evident to see her fitness had improved, she was happier and played carefree.

During this time, OS campaigned at school to ensure there was some type of girls’ football provision on offer, a campaign she was eventually successful in. The uptake from her female counterparts was slow, which led to disappointment. However, she was able to use her enthusiasm for campaigning and direct it towards Chelsea FC’s wrap up warm campaign, a project where she would help sort donated clothes and help to distribute to various charities for the homeless.

OS’s rapid dedication across the Kicks programme saw her selected to represent Kicks at the annual PLCF Truce Tournament in Ypres, Belgium. A trip that would see her responsible for the room she was sharing with 3 other participants; she acted as the room captain and ensured the other participants were awake, ready and reported on time. By having this role, her leadership qualities flourished; it was evident to see that the OS from September would not recognise the person she had become. During the trip to Tyne Cot Cemetery OS had learned of the battles and bravery of the young soldiers that fought, her family had lost relatives during World War 1 in Belgium, and she felt and affinity to a certain headstone where a young Australian solider was laid to rest “ it was an experience where I felt truly connected and moved”.

Over the course of the trip OS kept a vlog and diary of her experiences, a new skill she is keen to explore, she hopes to continue with vlogging about her experiences with football and see where it will take her. OS has ADHD and has achieved so much in such a short space of time. Her confidence has skyrocketed to the point where she is now attending mixed sessions across the Kicks programme to push her even more outside of her comfort zone and is utilising the local knowledge and contacts of staff to find a grassroots football team.

OS is very keen to pursue a career in football and hopes YAA can support her for this new journey. Since September 2024 OS has attended over 30 Kicks sessions, two tournaments and workshops and one residential trip as well as supporting the a social action project wrap up warm and will soon represent her session at the Kicks youth panel.

CF faced the difficulty of transition as a result of a managed move to a new school. This transition caused a lot of anxiety and concern with his own ability to socialize with new groups and authority figures.

Throughout the project CF developed his ability and confidence to communicate with peers and authority figures. This improved behaviour and self-esteem resulted in a change of behaviour outside of our session which culminated in a return to mainstream education.

“I wanted to attend the project because I wanted to play football and I had previously heard of the coaches delivering the session and heard it was a safe space.”

This young person has engaged incredibly well with the project, being a consistent attendee of sessions with a desire and attitude to gain as much as possible from the experience. CF has shown a gradual improvement in behaviour throughout the project and developed a number of coping mechanisms and skills. This improved behaviour and self-esteem resulted in a change of behaviour outside of our session in well which culminated in a return to mainstream education.

“ I had no friends and was in a PRU before coming to the sessions and now I have loads of friends and I’m back in school!”

Through her attendance at our project, she was able to talk through some of her issues with the coaches and she is being regularly advised on how she can regulate her behaviour and how she can harness her emotions and use it for more positive actions.

KO also participated in the Nightlife tournament alongside other young people at our girls' session every Wednesday.

From attending the project, KO’s behaviour and attitude have improved and she is now beginning to partake in her GCSE Mock and GCSE exams, something that was not projected for her before attending YAA Kicks.

KO engaged in the project positively which improved her attitude and behaviour, allowing her to sit her GCSE mock exams and her GCSE exams.