From football in the Parliament, to 'Football in the Community'

12.00.00am GMT Thu 12th Oct 2006

South East Liberal Democrat MEP, Sharon Bowles, hosted an event this week to show support for the Football Association's 'Football in the Community' scheme.

The aims and objectives of the 'Football in the Community Scheme' are to encourage more people (especially children) to play and watch football, whilst promoting closer links between professional football clubs and the local community.

Meeting with Premier League executives, Sharon Bowles said: "The benefits of the 'Football in the Community' programme can be seen right across the South East with many areas and schools benefiting from the close relations that exist with their local club".

During the 2001/02 season the FA Premier League donated £500,000 to Football in the Community (FITC) to enable them to deliver expanded projects in partnership with football clubs across the country. In all more than one million youngsters took part in holiday courses, football sessions linked to the PE curriculum in primary, junior and special schools, competitions and match-day activities. Over 6,000 schools worked with clubs to enable youngsters to benefit from the schemes.

Many of these schemes also combine with similar community projects, such as the Prince's Trust to help children and adults in all areas of their life.

In the South East, clubs such as Brighton and Hove Albion, Portsmouth FC, Reading FC, Oxford United and others have all taken part in the programme, developing football initiatives for children of all ages, abilities and standards.