Sports Fun 4 All is a community organisation based in South London which provides weekly football coaching for children and young people aged 3-19. As well as supporting young people to live healthier lives through regular participation in sport, they are also passionate about providing opportunities to access qualifications and training to increase employment opportunities, and empowering young people to use sport as a vehicle for change in their local communities through volunteering opportunities.
In March 2023, Sports Fun 4 All hosted the StreetGames Training Academy’s Football Activator as part of their first ever Coach Education Course. Sports Fun 4 All’s coaches had previously completed the FA Level 1 football coaching qualification; however this did not have a practical element, something that Sports Fun 4 All considered crucial and were keen to incorporate. StreetGames’ Football Activator is a participatory workshop which was developed in partnership with the FA and aims to support community organisations and coaches to add their own ideas and thoughts to skills and activities, engaging young people in football within community settings.
Sports Fun 4 All engaged a diverse range of participants for the training, including adults starting out on their coaching journey for whom the workshop provided a first step on the coaching ladder. A number of young people who attend weekly sessions at the club also participated in the training, some as young as 13 and one with special educational needs. Christian, who took part in the training, said: “I really enjoyed the course and I am looking forward to my coaching journey with Sports Fun 4 All.”
“Developing our existing workforce is imperative,” said Sports Fun 4 All CEO and founder Kieran Connolly, “and we look forward to running many more courses like this going forward as well as giving people their first step into coaching.”
StreetGames tutor Dan Dodge, who ran the activator, said: “Working with Sports Fun 4 All to deliver the Football Activator was brilliant! The cohort was really varied, ranging from qualified coaches who deliver for the organisation weekly to participants who were engaging in their first experience of coach education. There was a strong sense of connection to the organisation from all involved and it led to some great peer-to-peer discussions. It was a pleasure to support the workforce development for the organisation, and we look forward to supporting them further moving forward.”
