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All of this week's
featured winners will be FA guests at Wembley Stadium on 13
October when England face Estonia and today sees Southwark Caribb
Sport Academy Youth in the spotlight...
Southwark Caribb
Sport Academy Youth’s work in steering local children away from
crime and into football has been rewarded with The FA National
Charter Standard Development Club of the Year Award.
The Peckham based
outfit are run by Carlton and Janet Scafe and the duo are committed
to providing youngsters with an alternative to the anti-social
behaviour that’s plagued London’s inner city in recent years.
Club chairwoman,
Janet Scafe, explained more about the Southwark Caribb setup: “We
support the Positive Action for Young People scheme which gives
children of all ages a chance to learn life skills as well as
football skills. We have players from the Chinese, Asian and
Afro-Caribbean communities and we want to give these kids options
and use sport as a way of keeping them engaged in something that’s
positive.
“We also look for
the kids to put something back into the club when they reach their
16th birthday. We’ve got plenty of young coaches which is great as
they’re not only focussing on their own goals and ambitions but
becoming role models for the younger players as well.”
Janet admits that
improving Southwark Caribb’s facilities in Peckham Rye Park
has been a big struggle: “We’ve been campaigning for better
changing rooms for five years now and we’ve managed to raise £60,000
towards the project but it’s been a really long process. The local
council are behind us though because we want it to be a facility
that the whole community can use on a regular basis.”
The club have strong
coaching links with local primary schools such as St. Mary
Magdalene, Francesca Cabrini and Oliver Goldsmiths and Janet
believes that their Charter Standard award is down to the dedication
of the Southwark Caribb’s volunteer workforce: “Everyone gives
up so much time and the Charter Standard really is something that
everyone at our club and the wider community can be proud of.”
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