Santander funding helps Skegness community sports organisation expand opportunities for local young people.
£5,000 Grant Award from Santander Growth Fund to support university graduates to turn their ambitious ideas into thriving ventures within the UK
Jack's Community Soccer School has been awarded a £5,000 grant from Santander to support their growth plan.
The soccer school currently works with around 200 young people every week in multiple areas of Lincolnshire including Skegness, Ingoldmells, Wainfleet, Alford and Mablethorpe,, working with one of the biggest secondary schools in the local area and partnered with multiple grassroots football teams.
Founder Jack Walton said: “I am over the moon to receive this grant from Santander and Liverpool John Moore’s University, it will allow me to achieve my goals and support more people in getting active and playing sports together.”
Jack plans to use the funding to develop inflatable match pitches, bringing tournament opportunities to local community groups, schools and events. The pitches will help the aim to benefit a wider number of people to get active.
Jack has undergone degree studies at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU), as well as being part of youth football at Stockport County and Liverpool football clubs
He recognizes the value that team-building sports such as football can have in a local community, explaining that sport allows youngsters to listen, learn, and work together. They can build on their skills each week and receive coaching feedback on ways to improve their game.
Jack offers local football provision to children aged 2-18 years within Skegness and surrounding areas and said: “The LJMU X Santander Growth Fund will allow us to work directly with primary school aged children, to provide them accessibility to first-class football experiences that can inspire children to get involved in sport and provide them with the opportunity to learn and develop in a structured environment.
“Community groups, schools or other grassroots football teams can book the pitches as a local fundraiser as it is an intergenerational activity. Additionally, these will be available for further hire for training and local sports tournaments.
“Parents may be looking for something new and fun as a birthday party experience.”
The pitches are sized from 10 X 5m to 15 X 10 Mm so will easily fit in a village hall or back garden.
Jack said: “Our mission remains to give the young person growing up in Skegness and surrounding areas a sport experience they can remember fondly. Promoting physical activity, improved mental-wellbeing, reducing anti-social behaviour and promotion of fostering positive social relationships. For our local community, this will provide long-lasting impacts resulting in increasing life chances and inspiring young people as to the different kind of opportunities from a career perspective in sport.”
If you are a school or community organization or parent living or working in the Skegness or surrounding area and would like to find out more about the different programmes they offer to young people or use the new inflatable football pitches, contact Jack directly on 07872643418 and https://facebook.com/JCSS.uk, for information on booking.