Saturday October 15th saw the inaugural Young Greenwich Day take place at The Valley, Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT) first of five themed home games for the 2016/2017 season.
Dedicating the game to the youth in the borough, Young Greenwich Day was set up in celebration of CACT running the council’s youth service, Young Greenwich, to showcase the power of football to engage with youth.
Starting at 11.30am, the event saw a range of additional outdoor and indoor activities take place prior to the League 1 kick off between Charlton Athletic and Coventry City at 3.00pm. This included football, sports and art stations, alongside a street dance performance from Doriel School of Dance.
Staff and volunteers from Young Greenwich were also onsite, discussing the free and local opportunities the young people in attendance could take part in.
Parents and carers were also able to get a taste of Short Breaks, a programme available for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Speaking about the day’s success, CACT’s director of youth and inclusion Marc Leckie said, “Thank you to the club for supporting this initiative and the CAFC fans for their continued and much valued support of the work of CACT.
“I would like to note my thanks to all of the hard-working and dedicated staff, partners and young people who collectively make programmes such as the youth service and short breaks for disabled young people the successes they are.
CACT have run Young Greenwich since 2012, and in doing so, became the first football related charity to run a local provision. The service provides young people aged 10-19 (up to 25 with SEND) an opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and fulfill their potential with sessions running from youth hubs and venues across the borough.
WATCH>>Young Greenwich in action or visit http://www.young-greenwich.org.uk for more information on the service and how you can be involved.