This week the Premier League is celebrating 15 years of its flagship community programme.
Albion in the Community (AITC) has been working with the Premier League to deliver the flagship Premier League Kicks programme in local communities throughout Sussex over the past 15 years.
Joining with football clubs up and down the country, the programme inspires children and young people to achieve their potential and improve their wellbeing, working together to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.
One person who has benefitted from their involvement is Sadie Ashby, who has been named as a Premier League Kicks ‘Local Legend’ by AITC.
As part of the 15-year celebrations, clubs across the country have nominated a Premier League Kicks ‘Local Legend’ – somebody who has taken part in, volunteered, or worked on the programme and has inspired others through their dedication, work ethic and own personal development.
Sadie Ashby was chosen as a Local Legend because she has been with the programme since its beginning, 15 years ago in Moulescoomb. Since then, Sadie has grown from an 11-year-old participant into a coach who now leads the sessions that she used to attend in Brighton.
Matt Dorn, chief executive of AITC commented on Sadie’s accolade, “Sadie is an incredibly worthy recipient of the Premier League Kicks Local Legend award. She is much more than a coach to many young people in our community and is seen as a true role model who is incredibly committed to making sure participants have as many opportunities as possible.”
AITC began its Premier League Kicks delivery in 2007 and since then has hosted 10,000 Kicks sessions and engaged a total of 15,500 participants. Sessions take place every week in high-need areas in Bognor Regis, Brighton, Burgess Hill, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Hastings, Hailsham, Haywards Heath and Worthing. The programme includes weekly football activity in community venues alongside workshops on a variety of social issues, enabling young people to openly discuss topics that affect them, like equality, diversity and inclusion and combatting youth crime.
To find out more about the work of AITC visit: www.albioninthecommunity.org.uk