A new free football scheme to develop the potential of young people in the borough has kicked off in Popley.

Working with Reading Football Club and Hampshire Constabulary, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has officially launched Kicks – a new and exciting initiative for 11 to 19 year olds.

The free weekly sessions take place at Everest Community Academy and use the appeal of football and a professional football club to work with teenagers to promote safer, strong and more respectful communities.

And the sessions are already proving popular with around 25 young people regularly attending.

The Mayor Cllr Jane Frankum said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in the borough to attend a regular after school or college session and be taught by top coaches for free, while meeting new people and taking part in an activity that is both healthy and enjoyable.”
Reading Football Club’s Social Inclusion Officer Paul Brown said: “It is great to be able to expand the successful Kicks project into Basingstoke. The project provides young people, aged 11 to 19 years old, with a safe and structured opportunity to engage with free football sessions. The project helps to being young people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this will only help the communities we work in both short and long term. The project has had great success in engaging with huge numbers of young people over the years and we are looking forward to providing these opportunities to young people living in the Basingstoke area.”

Teenagers wishing to take part can simply turn up and play on the artificial pitch at Everest Community Academy in Oxford Way from 4.30pm to 6pm every Tuesday.