Oldham Athletic Community Trusts half term football sessions in the Clarksfield area proved to be a huge success with the local young people recently.
A huge number of children and teenagers attended the session over the five day period with over 70 participants during the week enjoying the mixture of coaching sessions and small sided games.
The five daily sessions have been funded by the local St Mary's ward councillors in a bid to give the young people of the area something constructive to do during the half term break, when traditionally their is not a lot of provision for them to engage in.
Cllr Shadab Qumer, Oldham District Executive Chair commented: "The St Mary’s Ward Councillors have provided funding for the Kicks project to run sessions for young people during the school holidays, making use of the new games area recently installed by the Council. Feedback from young people about the project has been brilliant.
"I attended some of the sessions with my own sons, and was extremely impressed with the quality of the coaches and the easy way in which they engaged local youngsters."
The daily sessions saw Oldham Athletic Community Trust staff engage with the local community through sport using the new multi-surface pitch in the Beckett Meadows area. The brand new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) was a perfect setting for some free football; in fact, so many children turned up the grass pitch next to the MUGA area was also utilised. The sessions also featured a portable sound system, which was used to both promote the sessions but also to help keep a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.
Owen Coyle, OACT Community Coach, added: "From speaking to some of the young people at the session they really did appreciate the project and the fact they had something to do over the half term break. Many of the young people commented that they would be looking forward to 1pm as soon as they woke up.
"To have over 70 young people attend over the week shows just how much of a need there is for a session like this. We would really like to thank the local councillors for their support as without them the whole project would not have been possible."
The support of the local councillors didn’t just end on the Friday however as they have pledged to continue the sessions during the February half term.
If you would like more information on the work OACT undertake in the community please contact martin.vose@oldhamathletic.co.uk.