GUEST ARTICLE
With the summer break approaching, clubs and youth organisations across North Wales are being encouraged to apply for funding to run activities from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin’s special Summer Soccer Fund, which kicks off today in partnership with the Football Association of Wales (FAW).
Given Wales’ qualification in last year’s World Cup, the outstanding support of the Red Wall, the success of Wrexham AFC and the forthcoming Women’s World Cup, the time has never been better to celebrate ‘Y Gêm Hardd’ in North Wales. It is hoped the support of the FAW in backing the campaign will be instrumental in encouraging organisations to come forward and make the most of the funding on offer from the Police and Crime Commissioner and his office.
The Summer Soccer Fund has been created as a way to combat issues such as anti-social behaviour, which can often see a spike over the summer months. The goal is that the funding will go towards football and sporting activities to keep children and young people occupied in a positive way, while also promoting teamwork, exercise, and a fun and inclusive atmosphere for everyone.
The money specifically available for sport over the summer is another plank of the PCC’s Innovate to Grow initiative, which launched last year and recognises and helps fund ground-breaking initiatives dealing with the causes of crime across the region.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “I am hugely excited to kick off my Summer Soccer Fund, which I believe will help make a real difference to the young people of North Wales during the summer holidays. Sport is an excellent way of creating positive diversionary activities for our children, allowing them to express themselves in a fun and positive way, while spending time with their friends. This means that they are less likely to get involved in other, less positive, activity such as anti-social behaviour.
“This scheme is also a further way of delivering safer neighbourhoods for all, which is a cornerstone of my Police and Crime Plan for North Wales. I am very grateful for the support of the FAW for this scheme, which I hope will be a great success. I would encourage any club or community that thinks they are eligible for funding to apply now and create a summer of Soccer throughout North Wales!”
Helen Antoniazzi of the Football Association of Wales commented: “Football clubs sit at the heart of communities across the north of Wales. The PCC’s Summer Soccer Fund provides a great opportunity for these clubs to engage children and young people from their local areas in fun activities that will benefit both their physical and mental wellbeing while also developing their skills. We’d love to see clubs taking up this opportunity and applying for the funding so that as many communities as possible can benefit during the summer holidays.”
Applications are open immediately and clubs and community organisations interested in the Summer Soccer Fund can find out how to apply on the Innovate to Grow section of the OPCC website here: www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk/innovate-grow
