Commitment to The Big Goal is not all about putting a team together and playing football, as InTEC Group has demonstrated in a host of ways.
Based in Manchester, the technology and communications business is unable to enter a team in this year’s five-a-side tournament but remains dedicated to providing motivation and education to participants at Academies run by The Big Goal’s delivery partner The Street Soccer Foundation.
“InTEC is a founder member of The Big Goal and, in the two years since it launched, has supported and attended a couple of Academies. The first was the F92 Academy based in East Manchester, the charitable arm of Salford FC.
Workplace Development
“Many of the people there were seeking asylum, and we had the opportunity to meet Andrew Greenwood from Street Soccer, who introduced us to the players. We watched some of the football and later in the day delivered a PowerPoint session on CV building and answering questions around workplace development,” explained Marketing Executive Joseph Gerrard.
“Overall, we felt that football was making a real impact on those who are less fortunate in society, and the opportunity to support the Academy and engage directly with the participants was genuinely meaningful. It really felt like we were able to make a positive contribution.
“Because many participants are claiming asylum, they are legally unable to work. One individual I spoke to had previously been a nurse in his home country and was extremely eager to work but is restricted by the conditions of his asylum claim. Several members of the group also brought prewritten CVs to ask for guidance.”
Many Challenges
InTEC has also sponsored Everton in the Community. In that cohort, young participants faced many challenges such as addiction, sleeping rough, or being ex-military and finding themselves without a home.
“We also spent time there watching the football and then delivered a presentation about our roles at inTEC and what working within the tech industry involves.
“Hearing many of their stories and backgrounds was incredibly eye-opening. It meant a great deal to our colleagues to see firsthand how our organisation is helping create opportunities and spark interest in potential pathways into the workplace for people from less fortunate circumstances,” said Joseph.
Shared Experiences
“The challenges here were more focused around having no fixed address due to homelessness, mental health difficulties, and the lack of local opportunities. One attendee shared his experience of struggling to sustain work due to limited support around his mental health.”
Feedback from young people at the Academies was honest and insightful, reported Joseph.
“After our presentations at both Academies, we stayed behind to speak informally with attendees and answer any additional questions they had. The young people were open, engaged, and appreciative of the advice and insight we were able to offer.
“They appreciated that we were able to meet them face-to-face, offer practical advice, and introduce ourselves as sponsors. Being present in person allowed us to share useful information during the presentation, and it was clear that this level of support was genuinely valued and well-received.”
As well as supporting Academies, InTEC is also spreading the word about The Big Goal amongst its partner community and customers.
House of Lords
To that end, Street Soccer Foundation Chairman of Trustees, Lord Bailey of Paddington, hosted an InTEC visit to The House of Lords last month. The visit gave over 20 of the company’s top suppliers and customers a unique opportunity to hear more about The Big Goal’s aims and objectives and afterwards enjoy a high tea and a tour of the upper chamber of the UK Parliament lead by Lord Bailey.
Andrew Jackson, Marketing Manager at inTEC Group, said: “Bringing our clients and partners together at the House of Lords to hear first-hand about the impact of The Big Goal was incredibly powerful. It reinforced why we became a founder member in the first place, namely, to help create real opportunities for people who face genuine barriers to employment, and to use our network to amplify that impact.”
