“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.
Sir Winston Churchill was more renowned for his pertinent speeches than for his love of football. Despite his lack of personal interest, as a shrewd politician, he recognised football’s cultural significance and its role in boosting national morale during World War Two.
If, where and when he said the above is open to debate, but one thing is certain; these words apply perfectly to The Big Goal, which was launched with a single aim: to end youth homelessness in the UK.
Power of Football
With the support and backing of Comms Dealer and Giacom, the ICT industry was the first to pick up the baton and get behind this campaign which gives disadvantaged young people a route out of homelessness through the power of football.
Founder and CEO of the Street Soccer Foundation, Keith Mabbutt has set an ambitious target of 100 teams participating in The Big Goal next year, hence outreach has extended into other business sectors, and the response has been encouraging.
Following introductions by The Big Goal Ambassadors and Founding Members, a number of teams from other sectors entered this year include Walkers/Pepsico (Food Manufacturing), One Financial and Market Harborough Building Society (Financial), FM Conway (Civil Engineering), Roxhill Media (Marketing) and Apprentify (Education and Training).
Massive Step
“This is a massive step forward for The Big Goal,” said Mabbutt. “Once these teams experience the tournament and see how support of a Street Soccer Academy can become a bespoke ESG/CSR programme for them, I’m confident they will spread the word in their industries and make The Big Goal even bigger. All we need is for each team to introduce a client or partner and we would smash our target.”
The Big Goal Ambassador Martin Flick, a recognised entrepreneur in the ICT space, believes it is possible to get 100 teams competing next year: “I think UK PLC has got an obligation to drive social change and to help with the cause of ending youth homelessness. If you look at The Big Goal and what’s been achieved in just a short space of time, it’s become contagious. It’s gone from 30 teams to 54. With some hard work, we will get to 100 next year, I’m sure of that.”
Growing The Big Goal membership
It is hoped current members will share the impact the initiative is having to other businesses and partners in their sphere of activity. Here’s a short description that can be passed on to anyone showing an interest:
The Big Goal is a national corporate campaign created by the Street Soccer Foundation to raise awareness, generate support and help fund the charity’s work with young people affected by homelessness and social
exclusion.
Through its flagship 12-week Academy programmes delivered in partnership with Premier League and EFL clubs across the country, the Street Soccer Foundation combines football sessions with personal development workshops to support disadvantaged youth with the programmes designed to help participants build confidence, improve wellbeing, develop life and employability skills, strengthen routines and create more positive futures both on and off the pitch.
Since launching, the Foundation has supported more than 3,000 young people through its Academy environments across the UK.
In establishing The Big Goal, the Foundation has now brought together businesses from across the UK to support this work by having members of The Big Goal be able to sponsor Academies and young people throughout the country.
Giving Back
The overriding desire from those companies already involved in The Big Goal has been to ‘give back’ for a great cause. As a result, more young people affected by homelessness and social exclusion may have access to support and opportunities to build more positive futures. All thanks to valued members of the campaign. That’s worth playing for.
