The funds members of The Big Goal provide support Street Soccer Academies staged at the charitable foundations of football clubs all over England.
From the outside, an Academy can look like weekly football sessions and a tournament at the end. From the touchline, it’s something else entirely:
- It’s the moment a young person turns up AGAIN after a difficult week
- It’s the first time someone speaks in a group without being prompted
- It’s the steady build of trust, routine and belief that makes ‘next steps’ feel possible.
“That was the energy we felt recently at our first-ever National Coaches Conference staged in February,” said Jade Fialho, Head of Academy Operations at The Street Soccer Foundation.
“Coaches from across our network brought real insight, honesty and solutions, sharing what’s working, what’s challenging, and what young people need most.
“What stood out wasn’t just the quality of practice, but the pure commitment in the room. These coaches don’t simply deliver sessions, they help shape safe environments where young people can belong, be heard, and start again.”
Charlene Buckle, a coach at the Palace for Life Foundation (Crystal Palace), captured that ‘distance travelled’ perfectly.
“A young woman arrived at our Academy, not making any eye contact and she stayed completely silent in weeks one and three. But, by week 12, she was confidently sharing her thoughts and ideas with the rest of the group,” she said.
Hannah Colley-Elms, a coach at the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, watched a participant move from doubting herself to becoming strong within her answers and fully able to support her peers. As Hannah put it: “It’s an amazing experience and opportunity. It’s not just coaching, it’s so much more.”
Success with young people that attend SSF Academies can lead to real progression. Natasha Green from the AFC Fylde Community Foundation shared that five participants from its recent cohort have already moved into work or education, a powerful reminder that when young people are supported consistently, outcomes follow.
“Those shifts are never small. They’re the foundations of confidence and connection. For sponsors of The Big Goal, this is the impact you enable. Brilliant coaches, a structured programme and life-changing pathways, week after week,” added Jade
