Street football project seeks volunteers

Date Added - 23/03/09

Volunteers are being sought to help run Moray’s successful street football project.

Launched 18 months ago, the project gives youngsters the chance to play football on a portable pitch – complete with floodlighting – in their own neighbourhoods.

Evidence has shown that the project has reduced incidents of anti-social behaviour in areas where the pitch has been set up.The initiative has been led by Moray Council with financial backing from Grampian Police, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service and a number of private sector sponsors.

Similar projects are also running in other local authority areas in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour by providing children and young people with football facilities on their own doorstep.

Sessions are run by Moray Council’s street football co-ordinator Robert Bartlett with the assistance of three volunteer helpers.

They set up and take down the portable pitch and supervise matches, which are played on an artificial surface.

Mr Bartlett is appealing for more volunteers to help with the sessions, which are generally held from around 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday or Friday evenings.

“There are only a very small number of volunteer at the moment and it is unfair always having to rely on them, although they are all very keen and willing,” he said.

“Ideally I would like a pool of volunteers with a geographical spread throughout Moray so that they can be called upon to help out when the pitch visits their particular town or village.”

The number of youngsters turning up for the sessions varies widely, with some venues attracting as many as 30 boys and girls.

Over the past few weeks Mr Bartlett has been visiting primary schools to promote the street football project in the hope that more children will take part as they grow up.

During the first week of the Easter holidays there will be sessions at East End Primary School in Elgin from 4.30pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and during the second week there will be sessions at Buckie High School from 4.30pm to 6.30pm Monday to Thursday.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help out with any street football sessions should contact Mr Bartlett on 01343 548040