The England Footballers Foundation (EFF) is today proud to announce the official launch of the EFF Academy, a new direction for the players’ outreach programme which will help meet the needs of disadvantaged youngsters in deprived communities through football. In its inaugural year, the EFF Academy will operate at sites in Manchester, Merseyside and London.

Funded by match fee contributions by the England team, and supported by Sport Relief funding, the Academy is focusing on providing students with educational, coaching and life skills. In addition, it will promote football as a tool for community cohesion and help tackle a variety of economic and social issues including education, crime, racial and drug abuse.

The EFF Academy is an extension of the England players own outreach initiative, which has already supported 40 community projects since 2007. The effect of the players supporting projects at a local level has helped many youngsters to improve their lifeskills and their future opportunities. The new programme, which opens in June 2013 and will run until Spring 2014, will initially be delivered at three venues in the north west and North London. The programme is open to 16 – 24 year old males and females, with each local delivery partner responsible for recruiting the 30 young people who will be able to take advantage of a wide range of resources through a structured programme of support.

The bespoke scheme of work has been designed to meet the needs of the young people in each of the communities, offering them opportunities to gain nationally recognised qualifications and valuable work experience in the sports industry. During the programme the students will be given the opportunity to progress, with as many as seven certificated qualifications to add to their CVs to help build self-esteem and enhance their chances of future employment.

The programme will culminate with a celebratory event in London in 2014, where the three regional centres will come together and all students will be recognised for their efforts throughout the year-long syllabus and be able to exchange and share in what they have learned as individuals and as part of a team.

Leighton Baines, who celebrated the EFF Academy launch by visiting the Merseyside programme, commented:

“We know just how different our lives could have been had we not been lucky enough to make it in the game. We also know how football can bring people together and the positive impact that this can have on communities. That’s why the EFF Academy is so important to all the players and one we’re excited to be involved with over the coming months.”

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