Sport relief makes a huge difference to lives - PM

7 March 2008

Gordon Brown met members of a Sport Relief project that provides football training to disadvantaged young people today.

The South London based Street League football scheme aims to transform the lives of people who might otherwise be in danger of falling into gangs, crime or drugs.

Speaking at the event, Mr Brown said:

"I have worked with Sport Relief for some years now and it does a tremendous job encouraging thousands, indeed hundreds of thousands, of people to get involved in sport, getting huge amounts of money to charity and making a huge difference to people's lives.

"Here are young people who have been training, who are fit, who are in football and doing things which are helping the community as a result of what Sport Relief are doing."

Many of the Street League players have experienced unemployment or homelessness. Coach Rizwan Aboo told the Prime Minister that the scheme aims to provide structure and purpose "for guys at risk of getting involved in drugs, crime, and gang warfare".

"We try to channel their energy in the right direction and make them see sense and move them away from the gang lifestyle.

"Football instils things like timekeeping, organisation and communication, and we have plenty of lads here who have moved on to find work or get in to some sort of training."

As well as arranging five-a-side leagues in London and Glasgow, the charity helps players get in touch with education and work opportunities and provides them with tips on writing CVs and going for job interviews.

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