Football to open doors for Finsbury Park youth
Released: 07.09.06

 

Providing a good future for young people from disadvantaged inner city areas is a big priority for the UCKG HelpCentre in Finsbury Park.  Pastor Luke Castro who heads the UCKG youth ministry, in the UK is tackling this by forming boys’ and girls’ football teams under the umbrella of its Victory Youth Group (VYG). His efforts have already been rewarded with sponsorship from Barclays Bank.

“The problem in this area is that many young people do not have enough to occupy their free time,” said Pastor Luke. “Overcrowded housing often means that they have no space to call their own at home. They find nothing to do in the community and once out on the streets they can become easy targets and end up in the wrong crowd or in the wrong sort of activity out of sheer boredom.”

A football fan himself, Pastor Luke sees the beautiful game as a sound solution for energetic youngsters of 14 years and above. He is starting in a small way, seeking to recruit 15 boys and 15 girls who are both talented and really keen. 

Two locally based coaches who are also church members have been lined up.  They are Daniel Pasley of Brixton who has played for Walton and Hersham FC, Dulwich Hamlet FC and Thamesmead Town FC, and Islington-based Thomas Yeboah who has good coaching experience with Football First and QRC Football Academy. “They will keep the squad busy discovering their talents and developing new skills,” added Pastor Luke.

As part of his preparations Pastor Luke applied for Barclays Spaces for Sports sponsorship. He was very pleased to learn that his squad was selected to receive one of the 1,200 packs of coaching kits that Barclays Bank is giving out each year under this £30m Barclays programme.

Michelle Smith, Barclays sponsorship director added "Barclays is delighted to be supporting VYG and hopes this coaching kit will encourage their interest in sport and lead them to success."

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Notes to Editors:

Young people who are interested in joining the VYG football teams should contact Pastor Luke on 0207 686 6000 or by email to vyg@uckg.org.

Barclays Spaces for Sports is a partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation. It awards free coaching kit to teams and groups from areas of the country that are considered to be most in need.

UCKG is a Pentecostal Christian church and registered charity. Although it is part of a world-wide movement active in some 100 countries, UCKG is essentially informal. Its priorities include helping people where they are in real, practical ways. It does not push God where people do not want that. 

If you require any further information regarding the UCKG, please submit your enquiry or telephone Francessca Lewis on 0207 686 6033.