Jason Morgan
Chief Executive, Charlton Trust
Over the sixteen years I have been at the club we have addressed many issues and carried positive messages through football into the community via coaches and players, Staff we have employed as coaches to deliver football programmes have now gone on to deliver education programmes around numeracy, literacy, healthy eating, citizenship etc.
Eight years ago when we entered into a partnership with Network Rail to carry a positive message directly into the classroom about the dangers of trespassing and vandalism on the railway lines, ex-player Bob Bolder became the positive role model to deliver this initiative, it was so successful that after six months crime and disorder had decreased by 26%, that Network Rail went on to sponsor the national football in the community programme and directly delivered their message to over 2.5 million children.
Football has a power to engage and nearly 10,000 children go through our programme on a weekly basis which some traditional agencies will struggle to achieve, that’s why over the years we have been addressing some of the key government floor targets around crime, health and creating pathways into employment for young people.
With the spate of high profile incidents and murders since the turn of the year, and the recent tragic death of Charlton fan Rob Knox in Sidcup, the club and Trust decided to deliver a “street violence ruins lives” campaign. We were aware that today’s game against Reading live on Sky would amplify the message, but the real work was going to be delivered in schools afterwards. This initiative has been two months in the planning with key stakeholders from the London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich, and Kent County Council being asked to attend meetings to help shape the programme. The aim now with resources which have been supported by the Metropolitan Police and in line with the national curriculum is to deliver this directly into the classroom, funding will be the key and therefore the request of supporters to pledge money into helping us to achieve this and seeking additional money from the private and public sector will allow the delivery of a sustainable programme.
Eight years ago when we entered into a partnership with Network Rail to carry a positive message directly into the classroom about the dangers of trespassing and vandalism on the railway lines, ex-player Bob Bolder became the positive role model to deliver this initiative, it was so successful that after six months crime and disorder had decreased by 26%, that Network Rail went on to sponsor the national football in the community programme and directly delivered their message to over 2.5 million children.
Football has a power to engage and nearly 10,000 children go through our programme on a weekly basis which some traditional agencies will struggle to achieve, that’s why over the years we have been addressing some of the key government floor targets around crime, health and creating pathways into employment for young people.
With the spate of high profile incidents and murders since the turn of the year, and the recent tragic death of Charlton fan Rob Knox in Sidcup, the club and Trust decided to deliver a “street violence ruins lives” campaign. We were aware that today’s game against Reading live on Sky would amplify the message, but the real work was going to be delivered in schools afterwards. This initiative has been two months in the planning with key stakeholders from the London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich, and Kent County Council being asked to attend meetings to help shape the programme. The aim now with resources which have been supported by the Metropolitan Police and in line with the national curriculum is to deliver this directly into the classroom, funding will be the key and therefore the request of supporters to pledge money into helping us to achieve this and seeking additional money from the private and public sector will allow the delivery of a sustainable programme.
