Youngsters set to enjoy Wembley trip

Twenty young people from a diverse array of Arsenal in the Community projects will be given the VIP treatment tomorrow when they head to Wembley Stadium with thousands of other Gunners fans for the eagerly anticipated FA Cup semi-final against Wigan Athletic.

The youngsters will enjoy the action from one of Wembley’s executive boxes after being nominated by Arsenal in the Community for their positive engagement and involvement with the department’s programmes over the course of the 2013/14 season.

The projects recognises the wide-ranging nature of the department’s work, which delivers throughout the local north London community across a number of areas such as education, health, sport and social inclusion.

Some of the specific projects to be represented tomorrow include the Kicks and Positive Futures programmes, that provides opportunities through football to disadvantaged youth from local estates and the Premier League 4 Sport programme which gives young people the chance to get involved with various sports within their local community.

The group will be completed with representatives from Arsenal in the Community’s Girls Football programme, which launched successfully earlier this season, the Arsenal Disability Sports Programme and the Arsenal Employability Scheme, which has seen a number of individuals secure accredited qualifications and work with the Club’s catering providers on matchdays.

Alan Sefton, Head of Arsenal in the Community, said: “We are delighted to recognise this group of individuals from our range of programmes across the local Islington community. All of the young people that have been nominated fully deserve this special day, either as a reward for their commitment to a project or in recognition of some of the personal barriers that they have overcome. I hope that they all have a great day and can use the occasion as further inspiration and motivation to achieve their goals.”