Positive Futures is thriving

Through funding from Islington Council, Arsenal in the Community delivers weekly football sessions on local estates which provide safe spaces for young people aged eight to 18 outside of school hours.

The Positive Futures programme has been delivered for over 20 years across Islington and has up to 1,000 participants per year. Although the programme is largely built around the delivery of football activities, the focus is more on positively engaging young people over a long-term period and supporting the participants off the pitch.

These pitches are extremely valuable in Islington, where there is a real lack of green space, and we have worked closely with Islington Council for 20 years to upgrade more than 20 spaces into artificial pitches.

This summer we are continuing to deliver sessions throughout the school holidays and, through the Holiday Activities Fund, we are providing each child with a free lunch as part of the daily programme.

Adam is 11 years old and has been a participant on the programme for two years. “I’m an Arsenal supporter and my favourite player is Declan Rice but I play more like Bukayo Saka,” he says.

“I come to the pitch every day after school and play football. I just enjoy the sessions, I play and have fun. I like that we play matches and it’s not too serious. I make friends here that also live on the estate.

“It’s good to have the pitch on my estate so I don’t have to walk far and play close to my home. The coaches are kind and teach us about good sportsmanship plus respect.

I’ll be playing here throughout the summer, I look forward to it”.

Adam’s mum added from a parent’s perspective: “It’s really good, I’m very happy. It’s for all of the children. I can see that Adam enjoys it and it makes him happy.

“Adam has been coming for two years and he’s supervised when he’s here and I know he is kept safe.”

More information contact Senior Project Coordinator Anthony Prodromou at aprodromou@arsenal.co.uk