football academy changing children’s lives and a community

A North East football club’s junior academy is helping to transform young lives and their community. 

Horden Community Welfare Football Club, in County Durham, launched its academy in summer 2022 to provide opportunities for local children to train and play football. 

Club officials wanted it to be a safe and positive alternative to playing on the streets, to boost children’s personal skills and confidence, create coaching and volunteering opportunities for adults, and to support community cohesion.

From the outset they were determined it would be a welcoming academy where young people from all backgrounds, including those from disadvantaged families, could enjoy football and feel the physical, emotional, and social benefits of regular sport. 

 “We feel passionately about our community and community participation, so we’re building something local people can embrace and feel part of,” said Ian Stamp, Vice Chair of Horden Community Welfare FC. 

“We are very inclusive. We don’t care about football skills — that might sound funny as a football club but all we really want is to enable all children to participate.” 

Last year, County Durham-based housing association believe housing awarded a £10,000 community investment grant to the academy to help get it started.  

It now has up to 80 children training regularly and six junior teams competing in the Russell Foster Youth League and cup competitions. 

Ian said the “wonderful support” of charitable organisations and businesses, including believe housing, helped to establish the academy and it now hopes to grow by attracting more volunteers and new players, especially girls so it can launch its first girls’ team. 

Faye Gordon, Executive Director of Investment, Growth and Performance at believe housing, said: “Believe housing is passionate about creating healthy homes and places where people can thrive. 

“We believe in life without barriers, and that no child should grow up without opportunities to play, to develop life skills, and look after their health and overall wellbeing. 

“It is amazing to see how our community funding has helped people in Horden to build such an incredible junior football academy which can have a lasting positive impact on local people.” 

Coach Olly Hotchkiss, a former Leeds United and Mansfield Town pro, said: “You see kids come on the very first session, they’re really nervous and in their shell. 

“Now you look at them, when they put their strip on, playing fixtures, coming to training, and they are like a ray of sunshine in terms of how they’ve blossomed. Their confidence levels are through the roof.  

“I believe that’s down to the environment, also the volunteers, the coaches and the parents driving that and getting children to training. 

“It is going from strength to strength.  

“It’s wonderful to see and long may it continue — this is just the start of something special at Horden.” 

The academy is based at Horden Welfare Park, but during the winter training is at nearby 3G and indoor facilities including Peterlee College and Easington Academy Sports Hall.  

To join or volunteer at Horden Community Welfare FC Junior Academy email Hordencwu12@gmail.com or look it up on Facebook. 

For more information about believe housing’s Community Investment programme, visit www.believehousing.co.uk/community-funding/