Tottenham Foundation launches Your Futures programme
Your Futures, supported by Children in Need, aims to engage and help young people who have experienced injury or trauma through violence via a sport-based mentoring project. Based at the Whittington Hospital’s Emergency Department, the programme sees a member of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation staff provide regular one-to-one mentoring for young people who are admitted to the hospital.
The scheme, which is currently in its pilot stage, uses the power of the tracksuit to engage some of the most difficult to reach members of society and signpost them through education and on to training, volunteering and employment programmes through the Club. Group sessions also include workshops on topics relevant to the lives of young people such as anti-knife crime, conflict resolution, sexual health awareness, employment and sports development.
One beneficiary is 10-year-old Andrew, who was referred onto the programme after ending up in A+E following an altercation at school. The subsequent mentoring he received resulted in improved behaviour and a series of awards from teachers, to the delight of his mother: “My son would lose his temper and ended up in hospital after an altercation at school. Nobody could get through to him – apart from his Spurs mentor.” A big Spurs fan, Andrew recently got the opportunity to meet his hero, Christian Eriksen, who gave him a guided tour of White Hart Lane.
“It uses the power of football to engage with some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and difficult to reach members of society”
Grant Cornwell MBE, CEO of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: “Your Futures uses the power of football to engage with some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and difficult to reach members of society and provides support and mentoring to help sign post them into future training and employment opportunities. The Foundation is passionate about creating programmes that help to change the lives of young people in our local communities and partnering with Whittington Health NHS Trust on this unique project gives us the opportunity to make a real difference.”
The launch of Your Futures co-insides with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s 10 year anniversary, with the Club releasing a video focusing on 10 extraordinary projects currently being delivered and the compelling stories of 10 local people who have benefitted from the ground-breaking work.
