Call goes out for support and volunteers for SuffolkKickOff@3

The countdown is on for a football-based community event and organisers are on the look-out for support and volunteers from across Suffolk.

Suffolk KickOff@3 is offering the chance for teenagers, between the aged of 13 and 16, to compete in a football tournament to win prizes and raise funds for local charity, YMCA Trinity Group. The event takes place on Saturday, April 27, at Whitton Sports and Community Centre and is open to girls and boys with mixed teams also welcome.

Tournaments in two age categories will run (13 to 14 year olds and 15 to 16 year olds) and the two winning teams in both competitions will compete in a national finals day in London on Sunday, July 7, with the winners of other  KickOff@3 events from across the country.

KickOff@3 is a national event that began in 2017 and was the idea of Metropolitan police officer Michael Wallace and Ashley Levien, a community worker. The aims of the events are to encourage positive engagement with teenagers whilst breaking down barriers through sport, provide diversionary activities for them whilst raising their aspirations and increasing community cohesion and confidence through a range of activities that will run alongside the tournament.

Another key aim will be to raise awareness and valuable funds for YMCA Trinity Group that delivers valuable community work for young people across the east of England. They do this through an extensive range of interventions including housing, health, employability programmes, volunteering and much more.

The steering group is made up of a range of organisations and community representatives, including Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

Organisers are still looking for support with putting on the Ipswich event at the end of April. This could be through providing prizes for competing teams, provide refreshments for participants, attendance with a stall or activity, or providing sponsorship for the event. There is also the opportunity for local education providers or employers to attend and provide information on relevant education, employment or volunteering opportunities.

Inspector Becky Kidd-Stanton, from Ipswich police’s Neighbourhood and Partnership Team, said: “It’s a great privilege to be organising this event on behalf of KickOff@3 and everyone involved is very excited with the prospect. It’s a great opportunity for engaging with teenagers through sport, helping signpost them to career and volunteering opportunities and building and strengthening trust and confidence with community groups in the area. A great local cause, YMCA Trinity Group, will also benefit which is also very satisfying.”

Co- founder of Kick Off@3 Michael Wallace said: “As the co-founders of Kickoff@3, we are delighted that Suffolk Constabulary have signed up to our national initiative for 2019 to positively engage young people, whilst building valued relationships with diverse communities. ”

Fellow co-founder Ashley Levein added: “We look forward to working closely with Suffolk Constabulary and the community we serve, whilst sustaining such good relationships thereafter our Kickoff@3 tournament being hosted locally in Ipswich.”

Paul Knight, Project Manager for Catch22 SuffolkPositive Futures, said: “Catch22 Suffolk Positive Futures are very pleased to be supporting the Kickoff@3 initiative. We provide opportunities for hundreds of young people across Suffolk to learn and grow through the engagement in positive sporting activities. The Kickoff@3 initiative complements this approach really well with even more young people to be given the opportunity to take part in activities that not only support young people in the short term, but also in the long term too such as the careers advice and employment opportunities that have been built into the event.”

Fiona Radnor, YMCA Trinity Group Programme Manager for the Eastern Region, said: “We’re really excited to be working alongside partners to assist in hosting the Kickoff@3 initiative for the first time in Suffolk. The idea of bringing communities together, breaking down barriers and celebrating the talents of young people is a wonderful concept and we are very pleased to be the nominated charity for this.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: “I’ve seen first-hand the very positive impact that sport has had on young people across the county so I am very happy to support this KickOff@3 event in Ipswich. This is a very exciting project which has worked extremely well in other areas of the country so I’m confident it will be successful here in Suffolk too.

“I truly believe that using football to engage with young people will help us to support our young people to make positive life choices. Helping our young people to make the right choices will enable them to become good citizens and develop leadership qualities that will help them to become more confident and principled adults.  And if everyone has some fun long the way, what could be better.”

If you can help in anyway or would like more information please email: Suffolkkickoffat3@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

The closing date will be midnight on March 31. Registration forms will be sent for completion prior to the tournament date and payment will be made in cash on the day.

More details of KickOff@3 as well as how to enter a team can be found at www.kickoffat3.co.uk

More details about the supported charity YMCA Trinity Group can be found at: www.ymcatrinitygroup.org.uk

Pictured above is people at the initial planning meeting held at Seckford Hall.