North Star, in partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, is providing Kick’s sport and youth engagement sessions on Tuesday evenings at the Cornerhouse Centre on Adderley Street in Stockton.

Kicks use the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs brands from the Premier League and Football League to work with young people who may otherwise be difficult to engage with, in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

All of the PL Kicks coaches are F.A qualified however, the programme isn’t exclusively about football. It offers a variety of different activities designed to help raise aspirations of the young people that attend, and encourage them to make the right choices in the community; such as kickboxing, street dance and graffiti art workshops.
So far, a diverse group of 30 young people have benefitted from accessing the sessions which have included opportunities to watch Middlesbrough play, take part in football tournaments and attend holiday coaching programmes.

Liam Watson, Kicks Coordinator and Coach Mentor at Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation said “It’s great to see all of the young people from different cultural backgrounds mixing together and doing something positive with their evenings”

Coral Smith, Community Connector at North Star said “It’s fantastic to see the difference the programme is making to the young people who attend the Kicks sessions, sport is a great way for them to develop their confidence and improve their mental and physical health and we are really pleased we have been able to develop this fantastic partnership with MFC Foundation”

North Star and Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation are keen to ensure more local young people have the opportunity to benefit and anyone who would like to know more about the sessions can contact Coral Smith, Community Connector at North Star on 01642 796 265 or coral.smith@northstarhg.co.uk