Ryan finds out how Club supports young people in Tottenham

Ryan Sessegnon today (Thursday 28 November) met local young people who are benefitting from the Club’s free after-school Kicks programme.

The session, delivered by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, was the first to take place at Tottenham Community Sports Centre – a new location for Kicks located right on the Club’s doorstep, opposite the stadium.

Through programmes like Kicks, the Club is giving youngsters in Tottenham and across north London access to free sports sessions after-school and during school holidays.

With the addition of Tottenham Community Sports Centre, the Club now runs Kicks at 10 venues across Haringey and to date has engaged over 8,000 young people in the Borough.

After demonstrating drills and giving the teenagers advice on skills, London-born Ryan heard about their experiences growing up in Tottenham and the challenges faced by youngsters in the area. The group discussed how programmes like Kicks enable them to participate in something they love while meeting new people and making friends.

Ryan also heard from Foundation coaches, many of whom have been through our Kicks programme themselves, about the importance of the Club’s community work in Tottenham. Alongside improving participants’ football skills, coaches provide a supportive role to help young people build confidence, develop their interpersonal skills and succeed.

Speaking at the new Kicks site, Ryan said: “Football has been a huge part of my life growing up. It was great to meet local kids who share that passion and hear their stories. Through these sessions, the Club is giving them opportunities to play, learn and meet other kids who also love the game.”

Richard Allicock, Community Development Manager at the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: “I’ve been involved with Kicks since the programme started and have seen firsthand the impact it’s had in Tottenham, both for young people and the wider community. We’re continuing to build on this work as a Club, using the strength of the badge to encourage more youngsters to take part in our programmes.”

For more information the, email foundation@tottenhamhotspur.com or follow us on Twitter @SpursFoundation.