News / Football
Football club for ‘at-risk’ teenagers launches fundraiser to continue
A Horfield football group for at-risk kids is appealing for donations after they have been forced to pause their sessions due to a lack of funding.
Since January 2022, up to 80 teenage boys – many of whom live in the most deprived areas of Bristol – have attended the sessions run by Freestyle Bristol every Friday evening.
Managing director, Delroy Hibbert, said: “Most recently a young person who I have known for over ten years was murdered in a gang-related incident in St Paul’s.
is needed now More than ever
“It affected me so deeply, that it was one of my main motivations for ensuring the sessions are restarted and are able to continue in the long term.”
He said that the cost of providing the sessions outweighs the weekly costs and that by raising the amount that the teenagers pay to attend would make it unaffordable for most.
The club recently stopped running but has been able to temporarily resume this month after receiving a small grant from Bristol City Council.
However, Delroy hopes to raise £15,000 per year to pay for the running costs which will cover pitch hire, insurance, equipment and hiring four qualified coaches to run the sessions.
“The sessions are also provided at low cost as we know that a large number attending come from families and areas affected by economic hardship and our aim is that cost should not be a barrier to participation,” he said.
To donate to the fundraiser you can visit their fundraising page.
Main photo: Bristol Rovers Community Trust
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