AFC Bournemouth
The AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust has joined forces with REIDsteel to deliver its popular Premier League Kicks initiative.
Through the programme, the Trust offers free football sessions to young people in some of Bournemouth’s most underprivileged areas. The sessions run five nights a week at various locations in Bournemouth, harnessing the power of football to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
John Reid & Sons (Strucsteel) Limited – which REIDsteel is the trading name for – is a Dorset-based structural steel engineering company which has been designing, manufacturing and erecting steel structures worldwide for over 100 years.
Open to boys and girls aged 8-19, Premier League Kicks has already helped 1,000 young people enjoy getting active in a safe environment where they can have fun with friends.
As part of the programme, there are also regular workshops available for participants at Vitality Stadium, focusing on internet safety, mental health, and combatting racism.
The partnership with REIDsteel will see their employees volunteer at the sessions and will work with AFC Bournemouth player ambassadors, Chris Mepham and Abby Jones to deliver special experiences for the participants.
Steve Cuss, Head of AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, said: “Our Premier League Kicks programme provides a great opportunity for young people who may not normally have the opportunity to enjoy all the physical and mental health benefits of an organised football session. As a football club that aims to unite the local community through our sport, this is a very important project and we are very grateful to REIDSteel for their support in helping us deliver it.”
Donna Campo, REIDsteel Operations Director, said: “REIDsteel is passionate about giving back to the community and supporting its employees. Our ‘one team’ approach values every member of our team and encourages positive wellbeing which fits perfectly with the ethos of the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust. The Premier League Kicks initiative is excellent for the local community. We’re excited to be a part of it and hope many of our employees will become involved. Our thanks to all at the Trust for this opportunity.”
REIDsteel, which employs more than 130 people, recently gained planning consent for redevelopment of its site in Christchurch, Dorset, to create a cutting-edge manufacturing facility, modern offices and a staff welfare centre.
