NEWS: Big Issue Street Soccer Program looking for more players/volunteers to get involved
THE Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program for Geelong, based at the Leisuretime Centre in Bell Post Hill is looking for new players of all backgrounds and abilities as well as community minded volunteers to join their friendly team.
PHOTO – Local players John Pitharas and Obi Jamshidi represented Geelong at both the National competition as well as the Homeless World Cup in 2016.
The Big Issue’s Street Soccer Program uses sport as a mechanism to engage people and promote social inclusion. You don’t have to have ever played soccer before, the main purpose of this program is to provide a friendly space to come together with friends and learn more about health and well-being.
The program is free for all participants and involves males and females - 16 years and above - with varying ability and fitness levels, getting together once a week, training and playing matches.
Participants get fit, make new friends and seek support and advice. Support staff work closely with players, linking them to services that address any issues they may be facing or to assist them with moving towards their personal goals.
“We have a strong health focus and arrange activities and guest speakers to assist us all in being healthier and taking the best care of ourselves,” said Sam Purcell, who is the local coordinator of the Big Issue program in Geelong.
“We have donated fruit and vegetables, and bread each week, which players can take home. We have put a number of our players through the Ministry of Food cooking course in 2016 and look forward to offering similar opportunities in 2017,” he added.
“We nominate players annually to fly to Sydney and meet players from all around Australia and play in our inclusive Nationals competition, as well as the chance to be selected to play for Australia in the Homeless World Cup. Our local players John Pitharas and Obi Jamshidi represented Geelong in these competitions in 2016.
“In Geelong we play from 4-6 pm every Thursday of the year, rain, hail or shine, at
the Leisuretime Centre, 262-282 Anakie Road, Bell Post Hill. We have beautiful
purpose built pitches, and can play under lights in the winter months. We
also use an indoor area in bad weather or to meet, hear guest speakers or just
share some social time,” concluded Purcell.
Want to know more? Come down any Thursday and check us out, or contact Sam Purcell, Local Coordinator on 0433 626 857, or email streetsoccersam@gmail.com
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