Help us to provide life changing opportunities for children

This project will be delivered in memory of Pierre Bolangi and The 2000 Group. You can read more about the tragic story here - https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12428078/pierre-bolangis-tragic-death-still-raw-for-former-charlton-team-mates-who-want-to-create-a-legacy-at-the-club

Summary:

Please see a summary of what you will you'll read below, in the following order -

About Soccology:

Soccology is a non-profit that uses football to create positive change via psycho-education and alternative intervention.

I founded Soccology, after reflecting on my personal and professional experiences, that include -

I learnt that there isn't enough proactive, alternative interventions that are strategically clinical.

Before I delve into how we do this, it's important I explain why it's important and how the current problems are reflected in the data.

What the world currently looks like for boys:

Mental health data for all, below -

A) On average, 10 years will pass between a child/young person first becoming unwell and getting any help - Centre for Mental Health

B) 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24 - Mental Health Foundation

C) Around three-quarters of suicides registered in 2022 were males (4,179 deaths; 74.1%), equivalent to 16.4 deaths per 100,000 - Office for National Statistics

D) There were 1,440,000 referrals to talking therapies in 2017-18. Of these, 1,010,000 referrals began a course of treatment, with 555,000 finishing treatment, according to figures published in the Psychological Therapies: Annual Report on the use of IAPT services, England, 2017-18 - NHS Digital

E) 1 in 10 boys aged 5-19 with a mental health condition are excluded in some from school - Place2Be

To summarise the above, people are missed, disengaged and prevented access to mental health support. There’s an over-reliance on talking therapy, an intervention with many barriers that include a lack of affordability, yearlong NHS waiting lists, a threat to common coping strategies (repress/avoid), the one hour of therapy competing with an experienced adverse history and the dependence on having a skilled therapist.

This problems is magnified when it comes to boys and young men due to how they express their anger, societal expectations in regards to emotional literacy and resilience, and how they problem solve (less talking, more doing).

Soccology's services:

We identified a gap in offerings available. So we set up Soccology to provide engaging access to proactive therapeutic interventions that cater to the preferences of young boys and men. Providing support that is clear, specific, educational, curiosity provoking, challenge setting and not reliant on discussing past traumas. Delivered via two services -

1) Psycho-education: Theory in the classroom, activities on the pitch and events with professional footballers. We place emphasis on experiential learning to meet people where their problems lie (unconscious) and to reduce the (psychological) intensity of our sessions.

2) Alternative interventions: In the form of education and opportunities to become professional footballers. This is the Keep The Dream Alive project (KTDA).

With the main objectives being -

To develop knowledge and understanding of mental health and emotional literacy. Via psycho-education.

To develop agency. Via knowledge. Contradicting self sabotaging views and moving towards healthy habits

To provide meaning in life. Via elite football and educational opportunities. Having something to aspire to, provides direction, adoption of responsibilities and something to lose if they go down the wrong path, motivation to achieve (and away from the pits of depression) and distractions from destructive impulsive pleasure seeking activities.

Who we work with:

We work with males and prioritise those viewed as vulnerable/at risk. However, we provide access to boys and young men who dont fall into those categories as many have problems that people are unaware of, that manifest into points A - E, under the 'What the world currently looks like for boys' header above. Soccology refer to this group as 'The Invisibles', the ones people do not see, until the 'Pain Chain' (pain inflicted on them > within them > by them onto others) impacts others. They’re then met with consequences that Compound their stresses, and lead to mental health problems, addiction, gang membership, incarceration and suicide.

What are we asking you to support us with?

...Our Keep The Dream Alive! project. Our KTDA! project provides young people with opportunities to become professional footballers.

The boys will receive coaching, mentorship and psychological support by coaches, players and clinicians who operate at Premier League level. In preparation for the main event at Charlton Athletic FC, where they will play against the academy and Charlton staff will observe the youngsters, to assess whether they will provide them with an opportunity that could change their lives.

KTDA! last year saw 4 boys receive opportunities at professional football clubs, 7 sign up with our partners for more football and educational opportunities, that included a post 16 college program, a tailored University of Greenwich football and educational offer, and a USA scholarship.

If we don't raise enough money, we will have to charge young people to attend this project. This will mean that many will miss out due to not being able to afford activities, as the 800,000 participation decline reported by Statista between, 2016 - 2021 shows. With figures likely to fall further due to the cost of living crisis.

'Not only has this experience boosted my son's confidence, it has allowed him to develop a next level of skill by playing alongside boys who are older, with a different level of skill. He is quiet a timid boy so I hope playing with boys he doesnt know has helped him to develop social skills. I know he has really appreciated the exposure to advice from professionals. This was a great element of the course. He is very passionate about football and by just being picked, he realises his potential and the opportunities that are out there for him.'

- Parent testimonial, from last years KTDA! project

How we will deliver the project:

Duration: 8 weeks

Sessions: 28

Capacity: Maximum 50 (group will be reduced to 15 for main event)

Main event: at the Charlton Athletic FC training ground on 31st October 2024.

Money will be spent on:

Match kit - £20 match jersey, £15 shorts, £10 socks, £20 print = £65 x 15 = £975

Bibs - £16 Bib and print x 50 = £800

Venue hire (training) - £150 per session x 24 = £3600

Volunteer expenses - £500

Coaches - £50 per coach, per hour. 2 coaches x 24 plus main event = £2800

Admin and Management cost - £300 per day x 16 = £4800

Digital feedback and evaluation software - £350

TOTAL = £13,825

BONUS: We don't have any sponsors, for the match kit. We can provide a warming up top option too. If your organisation is interesting in sponsorship contact us, to find out about costings, how we will reach over 200,000 people on social media and potentially national broadcasters.

This project is designed in memory of my former Charlton Athletic FC team mate Pierre Boangi, who sadly passed away, during our time as players. As well as the surviving members of the tragedy, referred to as the The 2000 Group.

To read more about the outcomes, the case study, the players and coaches that were involved, please visit here - Soccology's Keep The Dream Alive project

#Soccology #KTDA