Birmingham County Football Association is delighted to announce a brand-new partnership with Active Black Country, which will result in a number of new football-related activities taking place locally to get people active.

Increasing the opportunities for more young people to take part in football as well as in coaching is at the heart of new £10,000 joint plan by Birmingham County FA and Active Black Country.

The £10,000 funding provided to Birmingham County Football Association will be used to deliver Sportivate sessions aimed at 19 to 24-year-olds who are currently inactive, with the aim being to get 90 young people engaged in the programme. The sessions will also provide deployment opportunities for 12 new coaches, enabling them to develop additional skills.

Though the project, four new Satellite Clubs will be established with the focus being on female football clubs. They will be open to 14 to 25-year-olds, with a target of getting an additional 80 young people engaged in the programme.

Two additional mash-up sessions; fun, sociable organised kickabouts, will be funded by Birmingham FA.
Coaches will be developed throughout the project, with 18 new coaches enhancing the customer-centric skills needed to motivate people to be active. Coaches will be deployed on both Sportivate and Satellite Club activity. Training will include a Level 1 course, a Coach Mentor Programme, a Sport for Confidence Workshop and a Young Leaders Development Programme.

Kevin Shoemake, Chief Executive of Birmingham County FA said: “We are delighted that the Black Country Consortium is continuing to support a number of our football programmes that have already had a significant and positive impact locally.

The BCFA has an excellent working relationship with the Black Country Consortium and this further commitment is a compliment to the joint work that has already been undertaken by both organisations. This new investment will specifically focus on growing and sustaining participation and improving health and well-being for all and also develop more skilled and qualified football coaches within clubs.”

Simon Hall, Director of Active Black Country added: “This is fantastic news for football in the Black Country. The Active Black Country team has been working hard with Birmingham County FA to develop activity across the Black Country, and we are delighted to be supporting them in this project. Our aim is quite simple – to get more people taking part in sport & physical activity, whether this be through playing or coaching.”

Active Black Country is one of 44 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in England and works to provide opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity across the Black Country.

To find out more about Active Black Country projects visit www.activeblackcountry.co.uk or follow Active Black Country on Twitter.