Crewe kids reaping the rewards Crewe Alexandra and the Football Foundation, the UK's largest football charity, have joined forces to bring the beautiful game to some of the town's most vulnerable groups, tackling crime, prejudice, sexism and social deprivation.

A £83,910 Foundation grant has allowed the Crewe Alexandra Football in the Community Scheme to establish their groundbreaking "Football for All" project. This will provide coaching schemes for a number of groups including young people with learning difficulties, people in areas of deprivation, young offenders and those most at risk of offending. Additional footballing opportunities will also be offered to Ethnic Minority children in Crewe and to local primary school children.

By bringing access to sport, the club hope to break down many of the barriers that have left many of the groups marginalized on the outskirts of the game. Indeed, by utilising the expertise of local groups and organisations, including the police, youth offending teams and community groups it is hoped the project will increase community awareness, cutting offending and promoting understanding between often disparate groups.

The Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. Funded by the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government, the
Football Foundation is the nation's largest sports charity with over £200m already invested into the heart of football.

Peter Lee, Chief Executive of the Foundation welcomed this outstanding scheme: "Football for All emphasises all that is good about the game. Football has a unique ability to promote social inclusion within communities and to bring people from wide ranging backgrounds into the football family."

Ray Walker, Crewe Alexandra F.C. Football in the Community officer is thrilled with the Foundation's grant: "the ‘Football for All’ will allow partnerships with leading local groups to unite to deliver football to participants across a wide spectrum of our local community The scheme with the Foundation’s backing will provide a sustainable long-term opportunity for children and adults to develop socially and physically through football in a safe an professional environment”.