BURTON Albion Community Trust (BACT) is delighted to announce its new partnership with Street Soccer Foundation to launch the Burton Albion Street Soccer Academy in Burton upon Trent. This collaboration will bring the renowned Street Soccer Academy programme to the local community, offering vital support to vulnerable young people.
The expansion of the Academy has been made possible through the generous support of LanTern Tech, a local business and recent addition to The Big Goal campaign. As part of their corporate social responsibility, companies like LanTern Tech are helping to sponsor young people through the programme, ensuring its continued success and impact in the community.
Delivered by the experienced coaching team at Burton Albion Community Trust, the Burton Albion Street Soccer Academy will offer a 12-week course with weekly sessions designed to support participants in both personal development and football skills. The programme will focus on building essential life skills such as Self-Belief, Confidence, Communication Skills, and Resilience, while also providing regular football coaching to improve participants’ physical health and well-being.
The need for initiatives like the Street Soccer Academy is more pressing than ever. Recent statistics show that nearly 136,000 young people reached out to their local councils between 2022 and 2023 due to homelessness-related issues. In 2024 alone, 462 young people benefited from the Academy programme. Of those, 100% reported improvements in both their physical and mental health, while 96% said they were more motivated to make positive changes in their lives as a result of their participation.
Keith Mabbutt, CEO of the Street Soccer Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Burton Albion Community Trust and can’t wait to work with John and the team to make a real difference in the local community. This partnership represents a fantastic opportunity to positively impact the lives of young people in Burton upon Trent through the power of football and personal development.”
“We are also extremely grateful to Jenny Lee Holt and the team at LanTern Tech for their generous sponsorship, which has enabled us to bring this important programme to life” added Mabbutt.
John Widdowson, Head of Community at Burton Albion Community Trust, said: “We are incredibly excited about the launch of the Burton Albion Street Soccer Academy and the positive impact it will have on young people in Burton upon Trent. The partnership with the Street Soccer Foundation gives us the opportunity to use football as a tool to help develop not just physical skills but key life skills that will benefit these young people far beyond the programme itself. It is all about empowering them to believe in themselves and create a positive future.”
As the Street Soccer Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary, this partnership marks an important milestone. The Foundation remains committed to making 2025 its most impactful year yet and BACT is proud to play a key role in this journey. We extend our thanks to our Founding Members and supporters of The Big Goal campaign for their ongoing contributions, which continue to drive meaningful change in the lives of young people nationwide.
Companies wishing to know more or join The Big Goal 2025 Programme should email hello@thebiggoal.co.uk , call 020 3143 6773 or visit www.thebiggoal.co.uk
