Stevenage Football Club Foundation has been chosen to receive a share of Govia Thameslink Railway’s improvement fund for its anti-social behaviour tackling project.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has awarded grants totalling £448,000 to 37 organisations who are launching community projects close to stations served by the train operator.
Over 200 charities and community groups applied for GTR’s ‘Your Station, Your Community’ fund last summer, with Stevenage FC Foundation selected as one of the winning projects aiming to tackle mental ill-health, homelessness and anti-social behaviour, and to improve the environment, sustainability and accessibility.
Stevenage Football Club Foundation received one of the larger grants for a 12-week programme in all six of Stevenage’s secondary schools tackling anti-social behaviour.
The project will provide both targeted interventions within education settings, alongside open access opportunities using space close to Stevenage station to engage with young people aged 14-18 who are either disengaged with mainstream education or identified as in need of additional support to refocus their energy and enthusiasm to make positive life choices.
Joe Goude, Stevenage FC Foundation CEO, said, “We are thrilled to be working with GTR on this innovative project. It has given us the opportunity to blend a number of offers to help tackle anti-social behaviour not only at the station, but across the town.
“We’re also engaging a number of key local partners to give young people in the town a chance to demonstrate their ambition and be a positive voice for mental health, that we cannot wait to showcase at the station.
“GTR continue to be an incredible partner for the Football Club and Foundation, and this funding will allow us to further our vision of an active, healthy, and positive life for all in our community.”
Final approval of each grant award was made by the Department for Transport.
