“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death – but I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” Bill Shankly

Football for us at the Street Soccer Foundation – and for the vast majority of the young people we support through the Street Soccer Academy – is very much more than just a game – it’s a lifeline. It gives young people a sense of community, structure, and purpose and shows them that they matter, that people care about them.

At The House of Lords last week in London, I presented to a room full of amazing sponsors of ours through 'The Big Goal' - an Industry-wide campaign initiative launched in support of the Street Soccer Foundation and its work.

I described the overarching purpose of the Street Soccer Academy programme: to help young people become more confident, resilient, ambitious, and to have a greater sense of self belief in order that they can identify a new way forward – a brighter future they can journey onto, at their own pace, with our continued support.

Launched officially only back in January this year – 'The Big Goal' campaign has successfully brought on 34 organisations across the ICT sector, each becoming nationally recognised as our forever 'Founding Members' - united through a passion to help others.

This Founding Membership has allowed the Street Soccer Foundation to deliver an initial total of 44 Street Soccer Academies through club community organisation partnerships nationwide, seeing us be able to collectively support 462 young people throughout the country.

The fact is, every Academy sponsored through The Big Goal isn’t just a number or a ‘charitable project’. It’s an average of 10 young lives positively transformed. 10 futures rebuilt. 10 young individuals where we're not just giving them a chance to play football – we’re giving them a sense of hope, and the prospects of a job and a home of their own.

The overarching mission of The Big Goal is to provide a brighter future for thousands of young people and to ultimately help end youth homelessness - which although a huge challenge, can absolutely be achieved where we work in true partnership together. Tackling this social issue head on, as a shared responsibility.

I championed the fact that from what we’ve collectively delivered on over just these past 9 months – WE HAVEN’T COME THIS FAR, TO ONLY COME THIS FAR.

I want to publicly thank all the Founding Members of The Big Goal - all of which can be found here, via our Hall of Fame: Founding Members Hall of Fame – The Big Goal.

And now - alongside these brilliant organisations - my ask is that YOU and your company now join The Big Goal too please. To help us help even more young people who we know need it.

Consider every time a young person stands up and says, “My life has changed because of the Street Soccer Academy” – this is an opportunity for you to say, “I helped make that change happen.”

This is what The Big Goal is all about. It’s a true movement that is transforming lives and changing futures for the better.

Please join the team. Together, United - we are so much stronger. And we WILL eradicate homelessness in this country.

To learn more and to join The Big Goal - visit the official website: The Big Goal.

Together, Changing Lives through Football.