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Erith Ken-No-Sen Karate Club, based at the Howbury Centre, Slade Green, recently had a visit from their local Safer Neighbourhoods Policing team Sergeant, Ross McKibbin.
The club had secured funding from Bexley Community Safety Partnership for new track suits, to allow them to attend competitions, through the Slade Green Community Safety Action Zone operations group .
Sergeant McKibbin says: “Bexley Community Safety Partnership is very supportive of work the club is doing with young people in the area, and agreed to provide funding, as the club not only teaches the art of self defence, but also teaches young people respect and discipline.”
Bexley’s first pilot football league, played out at four different ball courts across the borough, culminated last month with end of league presentations to the participants.
A total of 33 five-a-side teams of young people aged between 14 and 19 years took part in matches at venues in Belvedere, East Wickham, Erith and Thamesmead. Many of the venues also attracted large numbers of spectators who came to watch.
The league champions were: Thamesmead Boyz (Belvedere), South Side All Stars (East Wickham), Connexions (Erith) and Thistlebrook Boys (Thamesmead), who go forward to enter a Championship competition at Sidcup Youth Centre on 10 December, along with runners-up: West Side Med, Riverside FC, Abbey Wood Boys, and West Street Boys following successful play-offs against Lisa FC at East Wickham, South East FC, at Belvedere.
This pilot marked the expansion of Bexley’s hugely popular first Ball Court League at West Sreet, Erith.
Cllr Chris Ball, Council Leader and Chair of Bexley Community Safety Partnership says: “It has been really exciting to see this project grow and witness the enthusiam of the young people who have participated. We are one of the first London boroughs to put together this type of programme.”
It involves a multi-agency steering group, of Bexley Youth Service, Bexley’s Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Teams, Charlton Athletic Community Scheme, Bexley’s Community Safety Partnership, Areas of Opportunity, Youth Offending Teams, Gallions Housing Association, Orbit Bexley and Hyde Housing, whose resources are pooled together to support the project.
Cllr Ball adds “The emphasis of the programme is about promoting acceptable behaviour in a safe, fun and healthy environment.”
The next leagues start on 23 January and Welling Utd Football Club is joining the scheme to help bring an additional league to Sidcup.
For more information about Bexley’s Ball Court Leagues and how to enter, contact Tony Ball, Youth Service on 020 8855 4046.
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