Ascension Football Academy was founded six years ago and has three core aims:

• to provide high quality football coaching for children and young people in the local community
• to provide positive activities that develop life skills including greater academic engagement and increasing employability
• to enable young people to achieve their potential as human beings

AFA currently works with over fifty individuals aged between 4 and 16, both male and female. Coaching takes place at King George V Park, Custom House, on Saturday mornings throughout the school year.

Children are divided into three age groups which train at the following times:

10.00 – 11.30: School Years Reception to Y3 / Y4-7/Y8-11

Each child pays £2.50 per session. Coaching is delivered by two FA-qualified coaches with support from additional project workers.

AFA provides a fun, safe and secure activity during otherwise unstructured time. Participation in AFA teaches both footballing and life skills including teamwork, overcoming obstacles, leadership and a healthy approach to competition. We have also added biblical theme discussions as part of our sessions.

Each session includes a warm-up, a focus on tackling, shooting, defending and balls skills, and developing teamwork amongst the participants. The final fifteen minutes is spent playing a small-sided game. At the end of each session, medals are awarded for teamwork, attitude and skill. At the end of the season, trophies, are awarded to the participants who have achieved most consistently in each of these areas, as well as to the most improved player and player of the season. Feedback from parents has shown that both this weekly and annual recognition of the development of participants is highly valued and leads to consistent effort and attendance.

Competitive matches
We are beginning to establish a programme of competitive matches against other local community football programmes. In recent seasons, the Y4-7’s have played friendlies, against Felsted School in Essex, and Bonny Downs Football Academy in East Ham. Plans are underway to significantly develop this side of the AFA programme.

Other opportunities
Participants also have access to other programmes run by Ascension Church and Ascension Community Trust, including twice-termly activity afternoons, opportunities to mix with other primary school-aged children through games, craft activities and creative arts.

For more information, including how to register your child with AFA, please contact Laura Crane, AFA Project Manager, on 07834637334.