Caged soccer unit success in Stockport

Post by Apprentice CSA Peter Ashton:

In this photograph I am in Stockport where we put the community caged soccer unit to great use.

The purpose for the unit is to get kids off the streets, and also for them to make new friends.

The whole day was a success as lots of children came from all over Stockport to join in.

When I first got there and started putting the unit up there was already lots of interest in parents asking were their kids able to join in, also asking the most important question IS IT FREE?  Which to my reply was 'of course it is'.

At first it was hectic with all the kids running everywhere.  Also, as the majority of them didn’t know each other they were scared to even ask for the ball or even get in the cage, which is why I thought I would join in.

As I have come from a footballing background having played all my life I thought I would show them some skills and tricks I had - which went down well in work clothes on grass and mud!!

Our aim as the fire service is to prevent and protect, which still applies even when we are in the cage soccer unit because the kids are still under our care and supervision and their health and wellbeing is our main priority.

I am currently gaining my level 1 FA coaching badge so I can run the soccer unit in the future and think it is a great opportunity for me also for the kids joining in.