South London Terriers Club, Greenwich
Based at London Marathon Playing Fields in Greenwich, the South London Terriers are a team of young women with learning disabilities. Each player has overcome significant disadvantage in their lives – abuse, homelessness, poverty. They support each other as a team, both as footballers and in their personal challenges.
Scheme coordinator Sharon Brokenshire told us how about the positive impact our scheme has had on the young women at this club: "I am pleased to say that we have been a part of this wonderful scheme since 2008. It has helped to give the girls a real sense of ownership as well as helping to them to bond.
"The Achievement Award scheme is a really valuable way of rewarding these young women with successes they have made. This can be anything from scoring a superb goal in a match, becoming more self-confident and improving their communication skills, or even coping with the death of a loved one.
"Awards are celebrated together and have an inspirational effect on the self-esteem of the girls. They support each other as friends as well as team mates. Their lives are filled with difficulties and disadvantages, yet with the help of their exceptional coach, Rhea MacKennon, who achieved the Leadership award last year, they are playing football and are making sense of their lives. This is an achievement!"
It is needless to say that the South London Terriers are more than just a football club. It's a support network for the people involved and a place where they are given opportunities to learn more about health and well-being and to start their journey into coaching if they wish.
It also gives the Jack Petchey Foundation great pleasure to announce that the London FA Charter Standard Female club of the Year has recently been awarded to the South London Terriers.
We wish you all the best in all of yuor sporting endeavours!
