Rosslyn Park welcomes local youngsters with Wandsworth grant

Fresh air and active fun are sparking new friendships at Rosslyn Park FC after the sports club was given a cash injection from the Wandsworth Grant Fund.

Local children and young people now have the chance to use the club’s extensive all-weather pitch for free every Monday after school.

The grant means Rosslyn Park FC can offer supervised kickabout sessions for 11 to 18-year-olds each week until June.

Karl Hoade, Rosslyn Park’s project coordinator and community lead coach, explains: “We really wanted to be able to offer a safe space for young people to come and get active on their own terms, so the grant has allowed us to provide that.

“They can play football, rugby, or even just do their own thing. It’s allowing them to get creative with the space.

“They’ve been telling us how cool it is, and it’s nice to hear them spreading the word among their mates.”

Every Monday from 4-6pm, Rosslyn Park FC runs its open-door policy for youngsters wanting to “use the pitch in a positive way”, adds Karl.

The club has already attracted pupils from local schools Ark Putney Academy, in Pullman Gardens, and Ashcroft Technology Academy, in West Hill, with the youngsters organising their own friendly football matches.

“It’s a really relaxed way for them to play, and meet new friends outside of school,” highlights Karl.

At least 15 youngsters have been using the pitch each week, with numbers growing as word spreads.

Among those using the pitch are the under 14s girls’ rugby team from Ark Putney Academy.

The girls make use of the space after their weekly training sessions ahead of Rosslyn Park’s National Schools Sevens tournament, which will welcome thousands of competitors from 23-27 March.

With the grant, Rosslyn Park also plans to extend its scheme to offer gym sessions to youngsters wanting to learn how to safely use equipment and get fit.

The Wandsworth Grant Fund award is not the only way that the council is supporting Rosslyn Park FC.

Wandsworth Council helps deliver funding for the club’s holiday activity and food (HAF) programme, and is also supporting Rosslyn Park through the Wandsworth Moves Together Grant Fund.

The club will run rugby and multi-sports sessions through the summer term for young people from the Paddock School and Beyond Autism schools.

Find out more about the Wandsworth Grant Fund’s projects.