Southend United Community & Educational Trust are just 10 days away from finding out if they have been successful at the 2009 Beyond Sport Awards, where they will be joined by political leaders, entrepreneurs, aid organisations and governing bodies.
The 'Goals! Life Skills' project, run by the Community Trust, has been short-listed in the 'Best Project by a Professional Sports Team' category at the 2009 Beyond Sport Awards and Southend United will find out if they have won at the Beyond Sport summit event in London on Thursday July 9th.
Speakers at the event will include the likes of Tony Blair, Sir Richard Branson and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Beyond Sport is a global initiative that seeks to unearth, celebrate and support the world's most inspirational sports projects, people and organisations that drive positive change through sport.
Southend United Community & Educational Trust's 'Goals! Life Skills' project has been running for two years and helps to raise the aspirations of young people aged between 13 and 16, some of whom have many complex issues to deal with in their lives.
Goals! also re-engages young people into education, providing pathways into further education and employment.
Being nominated for this award demonstrates that Southend United are now part of a select group that truly represent how sport can be employed as an instrument to drive social change within a community.
Steve Goodsell, CEO of the Trust, said: "We are delighted and proud to have made it through to the finals and would like to thank everyone who has played a part in helping to make Southend United Goals such a success.
"Organisations such as Connexions, the Football Foundation, East of England Development Agency, South East Essex College, Jack Petchey Foundation and Southend Primary Care Trust have helped us to establish Goals! as a truly effective method of helping our young people become responsible citizens - and achieve their own goals in life."
Southend United Club Captain Adam Barrett and Manager Steve Tilson have also lent their support to the project. Barrett commented "As an ex-pupil of a local secondary school, I am really pleased that this type of project is available to young people in the town.
"It is great to see Goals! Life Skills being delivered by Southend United FC."
Southend United faced prestigious opposition from major clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham who all entered projects in the same category, but didn't make the shortlist.
You can leave a message of support for our Goals! Life Skills project on the Beyond Sport website by clicking HERE and going to 'add comment' at the bottom of the page.
Southend United Community and Educational Trust are a registered charity. For more information on how to support the work of the Trust in the community contact Steve Goodsell on 01702 341351 or email s.goodsell@southendunited-cet.co.uk
