Meet the CEO creating change in South London through the power of football | Charity Today News

KIERAN Connolly is not your average CEO. Born in South London and raised in Lewisham, he got involved in football coaching at 16. Feeling frustrated after clubs pulled back on many of their free community outreach programmes, in 2016, Kieran decided to take matters into his own hands by creating Sports Fun 4 All—a charity that provides free weekly football sessions for young people from ages 3 to 19, all over South London.

The charity has grown from providing just a few sessions a week to nearly 20, including a recently created girls-only session, catering to around 250 – 300 young people per week. Just last year alone, Sports Fun 4 All provided just under 850 hours of free football coaching, engaged over 2,600 young people and provided over 1400 free school meals as part of the Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) Programme with the Department of Education.

When asked what drove him to set up the charity, Kieran emphasises how the aim of the charity goes beyond just football, he said:

“People will often describe us as a football charity, but what we do is so much bigger than that. Football is the vehicle we use as it’s the best way to engage with young people, especially young men.

“We’re not looking for the next Jadon Sancho or Eddie Nketiah. We’re here to provide a place for young people, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, to socialise with other young people in a safe and informal environment, remove barriers to sports participation, and learn and speak with people from the local community.

“Community really is at the heart of all that we do. From the young people we recruit and train as coaches to the facilities, we deliver the sessions to the local police youth engagement teams, who often attend our sessions. It’s a local service provided by local people for local people.”

Now, though, Kieran has hit a roadblock—funding—and is calling on the local councils and corporates to do more to support grassroots sports and recreation programmes like Sports Fun 4 All so that he can continue to provide this much-needed work but also expand it and look to provide sessions across all of London and beyond.

When asked to pick out a success story from the programme, Kieran did not hesitate to share the powerful story of Elias Fazli. Originally from Denmark, and the son of Afghani parents, he came to London aged 10 and had a steep learning curve adjusting to life in the UK.

Elias had been aware of the programme through his little brother; however, he only started volunteering for Sports Fun 4 All sessions in Downham, South-East London, at 16. At the beginning, Elias was nervous, and his coaching reflected this, but he soon grew in confidence and proficiency and is now a paid staff member and Head Coach of their Downham Football Project.

In addition to coaching, Elias led a trip to Wembley for some of the young people to watch the Women’s FA Cup Final between Man City and Chelsea. For many, this was their first live football experience, and it didn’t cost them a penny.

Elias is now in his second year of Sports Management at Westminster University as he looks to take his coaching career to new heights.

Kieran said:

“Elias epitomises what Sports Fun 4 All is about.

“He saw the positive impact that the programme was having in his local community and wanted to get involved. Now, that same programme has given him confidence, a new network of friends and mentors, and ultimately inspired him on a career path that we have no doubt he will excel in.”

For more information about Sports Fun 4 All’s work, including how you can get involved and donate, you can check out their Local Giving page here.