Youth Well-Being through Sports and Dance (24 Months)

Location: Merky FC HQ
Duration: 24 months
Participants: Young people aged 9–18 from Croydon
Sessions: Weekly – Football & Dance Fit

Delivered by Communities First Foundation
Supported through Go! London, the capital’s largest community sport fund.

Go! London brings together funders including the Greater London Authority, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England, in collaboration with London Marathon Events and London Sport.

Overview

This programme promotes youth well-being by combining sport and dance with structured mental health support.

Sessions take place weekly and provide a safe, engaging environment where young people can improve their physical health, build confidence, and develop positive habits while receiving ongoing emotional support.

Football sessions run from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, and Dance Fit sessions run from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, offering up to four hours of active engagement each week.

Wrap-Around Mental Well-Being Support

Each session includes structured emotional and mental well-being support to ensure participants feel supported before, during, and after activity.

This includes:

Pre- and post-session emotional check-ins (30 minutes)
One-to-one mentoring for participants requiring additional support
Mentors trained in safeguarding and mental health first aid.

Beyond in-person sessions, participants can access additional support through:

Online check-ins (video or chat-based)
Monthly goal-setting and progress reviews
Access to an emergency support line for urgent concerns

Staffing and Mentorship

The programme is delivered by a dedicated and experienced team, including:

One Lead Mentor and two Support Mentors providing emotional support, mentoring, and safeguarding
Two Football Coaches delivering physical activity and structured sessions
One Dance Instructor integrating movement with emotional resilience and expression

Community Engagement and Life Skills Development

Alongside physical activity and wellbeing support, the programme focuses on developing key life skills.

Participants build:

Emotional regulation
Confidence and self-awareness
Teamwork and communication
Discipline and consistency

To celebrate progress and strengthen community connections, the programme hosts quarterly community events, bringing together participants, families, and staff in a positive and inclusive environment.

Impact and Commitment

By combining sport, dance, and structured wellbeing support, this programme delivers a holistic approach to youth development.

Over 24 months, participants benefit from: