THE ACADEMY

PTSA has been set-up to deliver two key objectives as part of it's overall agenda.

The first, is to help support, encourage and nurture gifted and talented young footballers. PTSA wants to 'bridge the gap' between grass roots and professional football by providing these young people with the support that they need to make a smooth transition from amateur football to relative elitism.

The second objective is to work in line with the government drive to ensure that young people are provided with the 5 key outcomes that they see as being most important in their lives, namely to: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and to achieve economic well-being (Every Child Matters 2003). As part of this PTSA are working hard to increase levels of youth sports participation, particularly for those who frequently encounter barriers in accessing existing mainstream provisions in their area.

PTSA is currently working with young people between the ages of 9-16 years, living or studying in one of the three neighbouring London boroughs of Camden, Islington and Westminster. Recruitment to the programme to date has been through a range of channels including: local schools, youth and community groups, specialist services for young people in addition to self referrals. Individual referees have come in the form of school teachers, youth workers, learning mentors, connexions personal advisors, parents, key workers, youth offending team officers, as well as a variety of specialist workers from backgrounds in sexual health, mental health and substance misuse.