Banbridge District Council has teamed up with the UNLTD Ignite Awards scheme to run ‘Football Lifeline’, a free eight-week training course aimed at helping locally unemployed people aged 16 to 30 to gain new skills and increase their employability.

Developed by ex Chelsea player Billy Sinclair, the coaching sessions are taken by former Irish League players and managers who are giving up their free time to help train, coach and referee friendly games.
  
The first session was held at Banbridge Leisure Centre on Friday 27 April and runs every Friday morning from 11am to 1pm. A number of places are still available for participants who would like to take part. All they have to provide is their own training gear and footwear suitable for 3G and 4G pitches.

Chairman of Banbridge District Council, Councillor Joan Baird, has welcomed the ‘Football Lifeline’ initiative, saying: “These sessions provide a fantastic support network for unemployed individuals, enabling them to develop their communication, social and interpersonal skills - all of which are vitally important in helping to gain employment in this tough economic climate. I would encourage more individuals to take part in this initiative.”
 
As part of this initiative participants will also benefit from additional health-related sessions which are being organised through the ‘Closing the Gap’ project.

For further details and to register ‘Football Lifeline’, contact Billy Sinclair on 07927 307929.