On Wednesday 4th February, our Head of Operations, Charlotte Gilsenan, flew out to
Zambia for the second
Football for Hope Monitoring and Evaluation workshop. Street League is part of a pilot project, funded by
FIFA and
Streetfootballworld to design and implement a bespoke monitoring and evaluation system for the sports for development sector.
“The week was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the real need for a monitoring and evaluation system, specifically designed for the sector. I feel very fortunate to have been part of its development and enjoyed the workshop tremendously,” said Charlotte.
The week was made up of a number of workshops looking at data collection methods and tools as well as the implementation of the system itself. Three field visits were arranged during the week, alongside the more theoretical elements of the workshop which gave a real insight into a wide range of sports for development activities. These included drills and exercises incorporating HIV and Aids education, and health awareness exercises on how to avoid cholera and malaria.
The whole visit was extremely worthwhile and a great opportunity not only to learn more about monitoring and evaluation but about the sector as a whole.
Please enjoy the next instalment of our GX volunteer's blog for Street League.
The first is from Pauline...
Hello again! It’s been a while since I wrote, having been kept busy at Street League and in the other aspects of Global Xchange.
A couple of weeks ago the team of 18 GX volunteers went up to Cambridge for a weekend break where, on the last day of our stay, a few of us managed to get away and we hired a punt to take out on the river. Being enthusiastic to try punting myself but not wearing the appropriate footwear (high heeled boots) to balance on a moving, slippery bit of wood I braved the cold, took off my boots, rolled up my jeans and after several false attempts in which I nearly sent the boat into the bank I started to get the hang of it. From thereon in it all went smoothly with only minor mishaps such as Nick (another volunteer) getting the punting pole stuck in the mud and leaving it upright poking out of the river surface, and the punt carrying on moving, much to the entertainment of a crowd on an overhead bridge.
After our break it was back to work, attending more sessions, carrying out progressions surveys and spending time in the office doing job searches.
However, last week Street League let us take time out from the office to take part in the Community Sports Leadership Award (CSLA), one of the Directions to Work courses (D2W) at Millwall FC. As well as taking part and getting the opportunity to gain an award it was a valuable opportunity to gain an insight into the progressions side of Street League. We both really enjoyed the week and learning how to run a fun and structured session for children (which included me embracing my inner-child to carry out “superman stretches” as part of the session). Both Ben and I passed the CSLA and after a long week expected to be straight back in the office on Monday. However, it was not to be, as I woke on Monday morning to be greeted by the most snow London has seen in 18 years and a text off Sophie saying the office was closed! Being unable to resist the lure of cold white powder I met up with friends and spent the day wondering in parks and having snowball fights with any random stranger who looked at though they would be willing to rise to the challenge. The unexpected snowfall caused London to slow down which meant that strangers had the time to pass a smile between themselves and share in the child-like excitement that snow often brings.
Now we are in the office again, knuckling down to work. We have to collate all the information we gathered from the progressions surveys and put together a report. We have just over a week left here and so will be putting all our effort into finishing it so that our time at Street League will have been profitable. I’ll be sad to leave Street League as it has been brilliant, with the right amount of work and fun. But I’m trying not to think of that right now, especially as there is still so much to do before the end!
QPR Goals Project Team 32 started last week. Despite a one-day delay due to the snowy conditions, we had 28 starters! An excellent result! Rob Woolley is the co-ordinator and reports that the team size is now a more manageable 22, and they are progressing nicely.
Mick Brosnan is running a Goal Setting day at Millwall this Friday, 13th of February. If this date scares you, please be aware that March also has a Friday the 13th, so be wary! The Goal Setting day is now being recruited for so please send any enquiries to Mick at:
Michael.brosnan@streetleague.co.uk
Goals Project Millwall Team 16 commences on Monday 23rd February and is also being recruited for at the moment. Any enquiries to the same email above.
The Teams I Coach
I coach many players at street league and enjoy the job I perform. I often get asked by the players if I think there team is good and from what I see on the training ground my answer is generally a positive one. However I must say that training and matches are very different from each other, everything in a match is done at high tempo, where as, in training more work is focused on touch, technique, decision making and end product.
Who Is The Best Team?
I can not really say who one of the best teams in street league is as I consider all of my teams to be very strong but what I do think is that the teams I coach are the best teams within street league.
Are You up For The Challenge?
If any of the other coaches want to disagree then I suggest you get your teams down to match days and we can let the football do the talking. In previous months my team has won and come as runners up in the tournament.
Comments On Fellow Coaches
Nicky G.....your players claim to be the best players but I do not see them at match days....bring them down and let’s see how many ballers you have. Your players can not claim a stake in something they do not participate in
Jack.......your North London lads are mouth and no actions, they talk about how they are the best but you have to beat the best to be the best and as far I as I know your players have not beaten mine to date.
Sam.......well you had a lucky day at the last match day and we will be coming to take what is rightfully ours.
So anyone who is up for the challenge then get down to the match days and lets put on a great show for all, let the football do the talking.
Yours Truly
Rizwan Aboo
As you look around this fine website, I'm sure you've been thinking what wonderful images we have that capture the very essence of the work we do. Most of these images are taken for us by a very talented professional photographer,
Mr Tom Miles. Tom has been taken pictures for Street League - for free! - for a number of years now. Those of you who've been with us for a while, may remember
this particular image.
Tom is always available to take pictures at short notice and has photograghed training sessions, matchdays, cup competitions and Directions 2 Work events. Many of the pictures have ended up in our marketing literature, such as the
impact report and our brand new
outreach flyer.
Many thanks to Tom for his ongoing support. In a piece of incredible cyclical web back patting, Tom has written about us and his involvement on his
excellent blog.
For the past three months Street League has been running a session at
Somerstown Community Sports Centre in Camden on Tuesday between 1.30-3.30pm. The session has been aimed at inceasing physical activity amongst homeless men in the borough. Due in no small part to the coach
Aderito Francisco the session has been a huge success. Or maybe it's been the free travel and t-shirts, provided by
Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT).
In January, accompanied by Charlotte Gilsenan, a few of the PCT staff came down to the session to officially hand out the T-shirts, boots and beanies and see how the session was going. They were impressed with the football took some pictures. One of which ended up in
The Camden New Journal.
If you're interested in sending anyone to the session, or attending yourself, contact
Ben on 020 8536 5331.
Street League football training sessions are cancelled today - Wednesday 4th February 2009 and may be cancelled tomorrow and Friday depending upon the weather. Despite roads and transport links improving the pitches we use are still covered in snow and ice. If you have any questions please call us on 0208 536 5331.
For the past three months Street League has been running a session at Somerstown Community Sports Centre in Camden on Tuesday between 1.30-3.30pm. The session has been aimed at inceasing physical activity amongst homeless men in the borough. Due in no small part to the coach Aderito Francisco the session has been a huge success. Or maybe it's been the free travel and t-shirts, provided by Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT). 
