BiG (Besty’s Inspirational Guidance) CIC wins grant to narrow gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity through The Dream BiG Equalities Youth Coaching Programme
London, Brixton (10.25.2023) BiG (Besty’s Inspirational Guidance) C.I.C. announced today that it has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Foot Locker Foundation Community Engagement Program to support The Dream BiG Equalities Youth Coaching Programme within the London Borough of Lambeth. The funding part of a partnership between the Foot Locker Foundation and Laureus Sport for Good (Laureus) is designed to bridge gaps in health, wealth, and upward mobility for youth in under-invested communities and to promote youth empowerment and community wellness.
This project that we are running in partnership with the Foot Locker Foundation and Laureus primary objective is to contribute to Health & Wellbeing and our secondary objective, is to support Women & Girls who come from vulnerable backgrounds. Inequalities and mental health are very common problems in our community and all our services are aimed to prevent youth violence, empower young people to achieve positive outcomes, raise confidence and build resilience that work. We will use coaching & football to not only meet our primary & secondary goals but our aim will be to also deter Girls and Young Women(GYW) in Lambeth from youth crime, but to achieve academic attainment and to value themselves by arming them with tools to assert themselves against domestic and emotional abuse and other community/individual risk factors that often present itself due to disproportionate or disadvantaged experiences in our society.
“We are extremely grateful to both Foot Locker Foundation and Laureus for the opportunity to deliver the Dream BiG Equalities Youth Coaching Programme as we are committed to supporting GYW acquire necessary coaching, football & life skills. We will also engage them in personal development workshops that will lead to holistic development and education through mentoring, tutoring and inspiring activities and workshops, developing leaders to become mentors to girls within their communities. Lionel Best, Founder, Inspirational Life Coach & Director of Football”
The Community Empowerment Program is part of Foot Locker, Inc.’s $200 million commitment to its Leading Education and Economic Development (LEED) initiative, which is focused on fueling education and economic opportunity for youth in under-invested communities.
“At Foot Locker, we feel a responsibility to drive meaningful and lasting change across our company and the global communities we serve by empowering young people,” said Tai Neal, Vice President of Strategy for LEED. “We use a multi-pronged approach anchored by our LEED initiative – our pledge to invest in, amplify, and empower the Black community which has played a pivotal role in shaping sneaker culture. With our partners at Laureus Sport for Good, we are thrilled to welcome this year’s Community Empowerment Grant winners who share our belief in the youth from underserved communities and have the passion and knowledge to help them develop to their full potential.”
BiG (Besty’s Inspirational Guidance) CIC is one of 12 organisations funded through the second round of the Laureus-Foot Locker Foundation Community Engagement Program, which awarded grants ranging from $25,000-$100,000 each. The program builds on Laureus and Foot Locker’s shared goal to inspire and empower youth.
“We are proud to partner with these twelve organizations through the Community Empowerment Program,” said Edwin Moses, Laureus Academy Member and track and field legend. “At Laureus, we believe that sport has the power to change the lives of young people around the world, and leading that charge are local organizations like these, who understand the deepest needs of their youth and how to best serve and invest in their future.”
BiG ( Besty’s Inspirational Guidance) CIC has been focused on issues related to equity and empowerment of youth for many years. It has had a positive impact on local residents through delivering various activities which involve different sports sessions, youth engagement events, motivational, employability, life & social skills development programmes, health and wellbeing activities and training. We have served in the community for over 12 years reaching out to children and young people (CYP) age groups between 4 and 25 years old. The programmes are a success and participants become healthy and active members of their community, enhancing their physical, emotional and mental health.
Female only Coaching Programme
The Coaching element of this program will engage women in:
• In-house development practical football coaching activities,
• Accredited courses, and
• A personal development online programme
Practical in-house development sessions will develop skills around the management of participants, organisation, communication, and how to devise session plans. Through accredited online courses, young adults will engage in weekly webinars and e-learning to develop skills to coach players of all ages and abilities and gain qualifications. All learning experiences will provide guidance and knowledge for participants to follow the FA’S women and girls’ football strategy, Inspiring positive change principles.
The Football element will provide a platform for girls in the local community to engage them in healthy physical activities and help develop personal and social skills for improved health and wellbeing. They will engage in fun football activities including development football games and matches, which will enhance their understanding of football therefore developing problem solving skills, and decision-making, learning how to assess risks versus safety, skills and tools needed in every day life.
During personal development sessions, GYW will participate in Mentoring/Tutoring workshops aimed at empowering them to value themselves and motivate GYW to believe in themselves. It is important for girls and young women to stay safe, see their worth, and know their value and place in society. Therefore the support we aim to provide will also show GYW how to assert themselves.
“We believe that every child and young person has the right to achieve!”
BiG (Besty’s Inspirational Guidance) C.I.C. believe that every child and young person has the right to achieve. And with hard work, resilience and support, we strongly believe they can, and they will! We are fully committed to supporting CYP to become the very best versions of themselves and will continuously design, develop and deliver services that provides a platform for young people to achieve.
Our goal, is to create a legacy where we help develop young leaders to become inspirational role models within their community to support and empower others to take over the baton. We want to enhance emotional well-being and improve physival and mental health supporting and helping to equip CYP through adversities. BiG CIC is not just about one person or one generation, our vision is to provide the support and tools required that helps every child, young person and young adult who access our services, to reach their full potential. We seek to personalise our service to individuals so that they feel supported, encouraged and motivated to become the best they can, and inspire their peers to do the same for generations to come.
About Foot Locker, Inc.
Foot Locker, Inc. is a leading footwear and apparel retailer that unlocks the “inner sneakerhead” in all of us. With approximately 2,600 retail stores in 26 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a franchised store presence in the Middle East and Asia, Foot Locker, Inc. has a strong history of sneaker authority that sparks discovery and ignites the power of sneaker culture through its portfolio of brands, including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos.
About Laureus
Laureus is a global charity that supports children and young people by using sport as a tool to end violence, discrimination, and inequality. Since inception in 2000, Laureus has reached and helped change the lives of more than six and a half million children and young people through the power of sport.
