MAKING THE MOST OF IT
Posted in Latest NewsAugust 29, 2014Comments Off
On a wet and windy Wednesday Dalymount Park played host to an unusual match that marked the end of a community football project.
Both teams comprised young people from socially disadvantaged areas in Dublin 7 and community gardai working in those areas. The attendance included local TDs Joe Costello and Maureen O’Sullivan, Deputy Lord Mayor Larry O’Toole, senior gardai and former and current Bohemian managers Roddy Collins and Owen Heary.
Several weeks of football training and this game were one aspect of the MOST youth justice programme. This aims to give new directions and opportunities to young people who have been cautioned by the courts or who are considered at risk of falling into the judicial and penal systems.
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MOST (Montpellier and O’Devaney Gardens Striving Together) is one of about 100 youth diversion projects running in the country.
The Bohemian Foundation, a new charitable initiative of Bohemian FC, is supporting the MOST project as one of its first actions. The Foundation has invited the project participants to a Bohemians home game and to meet the players.
The Bohemian Foundation is also arranging for the young people to visit Mountjoy Prison, where Bohemians have also been supporting a football project. The visitors will hear talks on prison life from current prisoners.
Alison Finn, MOST co-ordinator, told bohemianfc.com that the project aims to divert young people from a path that could lead to prison, by building relations with the Garda through shared activities.
Football is one of the tools they use, she explained. The FAI is supporting that part of the programme by providing the services of a qualified coach.
Ruairi Gogan, Head of Community Programmes at the Irish Youth Justice Service, stated that the youth diversion projects they support are not just about the fun of football. The participants are also guided to stop any offending behaviour and to develop their life skills.
After the match on Wednesday the young players were presented with certificates of participation.
