Kicks on the Beach was an event that was inspired by a LOVEmyBEACH Active Coast project, which was designed to inspire local leisure partners as well as the community to see the potential of the beach environment as a clean and safe environment where a healthy lifestyle can be enjoyed. This included: Blackpool FC Community Trust, Blackpool Council, Wyre Council, Fylde Council, coordinated by the Turning Tides partnership.
Following on from the success of this, we decided to take our weekly Kicks session to the beach, knowing that many children in Blackpool do not, both now or ever, engage with the beach due to social and economic factors. As such, we worked with Blackpool Transport and Blackpool Council, along with several youth groups, and arranged for transportation to be provided. Additionally, we were supported by the Blackpool FC Academy team who supported the event by refereeing and delivering activities, as part of their involvement with NCS. The upshot being that over 200 local children took part in playing football on the beach providing a unique opportunity for the children and the Community Trust to deliver an innovative and fun contribution towards a significant issue within the town.
