Exiles Youth receive financial boost
The
Kent Exiles Youth teams are pleased to announce it has received a substantial
financial boost from the Kent County Council Youth Opportunity Fund.
The
fund is set up to help young people, and supports the development of positive
activities and things to do for young people and seeks to widen their role as
decision makers, grant givers and project leaders, conveying a powerful message
to young people that their needs and aspirations are important, a message that
the Kent Exiles organisation wholeheartedly supports.
The fund
specifically accepts applications from the young people themselves, so four
members of the Exiles spent their own time in completing the application, and
were delighted with the positive outcome. “It’s really shown me that if we take
a lead we can make a difference” said Exiles youth linebacker Gary Owens, “we
heard about the fund, and decided to apply. The club do a huge amount for us,
and we wanted to try and give something back ourselves, the fund has certainly
worked and I am now working with the clubs committee to ensure it is well
spent”.
Commenting
on the application, the Kent County Council awards panel commented “the panel
felt this was a positive project to support and hope the amount awarded will
help the club to purchase the equipment needed”.
The
club committee were also delighted with the achievement, “we actively encourage
our players to improve both on, and off, the pitch” commented Chairman Dave
Pester, “every year we see our players go on to succeed either academically at
University, or physically on the pitch. Several of our players now excel in our
senior team, and recently five were selected to trial with the Great Britain
Lions team who play in the European championships, one also had professional
trials with NFL Europe, it clearly shows what our young people are capable of
achieving”.
The
club are now looking to build on this success with a strong showing in their on
field results this season, and are now back in training every Sunday and
Thursday, new recruits aged 14 and over are always welcome to join their two
youth teams, no matter what their size or physical attributes. The club can be
contacted via their website
www.kentexiles.co.uk