TO CARE IS TO DO-TO DARE IS TO DO

Having made  too many managers and backroom staff unemployed over recent years, it is ironic that Tottenham Hotspur football club is finding jobs for the people in the local community. The club’s charitable foundation is providing a facility for people to get into training and jobs. The Spurs’ brand has formed a partnership with Haringey Council, the Department of Work and Pensions through Jobcentre and businesses in the area. Spurs players become ambassadors and the club hosts events at the stadium with employment skills' programmes for those in need. The scheme was launched in April last year and has already sourced over 500 jobs in the community. The club is central to the London borough that has the third highest benefit claim in the city and where there is definitely a need for an economic boost. Tottenham Hotspur FC has launched a £300 million redevelopment of their White Hart Lane stadium, boosting its capacity to 56,000 seats, with attached retail properties including a Sainsbury’s supermarket employing 280 local workers. Seeing the club as the “economic driver” in the area, THFC is taking its responsibility seriously. Advertising is aimed at the local area, with schemes in place to help people improve their CVs and interview skills, starting an apprenticeship or getting a City and Guilds at one of the company's Food Colleges.

Linked to this is a social boost, with programmes , such as Kickz, targeting youths, especially 12-19 year olds and vulnerable residents.  Spurs players go out into the community twice a week to promote the foundation, knowing that many of their colleague super stars had roots in similar backgrounds. The foundation motto is “To care is to do”, reflected in the club’s motto “To dare is to do”. Maybe the foundation will help Tim Shearwood find some work this summer.

Ledley King, the Club's Skills Ambassador and a representative for the Mayor of London's regeneration programme says:

It's a great place for both boys and girls to come along and I can only wish that there were more things like this around when I was younger. I'm delighted that the project is up and running and that youngsters are showing an interest. Having spoken to the young people myself, they seem happy with the project and happy to participate in the different sports on offer.