Footie fans urged to score a goal for disadvantaged youngsters this month

Budding Bellinghams and Watkins wannabes from businesses and organisations across the West Midlands are being invited to put their goal scoring skills to the test for charity later this month.

Birmingham-based youth development organisation Sport 4 Life UK is staging a corporate seven-a-side-tournament at Solihull Moors Football Club at the ARMCO Arena in Solihull on May 24 as part of its annual RiseUP Challenge.

Cash raised at the event will pay for a range of support initiatives for local youngsters such as CV and interview preparation, along with confidence building sessions based around sport.

Sponsored by Intercity, the RiseUP Football Tournament is open to people aged 18 and above, and teams must field a minimum of seven players. Cost for entry to the event, which takes place between 12.30pm and 4.30pm, is £100 per team.

Sport 4 Life UK’s director of People and Strategy Rob Wells appealed to businesses and organisations to sign up.

He said: “We’re rallying individuals and organisations to take action and make a difference in the lives of young people across the West Midlands.

“By getting involved in the tournament, you’re not only staying active but also scoring a big goal for local young people’s futures.

“Every penny contributed will directly impact disadvantaged youngsters, empowering them to move into sustained education, employment and training.”

In addition to battling it out for a coveted trophy, teams will be able to participate in a raffle featuring prizes such as T20 tickets for Edgbaston and vouchers for the cinema, SnowDome and West Midlands Safari Park.

Click here to register your interest.

The deadline for registration is Monday, May 20.

Now in its third year, the RiseUP Challenge is a sport-themed fundraiser in which participants complete 1,000 minutes of physical activity during May.

This could be a daily sports session, commuting to work on foot or bicycle, or even simply exploring the local neighbourhood. As long as fundraisers log 1,000 minutes it counts as successful completion of the challenge.

Based at Digbeth’s Custard Factory, Sport 4 Life UK uses sport as a vehicle to achieve sustained education, training and employment outcomes for young people. Since its inception in 2006, it has grown into the leading sport-for-employability charity across the West Midlands, meaningfully supporting over 2,000 young people towards better futures each year.