Footwork EU - Football Works

Football Works is a 36 month project that aims to bring together professional football clubs and prisons across Europe to facilitate the rehabilitation of prisoners through sport. The programme will use football as a catalyst for change to tackle the high reoffending rates and provide real opportunities to better prepare prisoners for their release and to secure future employment. Prisoners are a uniquely isolated group, that require specific and specialised projects that will assist in their re-integration into our European communities. Football Works therefore promotes the social power of football to provide employment opportunities for participating prisoners upon release. The consortium believes that through football, hard to reach target groups can be approached, teaching life and employability skills in a way only a few other organisations can. The project will include five 12-week delivery phases incorporating regular football activities, alongside educational workshops, and three European Football Works Festivals. Participation in regular physical activity will contribute to improved physical and mental health, as well as teach valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and respect. Reintegration into society and securing employment after incarceration is unpredictable and often difficult. Providing opportunities for participants to gain a range of skills and qualifications will increase their chances of securing employment, and subsequently reduce re-offending. Additionally, the project will establish a sustainable support network outside of the prison for released prisoners who have taken part in the project, to ensure they are well supported on their journey to securing employment. This will ensure project participants can seek advice and support when necessary and improve their quality of life upon release. Providing these opportunities are essential to decrease reoffending rates and subsequently reduce overall crime rates.