Francis Coquelin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles helped launch new football programme by youth homeless charity Centrepoint.
The programme is designed to give guidance and emplyoment advice to hundreds of youths who are currently living in temporary accomodation. It’s one of several projects that Arsenal are funding thanks to contributions from the players’ wages.
Arsenal have a good relationship with Centrepoint and sent midfielders Francis Coquelin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to help launch the new project. For Coquelin, the experience was a humbling one. “We live in a little bubble, us footballers. I come from a similar area to this. I know what it’s like,” Coquelin said, reports the Evening Standard.
“I’m always happy to come and visit these guys; it brings me back down to earth. What I respect and like a lot about Arsenal is that they do a lot of work in the local area with the Foundation. I’m really happy to be playing for a club that does so much for this community.”
The pair joined in a classroom session designed to boost employability skills before assisting in a coaching session run by community coach Nathan Auguste. Auguste was delighted that the Arsenal players came down to help, and believes the Gunners should receive more recognition for the work they do.
“People aren’t aware of the work Arsenal do in the community but they should be. They’ve got a lot of projects that engage people that wouldn’t normally participate,” Auguste said. “To come here and work with Francis and Ainsley is a childhood dream come true.”
The session took place in the Arsenal Hub, which is next door to the Emirates Stadium. With football becoming increasingly lucrative and existing within its own wealthy bubble, it’s important to stay in touch with the local community and the difficulties that people can go through.
Arsenal certainly do their part, funding these projects and raising thousands of pounds for charity every year.