A rising football star from Redbridge who was supported by the
Borough Drug Action Team to beat his addiction and to set up a
groundbreaking project offering soccer coaching and drugs outreach
work has been put forward for a Home Office award.
"The power of someone reaching out to you is unbelievable,
that's what Air Football is all about."
Former Fulham youth player Colm Whitty, has been nominated as a
potential individual winner of the new National Tackling Drugs
Changing Lives Award which rewards outstanding work in tackling
problems caused by drugs or alcohol addiction.
Colm founded the Air Football project which offers football
coaching alongside drugs outreach work to young people in
Redbridge.
Colm is more than your average coach. Having once been signed to
play for the Fulham youth team, his top-flight football career came
to an end when he got involved in drugs himself. Supported through
his rehabilitation, he's now qualified to help others in similar
situations.
"when I was at rock bottom a handful of people supported me and
changed my life."
The Air Football project was funded as a pilot by Redbridge’s
Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) to provide service users with
information, exercise, team building experience, improve confidence
and provide vocational activities.
Air football teams have achieved great success in football
tournaments and championships, encouraging women and men to follow
a career in soccer.
Colm and the DAAT has recently won a bid for three years funding
from the Football Foundation to ensure the project is able to
continue.
"I can't believe it - being nominated is a fantastic
feeling.
Colm said: "I can't believe it - being nominated is a fantastic
feeling. I'm passionate about what I do - when I was at rock bottom
a handful of people supported me and changed my life. The power of
someone reaching out to you is unbelievable, that's what Air
Football is all about."
The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Award was launched by the Home
Office earlier this year. Two awards are available, one for an
individual and one for a team, and each winner will receive £10,000
for their organisation to spend on the prevention or treatment of
drug misuse.
Councillor Vanessa Cole, Cabinet Member for Community Safety
said: "Congratulations to Colm as well as member of the DAAT
project for their achievement.
"This shows we are determined to use pioneering and imaginative
solutions to tackle the problems caused by drug and alcohol
addiction."