Moving The Goalposts

Welcome

Moving The Goalposts (MTGP) is a unique, community based, diversionary initiative offering an alternative to gang related violence, crime and anti-social behaviour. We seek to benefit and empower all who attend, regardless of age or gender by assisting individuals and communities through a structured, integrated, development approach, providing support mentoring and advice. MTGP provides a link for partners to offer alternatives to offending and to promote positive lifestyle opportunities that may not otherwise take place. MTGP actively encourages and supports increased community wellbeing within South Lanarkshire’s most vulnerable communities.

We use a sports based developmental approach to address the social problems in our most vulnerable communities. MTGP has been operating since 2008 and continues to exceed all expectations. Extensive evaluation with attendees, parents, residents and partners allows MTGP to regularly expand our remit to meet needs and demand, leading to an extremely wide range of individual and community outcomes.

MTGP operates throughout the year, during the most prolific times for violence and disorder within the most vulnerable and deprived communities of South Lanarkshire as identified through in-depth partnership analysis by Police Scotland.

Police Scotland analysis ensures that MTGP targets ‘the right areas at the right time.’ MTGP has a history of attracting the most ‘hard to reach individuals’ within South Lanarkshire which other initiatives are simply unable to do. When MTGP has left an area Police Scotland carry out further analysis to confirm what effect MTGP activity has had on a targeted area before, during and after attendance.

Numerous individual and community based outcomes are regularly achieved along with with significant and sustained reductions in violent crime and disorder. Youth related violence and disorder has seen a 9 year annual average reduction of 57.4% in vulnerable communities targeted by MTGP

Through the use of a portable football pitch, specialist coaches, skill zones and community football leagues, Moving the Goalposts breaks down barriers and re-builds important trust levels whilst actively supporting and encouraging young people, parents and residents. MTGP thereafter acts as a catalyst for partners to offer a wide range of alternatives and support.

Our priorities are:-

Reducing incidents of violent crime, disorder and the levels of re-offending
Promoting social inclusion and assisting community capacity building
Creating supported pathways into volunteering, education, training or employment opportunities
Improving health and fitness levels and supporting the development of community wellbeing within South Lanarkshire’s most vulnerable communities
Offering access to coach education programmes and skills training

About

Who We Are

Using the power of football, Moving The Goalposts brings together young people, parents, residents and members of the community who are identified as extremely hard to reach. Our aim is to create safer, stronger and healthier communities through the support and development of individual, group and community potential.

Group celebration

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The Coaches

MTGP has far exceeded all expectations and constantly expands to meet needs to the direct benefit of the vulnerable communities and its residents that it targets. MTGP would not have been as successful for the last 10 years without the skills and unrelenting commitment displayed by the staff and coaches of Centrespot Development who have been the sole providers of all football related matters for MTGP.

The coaches at Centrespot Development form long lasting relationships with attendees, parents and residents. The majority of excellent outcomes achieved by MTGP would not be possible without their involvement. They are responsible for the formation of the Choose Life Community Leagues which allows MTGP to be actively involved with attendees long after MTGP has left their area.

The coaches provided their time free of charge to allow the leagues to grow and develop. The leagues have proved so successful that 3 age related leagues are now in operation with many teams and individuals attending since the leagues inception in 2010. Centrespot Developemnt coaches make themselves available to communities and individuals to offer support and mentoring outwith MTGP operating times further enhancing MTGP’s standing in the communities it targets.

Charitable Status

Moving the Goalposts (SC045729) is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with all activity overseen by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The trustees are volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that Moving the Goalposts remains fit for purpose whilst ensuring that MTGP expands our remit to meet the needs and demands of individuals and the communities MTGP targets. Through the good work of the charity all activities will continue to be offered free of charge.

Our Objectives

To engage participants in a wide range of activities which link to health, wellbeing, social inclusion, education, volunteering, training and employment
To socially include those who are identified as very hard to reach
To increase health and fitness and encourage community wellbeing
To reduce crime and re-offending rates within identified hot spot locations of South Lanarkshire’s most deprived and vulnerable Communities.
To create supported routes into training, education, employment and developing skills and workforce
To encourage volunteering and increase community capacity building
To support increased participation in education, training and employment

Links to National and Local Priorities

MTGP has been in operation since 2008 with all activities supporting local and national priorities. Our activities play an important role in several strategic outcomes including South Lanarkshire’s Community Safety Strategy, Community Justice Strategy and Single Outcome Agreement. This in turn supports the Scottish Government’s national strategies. Local strategies include:-

‘Positively change the culture of violence where it exists in our communities’ (Violence Reduction)
‘Residents are law abiding and engage in positive behaviours’ (Violence Reduction)
‘Safe and attractive communities in which people want to live’ (Antisocial Behaviour)
‘A reduction in the impact which antisocial behaviour has on people’s lives’ (Antisocial Behaviour)
‘Confident and safe communities where residents feel positive about where they live, work and visit’ (Personal Safety)
‘Communities have a positive attitude which contributes to an equality of opportunity for all free from discrimination and harassment’ (Promoting Equality and Diversity)

What We Support

Reducing crime
Tackling alcohol related anti-social behaviour, disorder and its consequences
Reducing the fear of crime and increasing public reassurance
Diverting young people from crime, gang related activity and anti-social behaviour
Reducing the number of people drinking more than the recommended alcohol levels
Increasing the number of people stating that their health levels are ‘very good’

SFA Coaching Awards