MTGP attends at the epicentre of the most problematic and vulnerable communities in South Lanarkshire. Coaches set up a portable football pitch and skill zones, for a minimum period of 12 weeks (identified as the optimum period required to break down barriers, build trust levels and to introduce partners and alternatives to offending).
No partners participate during this initial ‘introduction period’ to allow the coaches to identify individuals with chaotic lifestyles and to build important trust levels with attendees, parents and residents.
The coaches provide mentoring on a 1-1 basis and act as a vital link for partners to offer support, advice, information and alternatives to offending that would not otherwise be undertaken.
If required, MTGP coaches facilitate the introduction to partner alternatives by accompanying attendees to these alternatives to increase the likelihood of a successful conclusion.
3784 young people attended MTGP for more than one hour during 2016-17 with an average of 48 attending nightly. This was up 477 from 2015-16, a substantial increase despite only 6 communities targeted compared with 10 in 2015-16.
An attendance breakdown identifies a 66% males and 34% females ratio which highlights how football is not just a male oriented sport. Several female attendees are now playing for local teams or professionally for Scottish clubs and have even gone onto represent their country.
Extensive consultation and evaluation is regularly carried out by MTGP involving attendees, parents, residents and partners to ensure that MTGP achieves its aims and outcomes whilst allowing MTGP to constantly evolve to the direct benefit of the individuals and the communities it targets.
Testimonies and individual and community case studies and are regularly obtained which highlight the numerous and varied outcomes achieved as a direct result of MTGP activity.
Moving The Goalposts 