On The Breadline: On the pitch, they forget their fears … for 90 minutes

For the 90 minutes that children use the pitch at a Bloomsbury Football session, they leave their worries behind.

The group has helped 13-year-old goalkeeper Shola since their father Damian Jones had to give up work in security in the wake of Shola and a sibling moving in with him, rendering paid-for after-school activities unaffordable.

Damian, who lives in Wembley, said the rise in the cost of living has hit him. “My heating costs have doubled,” he said. “I’ve cut back on everything. I saved every penny for Shola’s birthday present. We have no money left for Christmas presents.”

Bloomsbury Football works with around 5,000 children a week across London, many from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, promoting their physical and mental well-being.

“Football has enabled Shola to be more sociable and to communicate and mingle more effectively with peers,” said Mr Jones.

The charity is one of those eligible to benefit from our On the Breadline Christmas appeal in partnership with The Childhood Trust, which funds groups helping disadvantaged children in London.

Under Bloomsbury Football’s financial assistance model, families like the Jones are eligible for subsidised or free places to play football. The charity also helps with the cost of kit and runs schemes for groups who might not otherwise take part, such as those with disabilities or refugees.

Founder Charlie Hyman said that around two-thirds of children coming to their sessions receive financial help.

“It is worrying how many parents have called over the last few weeks saying their child can’t come to the holiday programme unless there is a meal provided because they can’t afford to provide it,” he said. “Children can’t play on an empty stomach so now we are providing hot meals.”

Another sign of the cost-of-living toll is the rise in parents who say they are struggling even to afford the subsidised £2 session rate. The charity has further cut the cost to £1, but this will put pressure on the charity’s budgets.

Bloomsbury Football operates across eight boroughs, with the majority of participants from Camden, Westminster and Islington. It has also seen a surge in its girls’ teams, bolstered by the Lionesses’ victory at the Euros.

Josh Arnold, who runs the charity’s academy for skilled players, said sport has a power in bringing children from all walks of life together. “The team I was coaching last season had some better-off players alongside refugees who’d just arrived,” he said.

“Some of them could barely speak English but within six months they were best friends and speaking perfect English.”

Mr Arnold added: “Sport can remove worries from anyone’s life for as long as they’re on the pitch. The moments they create where they are one team and they’re having a laugh — you can’t replicate that.”