Crewe-based charities have teamed up with Crewe Alexandra FC and Cheshire Community Foundation for a new community project, helping to lift people out of poverty through the power of sport and physical activity.

The Wishing Well and Chance Changing Lives have formed a new partnership with Crewe Alexandra FC and their community arm Crewe Alexandra in the Community, providing opportunities for homeless people to take part in football and wellbeing sessions. 

Granted funding by Cheshire Community Foundation, the football and wellbeing project aims to provide homeless people, those vulnerable to homelessness or those currently living without a fixed address with an opportunity to take part in weekly sessions provided by the partnership. 

The project is due to start in October 2023 with sessions delivered at Crewe Alexandra Soccer Centre, off Crewe Road, Shavington (Google).

This project is due to start in October 2023 with sessions delivered at Crewe Alexandra Soccer Centre, off Crewe Road, Shavington.

Chance Changing Lives general manager, Michele Parks, told Nub News: "When a stray football found its way into the car park at our Homeless kitchen we saw a transformation.

"No longer divided by language barriers our guests began a kickabout that brought sheer joy.

"This project is about bringing some of that joy, alongside health and teamwork into lives that are more often filled with trauma, addiction and deprivation.

"The respect and commitment to a team, a sense of belonging and purpose - these are our goals. 

"Who knows what else is possible - we can't wait to find out."

Chance Changing Lives are helping to lift homeless people out of poverty through the new community project (Nub News).

Cheshire Community Foundation funding will help to cover the costs of the sessions, transport for the players, kit and equipment and offer a freshly prepared meal.

This project aims to develop a football team for the players who are currently experiencing homelessness or have no fixed address.

Crewe Alexandra in the Community manager, Ray Walker, said: "We are very excited about the new Wishing Well and Chance Changing Lives partnership to tackle homelessness in Crewe.

"We are really looking forward to engaging with the participants through football.

"We hope to provide a positive environment where all participants can enjoy and feel part of a 'team,' improving their outlook both physically and mentally." 

The Wishing Well and Chance Changing Lives have worked together over several years to deliver provision for local people, with this latest football idea coming about by chance.

This community project aims to develop a football team for the players who are currently experiencing homelessness or have no fixed address (Crewe Alex).

Chief Executive of The Wishing Well, Charles Maines, told Nub News: "We have worked in partnership with Chance Changing Lives and Crewe Alexandra in the Community on different projects to support local people.

"When Michele mentioned the story of the football in the car park, I knew this could be the start of something special which could really make a significant impact.

"A number of our projects harness the power of sport and physical activity. We feel that within this project, football has the ability to help give people a positive activity, a purposeful opportunity and a sense that they belong to something.

"Our long-term aim is that we can provide opportunities for people to build confidence, improve employability and access appropriate housing. 

"We felt we needed Crewe Alexandra FC on board and we were delighted that they have worked with us to help shape the design of the project.

The Wishing Well and Chance Changing Lives have formed a new partnership with Crewe Alexandra FC and their community arm Crewe Alexandra in the Community (Nub News).

"To secure project funding for the next 12 months from the Cheshire Community Foundation is fantastic. The partnership are particularly grateful they are supporting our vision.

"It enables us to focus on our delivery and ensure we can start to transform the fortunes of those currently experiencing homelessness."

An extension to the project will be homeless people, those vulnerable to homelessness or those currently living without a fixed address able to participate in football fixtures across the North West.

Cheshire Community Foundation CEO, Zoe Sheppard, added: "People experiencing homelessness are some of the most disadvantaged in our community.

"Tackling disadvantage was at the heart of our Fund it Forward programme.

The new homeless people community project was granted funding by Cheshire Community Foundation (Nub News).

"Our panel was particularly struck by this pilot project and its use of sport as a catalyst to help people navigate complex and chaotic challenges they may be facing to create a sense of belonging.

"We know this sort of work has been very successful in other places so we look forward to seeing how the project develops in the coming year."  

READ MORE: Crewe Alex complete signing of promising Premier League midfielder.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.