In communities where safe and quality sports facilities are scarce, children are often forced to play on rocky, uneven fields that offer more dust than grass. These conditions hinder their ability to develop athletic skills, connect with their peers, and learn valuable life lessons through sport. At United Through Sport, we understand the transformative power of providing a safe space for children to play, and thanks to your generous support, we have made strides in creating such spaces. Together, we’ve raised £386 from nine dedicated donors, which, alongside additional funding, has allowed us to reach our goal: building a second astroturf soccer field for our participants.
The Challenge: Limited Access to Safe Sports Fields
Many children in our programs come from low-income communities, where safe and well-maintained sports fields are a rarity. Playing on dusty, rocky fields is not only uncomfortable but also limits their physical development and enthusiasm for sports. These conditions can discourage participation, which restricts the benefits of sport as a platform for growth, confidence-building, and community.
A Transformative Solution: High-Quality Astroturf Fields
In 2020, we took a big step forward by constructing our first astroturf field, offering children a place to play soccer in a clean, safe environment. The response has been overwhelmingly positive: participants now have a reliable space where they can focus on the game, build life skills, and form friendships. Following the success of this first field, we sought funding to build a second, allowing us to reach even more children and enhance their experience with a stable, long-term solution.
Impact and Sustainability: Beyond Just Play
The benefits of our new facilities extend well beyond the game. These two astroturf fields offer three core advantages:
- Expanding Program Reach: We now have the capacity to include more children in our life skills through sports programs, allowing us to impact their lives positively on a regular basis.
- Generating Sustainable Income: By renting out the fields for leagues and tournaments, we create a steady income stream that supports our ongoing programs, allowing us to extend our reach and impact without solely relying on donations.
- Creating Employment: Eight previously unemployed young adults from disadvantaged communities have been hired to manage the facility, coach, and referee leagues and tournaments. This employment not only provides them with stability but also enriches the community with strong role models.
A Model for Social Enterprise
Our dual-purpose approach combines social impact with financial sustainability, creating a unique social enterprise model. “The social enterprise project of the 5-a-side turfs has been extremely successful and forms part of a new way of looking at funding, where there is not only a social impact but also a financial return for the organisation,” says Nick Mould, Director of United Through Sport, South Africa. “This facility has reached thousands of children, created employment for eight previously unemployed youth, and brings in a monthly return of $2000, which is reinvested into expanding United Through Sport’s reach and longevity. It’s truly a win-win-win for social development.”
With such promising results, we are planning to expand further with a third turf, enabling more children to benefit from our programs and generating additional employment opportunities within Nelson Mandela Bay’s disadvantaged communities.
Thank you for your support in helping us create lasting change through the power of sport. With your continued partnership, we look forward to bringing even more opportunities, empowerment, and joy to the children who need it most.
