City care leavers impress at national football tournament
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Care Leavers from Wolverhampton proudly represented the city at the Pro Alliance National Championship Cup recently.
The tournament, held at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, brought together over 400 care experienced young people from 34 local authorities across England and Wales.
The City of Wolverhampton Council's REACH Leaving Care service entered two teams into the tournament, Wolverhampton Warriors A and Wolverhampton Warriors B, with players demonstrating fantastic commitment and teamwork, particularly given their limited time training together.
Wolverhampton Warriors A delivered an outstanding performance, topping their group without conceding a single goal. They went on to defeat two-time champions Warwickshire in the semi-final before narrowly missing out on the trophy to a team from Derbyshire in a closely fought final. Wolverhampton Warriors B also performed strongly in a competitive group, showing resilience and determination throughout their matches.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "The tournament was about far more than football – it showcased the grit, determination and resilience of Wolverhampton’s care leavers. “The sense of team spirit and togetherness across both squads was a standout success and something the service is keen to build on, and on behalf of the young people I would like to say a big thank you to the staff that make opportunities like this a reality."
The REACH Leaving Care service is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for care leavers – not only in sport but across a wide range of experiences that support personal growth and confidence – and is currently seeking sponsorship or other support to expand these opportunities, whether this be through financial donations, work, or wider experiences. Anyone who can help is asked to please contact Team Manager Gemma Northern on 01902 556273.
