Inclusion Ventures – Panna Boss
Bringing young people together for football
Set up by Inclusion Ventures, Panna Boss is a fun and creative street football group, which engages children and young people in the Clacton and Jaywick area who are physically inactive.
The charity Inclusion Ventures, aims to improve the lives of vulnerable young people from the most disadvantaged communities in Jaywick and West Clacton; supporting them to discover a wider perspective and positive future that fulfils their potential. The Panna Boss football sessions provided a safe space for young people to get to know others in the community, get active and play an informal game of football, in the hope that this behaviour would be sustained going forward.
It was identified that young people were at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour, and specifically criminal damage in the area, due to the lack of opportunities and feeling excluded. Inclusion Ventures felt there was a need for additional activities where physical activity could help support these young children and lead them onto a better path, and through Active Essex’s Find Your Active fund, were able to set up the Panna Boss sessions.
The Panna Boss hourly sessions are held every Wednesday in Clacton and Jaywick and the area is set up with goals, lights, music and equipment. Some of the young people attend specifically for the hour with Panna then go on to stay with the Inclusion Ventures youth group, to enjoy other activities that are provided.
The majority of participants are quite inactive during the day, with their only regular exercise being the walk to and from school. Accessing Panna Boss has supported these young people to extend their exercise weekly and has allowed them to make friends and learn new skills.
The young people arrive ready for the Panna football and some of the harsher weather through the wintertime has not deterred them. Some of the parents come and watch, which is a fantastic opportunity for them to see their children playing and enjoying time with their peers.
