CAFC Soccer South Africa

In 2002 the Charlton community scheme undertook a groundbreaking initiative in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Using football as a vehicle, the aim of the project was to divert children away from crime and disorder, and educate them around issues such as citizenship, paraffin awareness and hygiene.

Working in partnership with British Airways and Southwark Metropolitan Police, this three-year programme was funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and allowed key Addicks personnel and community coaches to visit South Africa four times a year to deliver the initiative.

During these trips more than 1,000 children were coached and put through workshops, while representatives of the South African Police Service plus community volunteers and teachers were put through the Football Association's Level One coaching qualification - the first time the FA had granted permission for this qualification to be delivered outside the UK.

Over the course of three-year project, 37 candidates received the coaching qualification and the community scheme also passed on an infrastructure and knowledge of how a community cohesion programme could run successfully in the township of Alexandra was put in place, and ownership of the initiative was taken on via the South African partners.

In 2006 British High Commissioner Paul Boateng visited the project, and was so impressed with the UK multi-agency approach and the impact this programme had had on the lives of children and adults in the township, that he requested CAFC Soccer South Africa, British Airways and Southwark Metropolitan Police undertook a similar programme in Cape Town.

Cape Town

The task laid down by the British High Commissioner to deliver a similar programme in two townships in Cape Town became more challenging than the project in Johannesburg.

It was to bring together and harmonise two townships of Kayletia and Mitchell's Plain, using the power of football.

Mirroring the successful programme that was delivered in Alexandra, in March 2007 the UK partners started to coach 2,000 children in 16 schools, educating them on citizenship and the dangers of gun and knife crime, and again focused on training coaches to continue to deliver the programme in their absence.

On this occasion, 24 candidates received the FA Level One coaching certificate, with 10 of these being police officers.

Due to the impact of the work carried out in Johannesburg and the media interest it generated, the work of CAFC Soccer South Africa and its partners in Cape Town was covered by numerous media outlets. The Telegraph, the Times and the Sunday Mirror all ran articles on the programme, and ITN news followed staff throughout the week.

With senior Charlton staff such as football club chairman Martin Simons, chief executive Peter Varney and ex-Addicks goalkeeper Bob Bolder helping to deliver the programme, Charlton's commitment to this worthy cause gained huge media coverage and plaudits from organisations around the world.

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards not only visited the programme in Johannesburg, but also sent a delegation from Durban - which will hosting one of the 2010 World Cup semi-finals - to visit Charlton to understand how building a stadium could benefit the community, and can become a hub for a number of community initiatives.

In Cape Town, local professional club Ajax Cape Town also saw what CAFC Soccer South Africa had achieved and the synergy between the two clubs was evident when it came to the English club's knowledge that Ajax were sharing other grounds.

Their plan is to build a stadium in the middle of the township and become a focal point of the community, using football as a diversionary vehicle and to break down barriers between the two townships - all issues about which Charlton can pass on important experience.

Over the last two decades the Charlton community scheme and the club have been involved in numerous events, activities and opportunities, but working in South Africa and in the three townships of Alexandra, Kayletia and Mitchell's Plain has become some of the most rewarding and emotional work ever undertaken by a club overseas.