Power of football helps people achieve new goals in life

Open to anyone over 16, and aimed at vulnerable people who want to change their lives for the better, SOCA - Success through Opportunity Change and Achievement was founded by Steven Hoy (right).

Those who can use the service, which receives funding from several sources including lottery charity Awards For All, include people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues such as depression and addiction problems, and individuals recovering from brain injury.

And rather than concentrating on the competitive side of football, Steven wanted instead to use the beautiful game to enable people to build on personal, realistic and sustained development at their own pace - in a positive, fun and welcoming environment which encourages them to improve their attitude towards structure and self-control.

"A lot of people who come along say it's the highlight of their week," he said. "It can be a life-changing experience."

In fact the SOCA sessions have been attracting people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities - from young men to women in their 50s.

They can share their experiences of life at the sessions, and Steven says using football and fitness as a medium to support people can lead to personal change.

The benefits of attending the sessions can include confidence building, improving fitness, recovery, self-esteem, dealing with isolation and anti-social behaviour and setting individual goals, for example getting back into work and integrating into the community.

He continued: "We try to create a family environment and people get on really, really well. It's about encouraging people to make informed decisions."

As well as allowing people to network with each other, it also provides access to partnership agencies, where local training, support, leisure and employment opportunities can be accessed.

Anyone using the service is given an assessment at their first session, where they are asked to evaluate various aspects of their life, for example their physical and mental health.

It is hoped that they will then see a steady improvement - and Steven monitors and encourages each person to see how they feel they are progressing.

SOCA takes place at the Tryst every Thursday from noon to 1.30pm. For more information log on to http://socascotland.com, e-mail Steven at [email protected] or give him a call on 07858500161.

'IT'S A ROAD I'VE BEEN DOWN MYSELF AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE'

Case Study

HELPING out at the sessions are volunteers and coaches like Mark Elliot (pictred below right) who finds working with the group really rewarding.

"It's fantastic and I love being a part of it," he said.

Explaining that it is using football as a tool to help motivate people and empower themselves, he says it's less about people's sporting skills and more about their personalities. "The patter's great - and that's just me," he jokes.

He points to hurdles in the Tryst hall - and says they symbolise the emotional hurdles everyone faces in real life.

And he revealed that it was a similar football project that saved his own life at a time when he was homeless, living in supported accommodation and involved in "trouble and mischief".

Mark explained: "It made me realise I wanted to do something with coaching and I felt like I was doing something good. It's a road I've been down myself and it completely changed my life."

Pictured with Mark are Danny McPhelim, David Seggie, Steven Hoy, and Brian McCloyn.