Background to the project
Extra Time is an intergenerational literacy campaign promoting
community cohesion in Liverpool. The Extra Time Study Support
Centre is based within Goodison Park, Everton Football Club,
and provides a range of community education and Playing
for Success learning programmes for the residents of Liverpool.
Since 2003, Extra Time has forged links with Liverpool
Libraries Service and the National Literacy Trust (NLT)
through two projects, Premier
League Reading Stars and Reading
the Game. Later, these initiatives were extended to
embrace the NLT's Reading
Is Fundamental, UK nationwide project, which helps children
and young people realise their potential by encouraging
them to read.
In July 2006, the BBC and the NLT approached 20 UK football
clubs, including Everton, to host an additional literacy
campaign called 'RaW Football Stories'. The Extra Time Study
Support Centre Manager, Abigail Williams, embraced the RaW
(Reading and Writing) idea as way to widen participation
for groups, particularly those who have previously had limited
access to Everton's community-driven events.
Extra Time therefore took the opportunity to extend and
enrich its programme of literacy activities. The BBC RaW
project has given the Centre a new focus on developing adult
literacy activities and increasing the engagement of children
in literacy activities with their families.
What went on
From 16-20 October 2006 the Extra Time Study Centre hosted
a 'Football Stories' week. With appearances during the week
from first team player, David Weir, Ladies goalkeeper, Rachel
Brown and past Everton players, Dereck Mountfield and Dave
Hickson, over 60 people attended the events in the Study
Centre and on the BBC RaW and Everton in the Community learning
buses.
Those who took part came from all sectors of the local
community, including children from Walton St Mary's Primary
School and young people from Notre Dame Catholic College
with their friends and families, senior citizens from a
local old people's home, a local Princes Trust group made
up of 16 to 26-year-olds and Everton Football Club Supporters.
The youngsters produced both their own digital stories
and those of the participating adults. Using multimedia
laptops, iPods, video cameras and digital cameras, they
employed a range of interview techniques to capture memories
and anecdotes from all the Everton followers' years of supporting
their team.
Throughout the afternoon of 17 October, Louise Watt of
BBC radio interviewed the participants and shared their
stories live on the Billy Butler Show on BBC Radio Merseyside.
Influencing change
The Football Stories project was delivered through an integrated
service approach, which brought together a vast number of
community educational organisations and individuals. Members
of Liverpool Children's Services, Liverpool Libraries Service,
the Princes Trust, Merseyside Fire Service, the National
Literacy Trust, Liverpool Hope University, Everton Football
Club and BBC Learning joined in partnership to deliver the
project.
The reading materials, certificates, stickers, pens, books
and the use of the BBC Bus, provided by the BBC as additional
support, were really valuable resources and were much appreciated
by those taking part.
Additional expertise was gained through professional ICT
training, professional writer and BBC RaW Football Stories
Coordinator, Craig Bradley, Abigail Williams and broadcaster
Billy Butler.
Craig Bradley said: "It is when we take projects like
that at Everton FC into schools you can see the benefits
of the activities. Extra Time enthusiastically embraced
the RaW idea from the start and have used their own expertise
to make a real success and positive difference to the people
in Liverpool."
Extra Time Centre Manager, Abigail Williams said: "This
project is about drawing people together from all sections
of the community. It is about putting pensioners next to
16-year-old 'hoodies' and creating a real feeling of community
and shared experience. That's what I will take away from
the event."
The Secretary of the Everton Supporters Club also attended
the event to promote it across the supporters' network and
further develop the sharing of stories.
Effects of the project
Some of the young people took home their finished DVD football
stories to share with their families. One young person who
produced a digital story for the very first time was so
proud of his work that he requested three additional copies
after event - including one to show his Gran!
The impact on young people's learning, self-esteem, confidence
was evident; the project, which started with a focus on
football and literacy, soon blossomed to affect wider aspects
of social interaction, community cohesion and family. Parents
and grandparents of the young people were also involved
in the programme, and some attended two days of activities.
Walton St Mary's Primary School has passionately embraced
the idea of creating digital football stories and has requested
follow-up workshops by Extra Time, taking place in December
2006.
All the work produced will be put together as short digital
films, which will be available as podcasts via www.whatwashere.com
and www.evertonfc.com.
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