Reading Champion David Weir shares his football stories with the group

One of the younger members of the group writes up her RaW Football Story

The voice of experience! Stories are captured for publishing on the website

Everton RaW Football Stories
Case study from Extra Time's recent events.

Extra Time gets RaW with the BBC

Area of good practice
Intergenerational Literacy Campaign promoting community cohesion in Liverpool.

What was it like before?
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 autumn 2003, Extra Time has forged links with Liverpool Libraries Service and the National Literacy Trust (NLT) with the first two specialised projects, "Premier League Reading Stars" and "Reading The Game", introduced. Later these quality initiatives were extended to embrace the NLT's "Reading is FUNdamental" UK-wide project, which helps children and young people (aged 0-19) realise their potential by encouraging them to read.

In July 2006, the BBC and the NLT approached 20 football clubs UK wide including Everton FC 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 took this opportunity to extend, enrich and enhance the programme of literacy activities provided. The BBC RaW project has given the Centre a new focus on developing adult literacy activities and increased the impact of engaging children in literacy activities with their families.

What was done and when?
From 16th - 20th 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 BBC RaW events at Goodison 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 Prince's Trust group - made up of 16 to 26 year olds and Everton FC 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.

On Tuesday 17th October, Louise Watt, BBC radio producer and broadcaster, interviewed the participants and shared their stories live on the Billy Butler Show on BBC Radio Merseyside throughout the afternoon.

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 Prince's 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 BBC's additional support through providing reading materials, certificates, stickers, pens, books and the use of the BBC Bus where really valuable resources and were much appreciated by everyone taking part.

Additional expertise was gained from professional writer, Craig Bradley, professional ICT training, Abigail Williams and broadcaster Billy Butler.

The BBC's RaW Football Stories Coordinator, 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.'

Also the Secretary of the Everton Supporters Club attended the event to share their passion for EFC as well as to promote the event across the supporters network and further develop the sharing of stories.

Effect back in school/organisation
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 the event - one to show his Gran!

The impact on young people's learning, self-esteem, confidence was evident and the project started with a focus on football and literacy and soon blossomed into wider aspects of social interaction, community cohesion and family.

Parents and grandparents of the young people were committed to the programme from the beginning and some attended two days of activities.

Walton St Mary's Primary School, Liverpool have passionately embraced the idea of creating digital football stories and have requested follow up workshops offered by Extra Time, which will take place throughout 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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