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Toronto's Regent Park United Soccer League Offers Free Children’s Program Despite Lack of Funding
By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
Regent Park United is a community soccer club driven by volunteers that gives hundreds of kids a place to play in the city. Their aim is to prevent crime in the neighbourhood through the power of sports. Their open program and house league of 100+ participants are designed to introduce kids to the basics of the game, including technique, skills, and game play.
For the past 10 years, Regent Park United has been running free soccer programs for kids in Regent Park with all player costs completely covered by sponsors and community supporters instead of registration fees.
In 2023, Regent Park United was struggling to continue their free soccer programs as they did not get city funding needed to sustain their growing children’s program. Although the Regent Park United did not receive funding from the 2022 Social Development Plan call for proposals, the City of Toronto did awarded another Regent Park soccer club, the Toronto Futbol Athletic Advancement, a grant in the amount of $66,125.00.
In this episode, T'ai James Simm-Smith, Director of Operations at Regent Park United Soccer Club talked to Regent Park TV about the impact of the denial of funding by the City of Toronto, their recent achievements despite the lack of funding, and how this program helps youth at risk in the neighbourhood. RPTV reporter Kedar Ahmed was also at the Nelson Mandela Park Public School soccer field on September 23rd to interview players and coach Orville Reynolds for the last day of the Regent Park house league summertime program.
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FOCUS Media Arts Centre (FOCUS) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1990 to counter negative media stereotypes of low income communities and provide relevant information to residents living in the Regent Park area and surrounding communities.
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