Page 15 - Police World Edition 2 2013

15 Police World Vol 58 No.2 2013
H elen is a qualified football
coach and general manager
of Birmingham and West
Midlands Police Ladies Footbal Club.
Football Gambia is a small non-profit
making UK registered charity, who help
promote and develop education and
communities through football in Gambia,
West Africa.
During Helen's trip she met with police
commissioners, heads of Intelligence,
station Officers, CID and traffic officers as
part of her mission to promote the charity’s
work.
Helen worked with Football Gambia and
the local communities, schools and local
football clubs to help ensure young people
attend school and live healthy lifestyles in
the future.
She visited two small villages in north
Gambia Sittanunku and Cheesay - getting
her hands dirty as she helped dig
foundations for a village school in Cheesay.
One of Helen's main aims was to deliver
education through a football programme.
This was achieved through coaching and
educating young people through the love of
football. She took part in charity football
matches against local teams and helped to
raise the awareness of women’s football
throughout Gambia.
Throughout the second week Helen
distributed the football kit and equipment
collected through a charity called
KITAID, with whom Helen is a
regional co-ordinator. The kit has
been donated by West Midlands
police colleagues, local
west midlands schools
and football clubs, to
the local young people
of Gambia.
Helen said, "A
thoroughly enjoyable
and amazing trip that
was packed full of some
great charity work.
Football Gambia and
Kitaid are amazing
charities and very
worthwhile causes. It
was great to give
something back and do
my bit, it really does put
everything into
perspective!"
Helen is seen here after
donating England training
kit to the Gambia Police
Ladies Football Club
In January 2013, Helen Carver, from Birmingham
branch, set off to Africa to work alongside Football
Gambia for two weeks.
Just before setting off on her quest, Helen (centre) meets
Wendy Donaghy from the International Admin Centre
(left) and Michele Rai from BSAC
Goal After Goal
in Africa
Visit to Kanifing police station: Helen meets with the Police Commissioner,
Head of Intelligence, CID, traffic and station officers
Official presentation of donated kit:
shirts, trousers, handcuffs, boots to the
North Bank Police Commissioner
Donating Wolves FC kit to a local under 12 team
To see more
images from Helen's
fantastic trip visit:
http://www.ipa-
uk.org/Football-Gambia