A five-a-side football tournament on Monday 3rd August will celebrate a £38,700 donation towards improving a games area for young people in Offa Road.

Money from the Youth Opportunities Fund (StreetCred) was applied for by the young people themselves with support from Jim Playle of bpha’s community development team, and Jane Owen from the Community and Voluntary Service (CVS). It has been used to contribute to the cost of Bedford Borough Council’s refurbishment of the multi-use games area in Offa Road, providing improved facilities for young people to enjoy.

Steven Chander, aged 18, who submitted the grant application on behalf of all the youngsters, said: “The new games area is brilliant. It’s loads better than what we had before and we’re all very grateful to both bpha and the CVS for their help, and of course to Bedford Borough Council and StreetCred for providing the money to make it happen.”

On Monday evening, teams from bpha, Bedford Borough Council and the Police will take on the “Offa Road Diamonds”, a team made up of young people from the area. The team have been sponsored by Rushden and Diamonds FC, who have provided the team with football kit.

Jim Playle, Community Development Officer at bpha said: “It’s great to see young people stepping forward to get involved in such a positive way to improve the area where they live. They can be rightly proud of what they have achieved.”