Nottinghamshire-based mobile data specialist Jola pledged its commitment to The Big Goal from the outset as the initiative to help young homeless people chimes perfectly with the company’s own culture, according to Chief Marketing Officer Cherie Howlett (pictured).
“Jola is delighted to be a founding member of The Big Goal, which is known for its holistic approach to youth development, aligning perfectly with Jola’s commitment to fostering positive change and wellbeing,” she commented.
“Football is a passion for many at Jola and after England won the Women’s Euros in 2022 it has become even more of a talking point in the office. By supporting the Big Goal we’re helping vulnerable young people in our community who may one day work in the industry. This initiative focuses on imparting valuable skills and changing lives for the better, which I think we can all get on-board with.”
The Big Goal, working alongside The Street Soccer Foundation (SSF) and main sponsor Giacom, is tackling youth homelessness with the support of clubs across The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) by equipping individuals with the skills and support they need for a brighter future.
“We love football, we love this cause and we didn’t need to be asked twice to get involved,” added Jola Chairman Andrew Dickinson. “Homelessness, particularly among young people, is a solvable problem. The UK’s ICT channel is a powerful community and Tez O’Brien from Giacom and Nigel Sergent from Comms Dealer are just the figureheads to galvanise us to make a real difference.”
Plans are now being drawn up for The Big Goal five-a-side tournament with 40 teams from the founding members set to take part in regional heats, culminating in a finals day at St George’s Park – the home of England football – early this summer.
“Companies across the ICT industry can still get involved by sponsoring SSF academies which will provide enormous potential for PR and the recruitment of young talent,” commented Sergent.
For more information on The Big Goal visit www.thebiggoal.co.uk