Funding cut ends street soccer program

The future of a community program designed to build confidence in disadvantaged people is in doubt after a cut in funding.

The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program in Bunbury has had its funding cut and as a result the team had its final formal training session on October 31.

The players travelled from as far as Collie to play.

The registered players — 28 in total — are all classified as disadvantaged, and come from agencies including Pathways, Richmond Fellowship and Anglicare of Collie.

In October, coach Les Dearden received an email from The Big Issue chief executive officer Steven Persson ending the Bunbury program because funding from the Federal Government Budget was “not sufficient” to sustain all the programs.

“I wrote to the chief executive officer and asked if they could cover us for insurance and nothing else — we have been quite low cost,”’ Mr Dearden said.

“They have come back and said no.”

Mr Dearden said the carers who accompanied the players to training each week were disappointed the program would not continue.

He said he would endeavour to keep the program running in some capacity, but needed funding.

“We are going to be looking for support from somewhere or other — we are going to work that out as we go along,” he said.

Community Street Soccer Program coach Les Dearden is working har