There were several awards for outstanding contributions, but not before some of the youngsters had the chance to flaunt their skills on stage, writes Stewart Coggin. Demonstrations of Kickz sessions included singing, street dancing, football freestyling and boxing.

The initiative started in 2006 and gives young men and women (generally aged 12-18) the chance to play quality football and get involved in other activities. Using the power of football and the appeal of clubs, it offers the opportunity to volunteer in the community, learn to coach and officiate in the game and in many cases gain employment in the clubs themselves.

Former Wimbledon midfielder Robbie Earle, a champion of another Premier League initiative Premier Skills, was among the speakers at the ceremony. Afterwards he told premierleague.com: "We are trying to create an awareness of what is available for young people and steer them onto the right path. Kickz is one of the unique schemes where they have come together with support and it is the young people who make a difference."

The concept was born out of discussions between the Premier League, the Metropolitan Police, The Football Foundation, The FA, and The Football League.

The Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Tim Godwin, presented some of the awards, and afterwards stressed the positive impact that Kickz has had on communities up and down the country.

"There are 28,000 young people going through the scheme regularly, there are 64 schemes in London alone," he said. "We know they are operating at the times that are most important when young people can sometimes get themselves in a bit of bother. We are seeing as a result that crime and anti-social behaviour have fallen.

"It was Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore who was the football champion in terms of driving this forward and it started with a very early conversation between he and I. As a result a lot of great people got involved and they have done all the work. Without the Premier League, this would not have happened."

Eddie Afekafe, taking part in the scheme at Manchester City, won the Kickz Inspiring Young People Award after helping to set up boxing, dance and Netball sessions.

"With our partners, The Prince's Trust, I have helped put on boxing sessions every week throughout the year for young people throughout the east Manchester area," he explained. "We have managed to take young people away on residential trips that they wouldn't usually be involved with.

"We have also helped set up dance and netball sessions to engage young women and I have managed to acquire funding from the Prince's Trust to build a studio for the young people to use and develop their skills, and create their own music CDs similar to the Kickz Volume One."

Premier League referee Chris Foy has been a part-time policeman since 2000 after previously working full-time on the force. He is better placed than most to comment on the difference Kickz is making to communities.

He said: "I have spent 25 years working in Liverpool. Young people get a bad press these days and this Kickz initiative is absolutely fantastic. It gives kids a chance to express themselves and it is so important that they are given something away from an area where they may live where they have problems, they may have a bad school or a bad upbringing.

"I have spoken to over 7500 children now in the Liverpool area and we try and encourage them. I feel as a referee in the best league in the world, the Premier League, I can be a little bit of a role model for those kids and try and get them involved in sport.

"You can see with the award ceremony there are same fantastic people who are putting a lot of effort in and reaping the rewards because the young people are getting involved."

One group of youngsters certainly getting involved were Cori Playfair, Liana Stasi, Daniel Railly and Julian Wyton who won the Alternative Achievement Award for their achievements in Newcastle United's Perfect Pitch Music Project. The quartet performed live before the awards kicked off.

"I didn't realise we were going to win because there were a lot of other different and good performances and the fact we have won means a lot," said Julian. "All the work has paid off. I have been attending this for a year now. We've been writing new songs and I feel we are gelling together now as a band so it means a lot to win that award."

Kickz Club Achievement Award: Sunderland
Kickz Outstanding Police Contribution Award:
Brentford - PCSO Harmeet Ghataore (London - Practical support)
Chelsea - Insp. Penny Mills (London - Strategic support)
Sunderland - PCSO Amy Fleetham (Non-London - Practical support)
Portsmouth - Insp. Stephen Hutchings (Non-London - Strategic support)
Kickz Outstanding Partner Support Award: Arsenal/Leyton Orient - Jackie Loftus
Kickz Inspiring Young People Award: Manchester City - Eddie Afekafe
Kickz Young Personality of the Year Award: Millwall - Hope Stephenson
Kickz Outstanding Personal Achievement Award:
Female: Manchester City - Stephanie North
Male: Millwall - George King
Kickz Community Contribution Award: Arsenal - Elthorne Park Kickz
Kickz Team Achievement of the Year:
Female: Portsmouth - Portsmouth Kickz Girls Football Squad
Male: Everton/Liverpool - Kickz Football Team
Kickz Alternative Achievement Award: Newcastle United - Perfect Pitch Music Project

For more information on Kickz, and a chance to read the latest Progress Report on the project, click here.