Education and Employment through Football initiative comes to Ballinasloe.

Stephanie Roche (FIFA Goal of the Season nominee) alongside fellow Irish international colleague Rachel Graham who are both graduates of the Project FUTSAL scheme.

​Are you over 18, out of work and love football? Would you like to take part in a course which could see you achieving education awards along with football coaching awards? Are you interested in coaching in your local community? If so, then Project FUTSAL, a football centred education initiative beginning in October in Ballinasloe could be for you.

The FAI in cooperation with the Galway and Roscommon Education & Training Board have teamed up to provide a unique opportunity for people who are unemployed and out of formal education to get involved in an innovation project designed to help them back into the workforce or onto further education.

Project FUTSAL is an initiative with the aim of utilising football to provide education and work opportunities for people of all ages. The project centres around the development of an Education hub which provides an academic year of adult education, personal development, football coaching, education and work/volunteer placements. Participants will study for a QQAI level 4 award in Sport & Recreation as well as a range of FAI certified coach education courses and take the first steps on the path to a career in sports development. 

Places on the programme are open to both men and women and will be offered up to twenty participants. There is no upper age limit. While it's not essential to be able to play football to participate on the course, an interest in the game or sport in general would be an advantage due to extensice programme of football activity on each course.

The course is free of charge and participants may be entitled to financial supports from the Department of Social Protection while on the programme.

FAI Regional Development Officer John Morris Burke said, "Project FUTSAL is an innovative partnership spearheaded by the FAI and has produced excellent outcomes for many participants for a number of years now. Almost 60% os people completing the course progress to employment and many find their way to third level education via this alternative sports based route. The delivery of a comprehensive coach education programme is also providing a pool of newly qualified coaches in these areas and has broadened the base of volunteers available to help local sports clubs."

The course begins in October and applications for places are being accepted now. Closing date for applications is September 21st 2015.

For further information and to apply online, visit the website at www.projectfutsal.ie or contact Dónal Walsh GRETB on 091 796267. Also, check out their Facebook page ​https://www.facebook.com/fai.projectfutsal.com