Street League uses sport to break down barriers to education and work opportunities to help young people in Inverclyde be all they can be. 

Kristy McGunnigle, progression co-ordinator with Street League, says the programme - which has been running in Inverclyde for more than 15 years - reaches young people who feel disengaged by traditional schooling.

She said: "In the last five years, we must have helped hundreds of young people and it is amazing to see the progress they have made.

"Some people keep in touch after the course. The young people are so inspirational.

"The key is finding where they interest lies and then you see a change."

(Image: George Munro)

Street League run a 12-week programme for 16 to 18-year olds four days a week, this includes a mix of CV help, interviewing skills, confidence building, workshops, visits to and from employers, sports and fitness and studying towards SQ qualifications in employability and customer service skills.

Kristy said: "We are finding there is more a need for our help as a lot of pupils are leaving school at a younger age because they are disengaged with school and don't like traditional educational structures, to they come to us.

"They learn practical and life skills. We also run work placements for young people who are perhaps not very good at interviews, so they can trial the job, find out more about it and get to know the people they are working with.

"We've had quite a few successes, most recently we've had young people who have gone to to jobs or apprenticeships after being on placement, some are working with The Holiday Inn, Ardgowan Dental Lab, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, as well as into further education."

She said the group run two programmes at the one time in Inverclyde, Level 2 and Level 3, and these run at West College Scotland in Finnart Street, Greenock Sports Centre and their studio in Duff Street.

Inverclyde Council pays programmes for 16 to 18 year olds and these are open to young people who are unemployed and are not in education or on benefits.

Street League also supports older people up to the age of 29 who can also get help with CVs and interviewing skills to find work.

Kristy said: "The main reason behind using football and different types of sport is about learning through sport, people can learn a lot of different skills, confidence building, team work, leaderships skills, we also use this an icebreaker to get to know the young person."

Kristy works alongside Caitlin McKee and Connor O'Neill, who is the youth and community coach for Inverclyde.

The next programme starts in October and if anyone is interested in finding out more, they should visit the Facebook page at Kristy Conor Street League