The Twinning Project is teaming up with Angel City FC, its first partnership with a National Women’s Soccer League club.
It will deliver a sports-based intervention programme at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Century Regional Detention Facility and the initiative launches today with ACFC General Manager, Angela Hucles Mangano, on hand to kick off the first session.
The aim of the Twinning Project is to reduce reoffending rates by harnessing the power of football and other sports to engage with people in custody and unlock opportunities for future employment in local communities upon release from prison. Since launching in London in 2018, the Twinning Project has delivered hundreds of coaching and refereeing courses in men’s, women’s and young offenders’ prisons across the UK.
Angel City FC first team coaches and members of the ACFC Coach Network will deliver the course over six weeks at the Century Regional Detention Facility. The club will provide three cohorts of up to 16 women each the opportunity to develop vital life skills, including organization, self-confidence and teamwork, all through the medium of soccer. The program is closely aligned to the FA-accredited courses currently delivered by clubs in the UK. ACFC coaches will adapt portions of the curriculum to align with US Soccer-accredited teachings in order to ensure transferability of the participants’ certificates.
The Twinning Project is now aligned with 73 clubs across the Premier League and EFL and is expanding to the United States.
Through its ground-breaking Angel City Sponsorship Model, the team reallocates 10% of every sponsorship deal directly to community impact. In all its impact, ACFC leverages the power of sport and entertainment to drive for Equity in the L.A. community by providing Essentials and Education. In its inaugural year, the club cycled over $1,000,000USD into the LA community and engaged nearly 70,000 Angelenos, provided more than 400 hours of free youth soccer programs, delivered nearly 500,000 meals to those in need, and trained 70 women and non-binary individuals as soccer coaches.
Hilton Freund, CEO, Twinning Project, commented: “Soccer is a global game, and high reoffending rates are not just a UK problem, so we are excited to partner with Angel City FC to bring the Twinning Project to Los Angeles. Over the last five years we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact soccer can have on individuals and communities, especially for people who feel there is little hope. By helping women in custody learn new skills and build confidence, we can help them create a better future for themselves once they leave jail.”
Catherine Dávila, Head of Community at Angel City FC said: “Angel City FC knows that sport has the capacity to create lasting positive change in people’s lives, and we are thrilled to support the Twinning Project and their incredible program. Our partnership with the Twinning Project fits beautifully into our pillars of Education and Essentials, and builds on our work in underserved communities by reaching one of our most vulnerable populations. We can’t wait to get started.”
Melissa Kelley, Acting Director at LASD, added: “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is honored to partner with Angel City FC and the Twinning Project to bring this innovative program to the United States and to some of our most vulnerable community members. Participating in sports and athletic activities has a profound impact on physical and mental health beyond tangible skills, confidence, and overall improved wellbeing. For our incarcerated population, this can fundamentally change the trajectory of their lives and build a solid foundation for successful community re-entry.”
