The aim of the HatTrick scheme is to use football as a method of bringing communities together and to encourage children to lead healthier lifestyles and steer clear of anti-social behaviour.

The FA project was launched by The FA's Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking at the end of March this year and is funded through grants totalling £4.5million secured from UEFA and the Governement.

One of 19 'New Deal Communities' in some of the most deprived communities in England is Kilburn, North West London, where it has been an outstanding success and so far involved 1,500 people since being launched eight months ago.

And Barwick was invited down to St Mary's School Primary School in Kilburn to witness first-hand at how it is making a difference to the local community.

He said: "This is the beauty of my job - seeing both ends of the spectrum.

"I would like to congratulate everyone associated with the HatTrick project and I promise that we will support you," he added. "I have a genuine belief that sport gives people a chance to feel good about themselves.

"Football is powerful for providing people with a sense of self-worth and self-value and it is wonderful to see people getting fun and satisfaction out of football, while also bringing the community together."

Nick Perchard, who was appointed by The FA and has close links to QPR oversees the project in Kilburn, and is delighted with how it is working out, with three players from the scheme now at the club's centre of excellence.

He said: "When we started we wanted to engage 500 local residents and get the community involved so we looked for 15 local coaches.

"They are all looked upon as role models - they all grew up on the estates and are respected by the communities and can interact easier than us or the local government with children, some of whom have had difficult starts in life.

"Since the beginning, the children's behaviour has been the biggest change. They are now looking up to the coaches and are disciplined in school and their self confidence has blossomed.

"We also are trying to educate as many people as possible on health issues and we are now training our coaches so they can become health advisors too."

Kelly Simmons, The FA's National Football Development Manager who oversees all 19 project was responsible for obtaining the funding, and accompanied Brian yesterday.

She said: "These projects are invaulable in helping children with communication and team-building skills, and football gives them a focus, which otherwise may see them get involved in anti-social behaviour.

"The 19 communities also have a large ethnic minority make-up, and The FA is beginning to support and empower people from within these communities to not only get involved, but to become leaders of the projects themselves."