The Scheme takes young adults from the West London and takes them through a six week program of life skills. Its overriding aim is to encourage and motivate candidates to enter full time employment or education whilst using football's undoubted universal appeal. It has long been accepted that football has a wider reaching social role and this project epitomises everything The FA believes can be achieved through football.

The six week courses are run by professional trainers and private sector volunteers and combine classroom studies with weekly football coaching in QPR's stadium plus visits to high profile organisations including the FA and BBC Sport.

The Goals Project (not to be confused with The FA's Goal Child protection) initially sent a speculative e-mail through TheFA.com and the relationship between their organistion and The FA has since gone from strength to strength.

Candidates get to spend a day with members of staff at The FA's headquarters in Soho Square. Here they get to find out about the organisation and its role in football, more importantly, they get a chance to find about the opportunities available to anyone interested in getting involved in the sport. They also get a chance to do what for most fans, is just a dream, following in the footsteps of some great names in football and lifting The FA Cup.

Plans are also afoot to create a work experience scheme for graduates from the program within The FA. The icing on the cake however, came with a surprise visits from England head coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Acting FA Chief Executive, David Davies, at the recent graduation ceremony in Soho Square.

Sven was on hand to give the candidates their graduation certificates. He also gave them an insight into his early days as a 'not so successful defender' in the Swedish second division and how he found the inspiration that drove him to the success and worldwide recognition he's achieved as a manager. Sven was visibly taken aback by the courage shown by the graduates as they made their graduation speeches in front of an audience of sporting celebrities.

George Barlow, Chair of the LDA who provided major funding support for all phases of the Goals Project said: "We are delighted by the support received from Sven-Goran Eriksson, the FA and other key sporting figures for this innovative project. Its overriding aim is to encourage and motivate candidates to enter full time employment or education; the football theme helps provide a potentially life-changing experiences for young socially deprived adults."

Everyone at The FA would like to congratulate Leon, Julian, Emiliano and Keith and all involved with The Goals Project on their tremendous achievement.

If you would like more information on the Goals project please contact Nikki McEndoo at the Park Royal Partnership nikki@parkroyal.org  

If you run a scheme or a project that could benefit from the help of The FA's Customer Relations Unit: please e-mail: Customercharter@TheFA.com