Raedan FC: Youth Football & Sports in Leicester

A Multi-Sport Approach

While football forms the cornerstone of our programme, we recognise that children benefit from exposure to various sports. Every six weeks we switch to a new sport, so over a year each child tries them all:

Football

The heart of the club. Ball skills, small-sided games, positional play and teamwork, coached to each child’s age and stage.

Hockey

Building stick skills, teamwork, and positional play through indoor hockey. This sport emphasises communication, strategy, and the importance of playing specific roles within a team structure.

Basketball

Developing teamwork and strategic thinking through this fast-paced sport. Basketball helps improve cardiovascular fitness while teaching children the importance of quick decision-making and spatial awareness.

Badminton

Enhancing agility, reflexes, and precision through this technically demanding racquet sport. Badminton is excellent for developing concentration, footwork, and tactical awareness while providing an inclusive sport suitable for all fitness levels.

Dodgeball

Fast, simple and hugely popular. Dodgeball builds throwing, catching, agility and quick thinking, and because everyone is involved all the time, it is one of the best sports for getting nervous children joining in.

Cricket

Teaching patience, strategy and individual excellence within a team context. Cricket develops hand-eye coordination, tactical thinking, and ability to perform under pressure while celebrating both team success and individual achievements. We are registered with the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Board, part of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) network.

Funded by the FIFA Foundation and Sport England

We’re proud to have received funding from the FIFA Foundation, the charitable arm of FIFA, the world’s governing body of football, through its Community Programme, recognising our commitment to grassroots football development and community impact. The FIFA Foundation Community Programme has supported Raedan FC for two years running, with the current grant running to January 2027. The grant pays for our coaches and for sports equipment, which is how we keep the cost to families at £5 a month. This support enables us to maintain high-quality facilities, provide professional coaching, and ensure that cost never becomes a barrier to participation. Our sports programme is also supported by the Sport England Movement Fund.

Professional Coaching Excellence

Qualified Coaching Staff

Our coaches are qualified to up to Level 3 in sports coaching, and are committed to ongoing professional development. Every coach holds an enhanced DBS check with a children’s barred list check, safeguarding training and a first aid qualification, so there is first aid cover at every session, and we have a named Designated Safeguarding Lead for sport. Our coaching philosophy centres on: Positive reinforcement: Building confidence through encouragement and constructive feedback

• Inclusive participation: Ensuring every child feels valued and included regardless of ability level
• Skill progression: Systematic development of technical and tactical abilities
• Character development: Using sport to teach respect, perseverance, and teamwork

“Our coach has been phenomenal with my son K.,” reflects parent Marcus. “He’s not just improved his football skills – he’s helped him become more confident in school and more willing to try new challenges. That’s the kind of impact good coaching can have.”

Accessibility and Inclusion

Affordable Excellence

At just £5 per month for all Saturday sessions, or £5 per month for Wednesdays, our programme offers exceptional value while remaining accessible to families across our community. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to participate in quality sports programming, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. If cost is a barrier for your family, please talk to us in confidence.

All Equipment Provided

We eliminate barriers to participation by providing all necessary equipment, including:

• Footballs, bibs and training equipment
• Protective gear for hockey
• Racquets and shuttlecocks for badminton
• Basketballs and dodgeballs
• Cricket bats, balls and protective equipment
• Sports footwear for any child who forgets theirs or does not have a pair

This comprehensive provision ensures that enthusiasm and commitment are the only requirements for participation. Children just need to come in comfortable clothes they can run around in.

Open to All Abilities

Our programme welcomes children of all skill levels, from complete beginners to those with previous sporting experience. Sport England’s Active Lives survey for 2024-25 found that fewer than half of children in England (49.1%) are active for the 60 minutes a day that the Chief Medical Officers recommend, and more than a quarter (28.4%) do less than 30 minutes a day. Positive early experiences of sport are the best way we know to change that, which is why our sessions are built around enjoyment first.²

Recognition and Achievement

Completion Awards

We celebrate commitment and progress through our structured recognition system. Children who complete 12 sessions receive certificates and prizes, acknowledging their dedication and encouraging continued participation. This approach recognises that in youth sport, participation and effort are as important as natural ability.

Personal Development Tracking

Each child’s progress is monitored not just in terms of sporting ability, but also in areas such as:

• Teamwork and cooperation
• Leadership potential
• Communication skills
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Resilience and perseverance

“My daughter Z. was so proud when she received her completion certificate,” says parent Priya. “It wasn’t just about the football skills she’d learned – the coach highlighted how she’d become a natural encourager for younger children and shown real leadership qualities.”

Success Stories

Individual Achievement

One ten-year-old joined our programme as a quiet child who struggled with confidence at school. After 18 months with Raedan FC, his teachers report dramatic improvements in his classroom participation and peer relationships. He recently captained his age group in our internal matches and has expressed interest in pursuing coaching qualifications when he’s older. Names and some details have been changed to protect the children involved.

Team Spirit

Our girls’ group, many of whom had never played organised football before joining, now play regular internal matches at the centre. Their improvement in teamwork, communication, and technical skills has been remarkable, and several have gone on to play for their school teams.

Community Integration

The sports programme has become a meeting point for families from Leicester’s diverse communities. Parents from different cultural backgrounds have formed lasting friendships through supporting their children’s sporting journeys, embodying our belief that sport builds bridges across all divides.

Our Sports Philosophy

Holistic Development

At Raedan FC and throughout our sports programme, we view athletic development as inseparable from personal growth. Our philosophy encompasses:

Physical Development: Building fitness, coordination, and sport-specific skills through progressive, age-appropriate training methods.

Mental Resilience: Teaching children to cope with challenges, learn from setbacks, and maintain positive attitudes in the face of difficulty.

Social Skills: Fostering teamwork, communication, leadership, and respect for others through collaborative sporting experiences.

Cultural Appreciation: Celebrating the diverse backgrounds of our participants while building unity through shared sporting goals.

Life Skills Transfer: Helping children understand how lessons learned through sport apply to academic, social, and future professional contexts.

Community Impact and Partnerships

School Collaboration

We actively seek partnerships with local primary schools to complement their PE programmes and identify children who might benefit from additional sporting opportunities. Research indicates that children who participate in organised sport show improved academic performance, with regular physical activity linked to better concentration and classroom behaviour³.

Home education families

Our Wednesday sessions are built around the home-educated children who learn with us during the week, and give them the team sport, PE and friendships that home education can otherwise make hard to find. Find out more about our alternative education and home education support.

Organisational Partnerships

Our goal is to work with youth organisations, community groups, and other charities to ensure our sports programme reaches children who might otherwise miss out on these opportunities. These partnerships help us identify and support children facing various challenges, using sport as a pathway to broader personal development.

Facility Expansion

We’re working towards expanding our indoor facilities to include dedicated spaces for different sports, allowing us to run concurrent sessions and accommodate more participants.

Competitive Opportunities

At present our children play internal matches at the centre. Plans are underway to enter our older age groups into local leagues, providing competitive opportunities for children ready for that challenge while maintaining our inclusive, development-focused approach.

Coach Development

We’re establishing a pathway for older participants and parent volunteers to gain coaching qualifications, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our programme while providing career development opportunities within our community.

Join the Raedan FC Family

Whether your child is taking their first tentative kicks of a football or dreaming of sporting stardom, Raedan FC and our comprehensive sports programme offers a welcoming, supportive environment for growth and development.

Our weekly sessions provide more than just sporting instruction – they offer friendship, confidence-building, and life skills that extend far beyond the sports hall. In an age where more than one in five children in Year 6 is living with obesity, and around one in ten in Reception, and mental health challenges are increasingly common, our programme provides a positive, active alternative that addresses multiple aspects of child development⁴.

“Raedan FC isn’t just where my son plays football – it’s where he’s learned to believe in himself,” concludes parent Sarah. “The skills, friendships, and confidence he’s gained here will benefit him for the rest of his life.”

Frequently asked questions

What age can my child start?

From age five. There is no upper age limit for our current groups.

How much does it cost?

£5 a month for all Saturday sessions, and £5 a month for Wednesday sessions. A child who comes to both pays £10 a month.

Does my child need any kit?

No. We provide all the equipment, and footwear for anyone who needs it. Comfortable clothes to run around in are all that is needed.

Are girls welcome?

Yes. Sessions are mixed, and on Wednesdays girls have their own session from 11:30am to 12:30pm.

My child has never played before. Is that a problem?

Not at all. Most children join as beginners, and every session is mixed ability.

Do you play matches against other clubs?

Not yet. Our children play internal matches at the centre, and we plan to enter older age groups into local leagues.

Are your coaches DBS checked?

Yes. Every coach holds an enhanced DBS check, safeguarding training and a first aid qualification, and we have a named Designated Safeguarding Lead for sport.

Can home-educated children join?

Yes. Our Wednesday sessions are designed for them, and Saturday football is open to everyone.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact us today to register your child for our next intake:

• Phone: 07725 974831
• Email: info@raedan-institute.co.uk
• Address: 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA

Join us on Saturdays from 11:00am to 12:30pm, or on Wednesdays if you home educate, and discover how sport can transform your child’s confidence, fitness, and future prospects. At Raedan FC, every child is a champion in the making.