WHY ACCESS FC?
The Rexdale community of Toronto has long been underserved by the various levels of government, with the area being deemed "at-risk" by studies for generations. This has impacted the involvement of young people, particularly those of certain cultural and ethnic backgrounds, from entering the high cost world of organized youth sports. Below is some of the data that highlights issues that helped shape Access Football Club, and some of the benefits of a sports club like ours.
Inner-city youth are three times more likely to have been inactive during the pandemic. (4)
70%
The percentage of the population of Rexdale that are visible minorities (1) who routinely face systematic discrimination and biases in political, economic and social levers of power.
Percentage of new immigrants in the area.(2)Stats Can says 32% are less likely to participate in sport because of the cost. (3)
50%
3X
"With such high costs to access sports programs, children and youth who come from low-income-and particularly immigrant families-are often left with more barriers to overcome in order to have equal opportunity."
Nick Holt, Professor
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sports & Recreation, University of Alberta (5)
BENEFITS
The benefits of a club like Access FC are related to student achievement and adolescent growth. Many of the goals of AFC are directly correlated with factors the Institute of Medicine and National Academies have outlined in their Community Programs to Promote Youth Development. (6) They include:
