KickOff@3 2018

For the past 5 months, officers working on boroughs across the Met and in other constabularies have assisted in facilitating tournaments where local teams have taken part in this programme. This year saw more than 1000 young people taking part in the KickOff@3 football tournaments. Music artist, 'Tricks Rtb' has performed at a number of these events while sharing his positive messages through music.

On Sunday 17th June, 22 teams from across the UK will took part in the Kickoff@3 Daniel De-Gale Football Tournament - an all-day 7-a-side football competition at The Warren Metropolitan Police Sports Ground. There will be in excess of 200 players taking part from London, Hertfordshire, Durham, Belfast, Gwent, Wiltshire and the West Midlands. Guests on the day include the MPS Commissioner, Cressida Dick; Shaun Wallace from ‘The Chase’; Dr Neville Lawrence OBE, Dr Angela Herbert; Beverley De-Gale OBE & Orin Lewis OBE from ACLT and many more.

The Daniel De-Gale Football Tournament is named after Daniel De-Gale, a vibrant young man who was the first black person in the UK to receive a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. This transplant enabled Daniel to live happily whilst blood cancer-free for several years. Sadly, Daniel passed away at age 21. Daniel’s parents, Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis, founded the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to raise awareness and educate communities on the lack of donors (stem cell, blood or organ) for African and Caribbean people. They will present the winners’ cup in honour of their son at the finale.

Before the start of all KickOff@3 tournaments, the players and supporters stand united in a one-minute silence to remember the young lives that have been lost through violent crime. Family, friends, community groups and senior police officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and the participating Constabularies attended to support the competitors. They were also joined on the day by the RAF, the London Fire Brigade and other keen supporters.

The Metropolitan Black Police Association (Met BPA) have been the main supporters of the project since the start of the initiative in 2016 in Sutton. The Met BPA has not only supported the initiative, but helped in the planning of the tournaments and the Finale.

PC and Co-Founder Michael Wallace said: "This project is about the Community and the Police coming together as one, while working hand in hand to make those key differences. This has helped empower our KickOff@3 initiative and embed our ethos of #WeBelieve. We were delighted to hold this specific event on Father’s Day, as this is key to bringing families together in a safe and fun environment while supporting our young people."