ARGYLE defender Marcel Seip joined the East End Onside Project this month, when he chatted with young people and answered questions giving insight as to what is involved in being a professional footballer.

Marcel signed posters and watched the football games being played in the Multi Use Games Area in Astor Park, and was very vocal in recognising the positive impact football can have in local communities such as the East End.

The Thursday evening East End Onside Football session is a partnership project between Argyle's Football in the Community Department and Plymouth Youth Service South East Locality Team.

Since starting in early February, the Sessions have gone from strength to strength, with a regular turn out of approximately 20 young people aged between 13-19 years old. The session has enabled the Plymouth Youth Service South East Locality Team to start building positive relationships with young people in the East End of Plymouth.

It was recognised through detached youth work that there was little youth work provision in the East End, which has now become a priority for the team to address. Initially, the sessions were planned to last over a 12 week period, but due to the positive response, the team, along with PAFC, are discussing the potential to extend the project for a further 12 weeks.

Young people aged 14 years and over can work towards the physical section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award through the project and the South East Locality Team are planning to start a Young Men's group in the East End to assist young men from the project in continuing work for their Bronze Award.

Young women have also been identified through this project and work is in progress to start a Young Women's group offering young women a place to meet and engage in positive activities and explore issues that they feel effect their lives.