Millwall star backs initiative

11:48am Tuesday 7th October 2008

LEWISHAM Shopping is to fund a sponsorship and volunteering programme to help Ten-Em-Bee, the sports development academy based in the borough, reach its goal of making a positive difference to people living in the community.

Ten-Em-Bee Together was launched on last week by Millwall's dynamic midfielder Ali Fusieni, together with representatives from Lewisham Shopping and Ten-Em-Bee.

Fuseni, who has been playing a key part in the Lions' best start to the season for almost two decades, honed his football skills at Ten-Em-Bee.

The Lions star joined centre manager of Lewisham Shopping Paul Redden and players from one of Ten-Em-Bee's junior football teams to launch the programme, which will be overseen by George Davis at Ten-Em-Bee.

Ten-Em-Bee provides facilities for tennis, netball, cricket and football to approximately 240 young people aged six to 18 in the London Borough of Lewisham from its base in Downham.

As well as encouraging the development of sporting excellence, Ten-Em-Bee provides selective scholarships to develop young people into sports coaches in their chosen field.

It has an excellent record in nurturing sporting talent, building confidence in young people and enabling positive community links.

Through Ten-Em-Bee Together, Lewisham Shopping is making contributions in a number of wide-reaching areas, including: Funding sportswear for all 240 players at Ten-Em-Bee; Funding scholarships for young people aged 16 to 18; Providing access to the world of work through mentoring, work experience and employment opportunities at the shopping centre and among its retailers; Providing volunteering teams from the shopping centre to maintain and improve the facilities at Ten-Em-Bee's Downham training centre.

Mr Redden said: "I am delighted Lewisham Shopping can make this investment in Ten-Em-Bee.

"Not only will this initiative help nurture the sporting excellence of the players and give support to the coaching staff through practical maintenance of the Downham site, it will also give older players access to work experience and employment opportunities through the centre and our retailers.

"The initiative is called Ten-Em-Bee Together for a reason, namely this is about partnership in its truest sense to enable Ten-Em-Bee to continue to grow and flourish."

George Davis, company secretary at Ten-Em-Bee, said: "The skills learned by youngsters at Ten-Em-Bee equip them for the playing field and for life, giving them the confidence and motivation to succeed.

"Having Lewisham Shopping involved with Ten-Em-Bee is fantastic.

"Paul and his colleagues at the shopping centre are as passionate about supporting the

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