WSL footballer Maddi Wilde invites former ALABARÉ client to training session
London City Lionesses player, Maddi Wilde, has been learning more about ALABARÉ's work by inviting a former clients for a kickabout.
London City Lionesses footballer, Maddi Wilde, has been learning more about ALABARÉ’s work by inviting one of our former clients for a kickabout.
20-year-old defender Maddi Wilde signed on as an ambassador for the charity in the summer and had expressed her interest in hearing how ALABARÉ is breaking the cycle of homelessness.
She invited Chloe for a visit to the Women’s Super League team’s training ground at Cobdown Park in Aylesford, taking to the pitch as a way of sparking conversations.
The visit also included a tour of the facilities, using the physio room as a place to chat, and Maddi handing over a shirt signed by all her London City Lionesses teammates.
Chloe’s story
Chloe came into ALABARÉ’s services after finding herself homeless, following incidents of financial abuse by a family member.
She moved into our Sarum House supported living accommodation in Andover, where she gained confidence, took part in wellbeing activities, and learned the skills needed to live independently once again.
Chloe is a huge football fan, having previously played locally, and has recently qualified for her Level 1 and 2 FA Football Coaching Badges.
Football provides a welcome escape
That shared passion for the sport meant Chloe and Maddi hit it off instantly, with football often a catalyst for building communities, friendships, and improving mental health.
Chloe said: “Football’s always been my escape from life, I love the sport. I was homeless and a victim of financial abuse. From there, I found ALABARÉ, worked with them and got support, and today, I’m here. It’s been an incredible, whirlwind journey.”
Following two years of support from ALABARÉ and recovering from the trauma of the abuse she faced, Chloe has now moved on to her own accommodation in London and is enjoying football again.
She’s a regular at Salisbury Football Club, whose partnership with ALABARÉ provides funding for its alcohol addiction programmes.
WSL player and ALABARÉ Ambassador, Maddi Wilde, said:
“Football is a really good escape, to be fair. When you step out onto the pitch, no matter what everyone’s gone through, for 90 minutes, you just don’t think about it.
“When I was first told about Chloe’s story, it’s so incredible the resilience and the mental strength that she’s shown. Talking to someone and having the right people around is so important, to have the people that you know you can go to for anything.
“It was an absolute pleasure to show Chloe around Cobdown Park, spend some time with her, and hear more about how ALABARÉ’s making a real difference in providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds. I’m really proud to be an ambassador for the charity and was so pleased to hear how they’re helping people like Chloe turn their lives around every single day.”
ALABARÉ’s work with young people
We have a total of 70 bed spaces for young people aged 16 to 25 across Wiltshire and Hampshire who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, along with an additional 16 places for young parents and their babies.
Many of those have come into our services following trauma, family breakdown, involvement in crime and county lines networks, substance misuse, and mental health concerns.
45,000 hours of support have been provided to young people in the 2024-25 financial year, with the societal value of the support offered calculated as £42,000 per young person.
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