David Ospina has paid a visit to Arsenal’s football programme with youth homeless charity Centrepoint at the Arsenal Hub this week.

The programme – which is delivered jointly by Arsenal in the Community and Centrepoint – uses the Arsenal name to engage individuals living in temporary accommodation. Coaches offer participants emotional support and access to employment pathways as well as the chance to play football.

Ospina met young men and women involved in the programme, including 22 year-old Talisha.

Talisha started living in hostels when she was 16. After signing up for our joint football programme – she was selected to play for England at the Homeless World Cup in Oslo this summer. She is now working towards her coaching badges and a career in construction.

The football programme is funded with the help of the Gunners’ first team squad, who will continue the festive tradition of donating a day’s wages to The Arsenal Foundation at our charity matchday against Newcastle on Saturday 16 December.

It’s the latest project in a long running relationship between Arsenal and Centrepoint.

An incredible £500,000 has been raised to build a state-of-the-art health and wellbeing centre for homeless young people in London, following being chosen as Arsenal’s charity of the season partnership in 2010/11.