A SPURS football star kicked off the club's new £120,000 community volunteer project at White Hart Lane stadium last Friday.

Defender Vedran Corluka helped launch Volunteer Tottenham Hotspur to encourage young people over the age of 16 to sign up as volunteers with the club's official charitable body, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

The Croatia international player got stuck in to several workshops, including one to help adults with learning difficulties and physical disabilities participate in sport.

Corluka, 23, was also able to learn more about the foundation's projects which range from sports coaching to outreach work to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour among teenagers.

The footballer, who joined Spurs in September 2008, said: "Spurs, via the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, does so much good work in the community.

"I was happy to come along today and show local people the important role they can play in this work by volunteering through this new project".

Over the next three years, 60 long-term volunteers will be recruited from Haringey and neighbouring boroughs.

Volunteers will be expected to donate up to 11,480 hours of their time as they take part in any one of the foundations 73 different projects promoting healthy lifestyles, education and the role sport can play in improving quality of life.

Grant Cornwell, chief executive of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: "Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to the community and can make a real difference in helping to support change in people's lives".

Organisers hope the increased number of helpers will help the foundation to better meet the community needs.

It is being funded by the Premier League/Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Community Fund.