Brilliant New Training Programme at Charlton Athletic

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Charlton Athletic Community Trust have begun a new pioneering health and lifestyle programme for football fanatics that find it difficult to get involved.

Football Fans In Training (FFIT) is a 13 week lifestyle programme that aims to help Men between 35-65, who have a waist size of 38 inches or more, bring about behaviour changes in order to improve their health. During the course, those involved will be educated about their diet and nutrition, will take part in gentle physical activity, and will be informed on how to make healthier lifestyle choices in general.

charlton ffit

The programme is a gradual approach towards boosting levels of physical activity, taking an individualised focus on each member, including 12 weekly stadium-based training sessions with SPFL coaches and pedometer-based homework.

The sessions aim to teach core principles of exercise, with the first focusing on short aerobic workouts tailored to baseline fitness and exercise preferences. Strength and flexibility work are added as the length of the training session increases.

The pedometer will be used to set weekly targets to increase daily step count. By the midpoint of the programme, men should be achieving the current recommendations for physical activity (30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week). By the end of the programme, men should be, with an improved diet, achieving recommended levels for weight loss (45-60 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week).

Those involved will also be encouraged to use local facilities to introduce further physical activity in their daily lives, and to continue to meet up for exercise sessions once FFIT has ended.

If you want to come along, the first session will take place on:

September 5th, Monday, 7 – 9pm, The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8BL.

You can also find out more information on their website: www.ffit.org.uk

Or if you wish to speak with someone, contact: 0800 470 4831

NCS In Action

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Among the numerous Social Action Projects carried out by participants on our National Citizen Service Programme (NCS) this summer, one particular group showed tremendous versatility in splitting their time between two important local causes.

plymouth ncs social action

The youngsters got their hands, feet and clothes dirty for a day of maintenance at the William Sutton Memorial Hall, a local community centre in St Budeaux, as they set about a day of painting, gardening and general graft.

It was then time to emulate our Olympic heroes with a fun run through Central Park, raising money and awareness for the Dash of Silver charity, an organisation dedicated to helping fight cancer in men.

As part of NCS, participants are required to carry out 30 hours of voluntary work in their Social Action project, a great way to end a programme that included residential stays, outdoor activities and fantastic life experiences.

Plymouth Argyle Community Trust have spaces on the NCS programme in October. To find out more, please contact the NCS team of Dwain Morgan and Ryan Yeoman on 01752 562561 ext.4 or email [email protected]  [email protected]

16-18 and love football?

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Love football?

If you have always fancied the chance to represent your club playing for EFL, Premier League, or National League clubs, and you are 16-18 years of age, studying towards a BTEC in Sport with EFL Trust Futsal could be the perfect programme for you!

The BTEC in sport is worth up to three A-Levels and will be studied over the course of two years. In order to gain entry onto the course, applicants must have a BTEC Level 2, or four A*-C GCSE’s including English and Maths. Most importantly though, you must have a passion for football, and a desire to progress to university and work in sport in the sports industry in thee future.

This revolutionary course will allow you to use an online platform, along with study in the football club, which has proved successful in previous years, with 89% of students rating this unique learning environment as excellent.

When it comes to exit routes from this course, the possibilities are endless! Ranging from university education both in the UK and overseas, such as the EFL Trust Community Football Coaching & Development Foundation Degree to careers in the sports and leisure sector. The course provides a variety of skills, some of which are transferable. Students have progressed to employment within their football club, whilst others have pursued Soccer Scholarships in the USA.

A driving force in developing the world’s fastest growing sport in the UK. Future stars continue to emerge from the EFL Trust Futsal programme, with many players catching FA National League & England scouts’ eyes. Frequent call-ups to England Development squads are a testament to the programme’s production of talent.lilywhites futsal

England International, and Futsal graduate Joe Kenny commented “The EFL Trust Futsal programme was great for me. It’s different from school and I just felt motivated to learn. You’re studying at a professional football club, the one I’d supported since I was a toddler. You learn using an online platform but you’ve got lots of support. Then of course you get to pull on that club shirt and represent your team against other professional clubs. For me it opened up a path into the higher levels of Futsal, regional development squads, England Under 19’s, Under 23’s and finally into the full England Team. If you said to the 15 year old me that I’d end up going to university, he would have laughed at you. Yet only a few years later I’m studying at a top university and I’ve represented my country.”

By combining your education with something you love, you could not only excel, but pursue a career that you are extremely proud of, and enjoy every minute of it!

Places are filling fast so for more information or if you would like to apply, please click here.

Latics Soccer School Success!

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It’s been another great summer of Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s holiday Soccer Schools and Dance Camps, with over a THOUSAND youngsters joining in.

This summer, the holiday camps took place at an incredible nine locations across Wigan, providing opportunities for 6-14 year old girls and boys to join in with high quality, interactive football and dance sessions.

Wigan Athletic goalkeeping duo Adam Bogdan and Jussi Jaaskelainen surprised young footballers at the Abraham Guest Soccer School last week, where they took turns in net to try and keep out as many of the Soccer School’s shots as possible, in an ‘on the volley’ competition. Adam said: “It’s always good to join in with these types of football camps, you can see how much the kids enjoy it and I always really enjoy joining in too; you end up feeling like a ten-year-old again. “A few of the kids scored some really nice goals, I was having to make some big saves to keep some of them out!”

wigan summer camp

Craig Morgan and Max Power joined in with a football camp at Wigan Youth Zone earlier this week, where they took part in some of the different games the camp have been playing throughout the summer holidays, including crossbar challenge. Craig and Max also presented the football camp with tickets for today’s game against QPR. Craig said: “I’ve never been to Wigan Youth Zone before, it’s unbelievable! I never had anything like this when I was young so it’s great for all these kids to be able to make the most of coming and joining in here. “We know our responsibilities within the community and the lads are really good at this side of things, coming out and taking part in activities. I have kids myself and I know what it means for them to join in with sessions like this, so I’m more than happy to come and do my bit. “The most important thing is that you get involved properly because the kids will see that and it’ll reflect well on them.”
The Community Trust provide three weeks of holiday football coaching at Wigan Youth Zone as part of the Football Programme that they run there.

Over 100 Isle of Man youngsters joined in with the Trust’s week-long camp this summer, which was based at Colby A.F.C. on the Isle of Man.
The four-year partnership between the Community Trust and Colby A.F.C. has provided hundreds of youngsters with high quality football coaching and lots of fun and games – including some dubious outfits at the annual ‘Wacky Wednesday’ fancy dress competition!

To find out more about Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s holiday Soccer Schools and Dance Camps, please click here , or contact the Trust directly on 01942 488 530 or by emailing [email protected].

A-Level Graduate & Football Fanatic?

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Got your A-Level results and not sure where to go next?

Are you a football fanatic?

The University of South Wales offer a degree that was created with you in mind! The Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development was designed in conjunction with the EFL Trust, and will equipt you with knowledge about children and youth coaching, sport coaching, football development, social inclusion, and sports management skills.

What’s better, you will be based predominantly within your own football club, with a minimum of five days per year at the USW Sport Park, our £3.7m state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre, and will be enrolled as a student at the University of South Wales.

Completed within the professional football clubs, you will undertake a work based learning programme in year two, providing opportunities to gain experience in areas such as social inclusion, school and grass root club development, football development, and coaching.

You will also study towards your Level 2 Football Coaching Certificate and will have numerous opportunities to undertake additional vocational awards.

For more information and to apply for the course, please click here.

 

 

 

Cutting Edge Mental Health Workshops in Rotherham

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Rotherham United’s cutting edge MENTALk HEALTH project focuses on both physical and mental health by offering a combination of free weekly physical exercise sessions and free monthly wellbeing workshops at the ASSEAL New York Stadium.

The physical sessions will involve sports such as football, rugby and boxing whilst the workshops will provide advice and support around issues such as managing emotions and mood, anxiety, depression, healthy eating and nutrition and general topics that should increase knowledge around how to be a happier and healthier person.

The next workshop will be running on 22nd August 2016 6pm – 8pm at the AESSEAL New York Stadium and includes information on Managing anxiety and stress.

The Weekly physical sessions are held at Parkgate Astro, Starting on 8th September 4pm – 5pm and provide the participants with gentle exercises through the delivery of multi sports.

If you would like to find out more information or get involved, please contact Trudi Race on 01709 827767 or [email protected].

Read more here.

BFC Community Trust Develop First Ever Junior Amputee Football Team

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Blackpool FC Community Trust have been working in partnership with the English Amputee Football Association (EAFA) to develop the first grassroots amputee specific football team for U16’s.

The team took part in the ‘One City – Tom Jordan Memorial Cup’ on Wednesday 10th August 2016 at Manchester City’s state of the art CFA. The tournament welcomed teams from across the country with players who had a range of impairments such as Cerebral Palsy, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Specific Learning Difficulties, Deaf and Visually Impaired along with BFCCT’s very own Amputees.

The team so far is made up of six individuals who have a range of amputations or congenital deficiencies, the players who have lost their missing limbs through traumatic accidents, birth deficiencies or illness such as cancer.

BFC amputee team

Jamie Oakey (Blackpool) was born with his foot missing and was the captain of the side on Wednesday. His mum Elaine said: “Jamie was born with his foot missing, they spotted this on my 29 week scan and told me he was one in a million to be born like this.

“Since Jamie has been attending the Blackpool FC Community Trust sessions his confidence has grown massively and he’s always dreamed of playing football regularly and competitively which he will now get the chance to do, its amazing.”

The team is the first of it’s kind as Amputee Football in England is currently growing and developing but there is still a lack of provision for juniors (U16’s). The EAFA have been working hard over the past year and have recently created a ‘GB Junior Squad’ which is for selected amputee junior players to attend and train at a more ‘prestige’ level, apart from Ireland these were the only two Junior training sessions in place throughout the world.

Blackpool FC Community Trust started to work in partnership with EAFA to create the first junior ’TEAM’ which would give a host of children the opportunity to play football in a fun, regular and competitive environment which is the first of it’s kind not only in England or Europe but in the World!

The team played against different opposition in their first outing including Sheffield Wednesday Pan Ability, Aston Villa Pan Ability, Manchester City Pan Ability and Rotherham Pan Ability. They played four matches just missing out on the semi final stage but scoring 6 fantastic goals in the process. It was a huge achievement for the youngsters.

The team will now enter their first league competition in September as they get ready to take part in the Lancashire FA Ability Counts League, which BFCCT already has a number of disability teams competing in.

Inclusion Officer, Owen Coyle, said: “This is a fantastic addition to our disability programme. It’s wonderful to know we are helping to change these youngsters’ lives and also to host the first ever competitive junior amputee team is incredible. Thanks to EAFA for their support and we are really excited to see how the programme develops.”

Well done to Jamie Oakey, Ben Tierney, James Middlehurst, Teejay Stainer, Liam Brittles and Cody Rayner who were part of the tournament team on Wednesday.

If anybody would like to participate in our disability programme please contact [email protected].

Every Player Counts Grants Announced

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Disability football across England has received a major boost following the announcement of more than £1m in grants to EFL club community trusts up and down the country. The “Every Player Counts” programme is funded by the Wembley National Stadium Trust and administered by the EFL Trust – working together in an innovative partnership between the charitable side of the country’s most iconic sporting venue and the organisation responsible for overseeing the fantastic work delivered within their local neighbourhoods by the community partners of professional EFL clubs.

The WNST trustees have awarded 23 grants, totalling £1,070,450 over three years, benefitting 25 clubs around England (one grant covers the three clubs in Nottinghamshire). These clubs cover the length and breadth of the country, from Plymouth to Carlisle and Southend to Shrewsbury and are located in a mixture of built-up metropolitan boroughs and more rural locations – all aimed at giving the programme as wide a focus as possible.

Critical to the success of the programme will be the detailed local knowledge that each of the recipient schemes has about its local community. The club trusts were therefore encouraged to bid for funds to address a particular gap in disability football within their area, to be delivered in a way that made the most of their existing skills.

The grants awarded reflect this diversity of need. A number of clubs will be involved in developing new impairment specific projects focusing on for example, autism, mental health, learning disabilities, amputees or powerchair football. Some will be expanding their pan-disability football offer in new locations or with new audiences. Others will be using their skills and experience to support local grassroots community clubs to develop their own in-house disability football capacity.

The over-riding main aim of the scheme is to get more disabled people playing football and breaking down the barriers that have prevented them from doing so. Since the London 2012 Paralympics, we have seen a major increase in the number of disabled people playing sport or wanting to do so. This programme builds on previous work at both WNST and EFL Trust and will continue the expansion of the opportunities available to disabled people to get involved.

It is not a ‘talent pathway’ programme – that is rightly the responsibility of the FA and the other governing bodies overseeing disability football. Of course, if one of the projects discovers a future international or Paralympian, that would be a great achievement. But it is not a required indicator of success. Nevertheless, it is a key consideration for each club, that anyone getting involved in playing through one of these funded projects has a clear exit route to continue their football experience if that is what they want – whether it is just for fun, within a competitive environment or looking for representative honours. It is therefore important that the county FAs and other sports providers are linked into these projects, as well as each club having other opportunities to offer people to play.

Read more here.

Family Action Success!

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A new service to support fathers in Medway was launched at Gillingham Football Club on July 21st. ‘PAPAS’ (Partners Access to Perinatal Advice & Support), which is run by the charity Family Action, offers help to new dads and fathers-to-be who are supporting partners affected by mental health issues during pregnancy and following the birth of a child.

Over 50 guests attended the event at the Player’s Lounge at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium and were joined by International and former Gillingham player, Ian Cox, together with other representatives from Gillingham FC. The audience was inspired by a presentation from Mark Williams, who was prominent in launching International Fathers’ Mental Health Day.

Sally Fey, Family Action’s Project Manager for PAPAS said

“We would like to thank Gillingham Football club for so generously hosting the launch of PAPAS. We would also like to thank Mark Williams for his excellent, thought provoking speech.

When new mums and mothers-to-be are affected by perinatal depression their partners often need support too, but sadly do not know where to go for that support. PAPAS, a new service which complements our perinatal support services for mums, offers fathers a regular meeting space for dads to discuss difficulties and a chatter forum in which dads can chat with other dads and get answers from professionals online. One to One support from support staff or volunteer is also available, supporting dad to have one to one time with his child and offer a listening ear. We can also offer counselling support by one of our qualified counsellors or final year Counselling or Psychology students.”

Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive of Gillingham FC Community Trust said

“We were delighted to be able to support the launch of this excellent new service, and welcome everyone involved to Gillingham Football Club. The Community Trust are working to develop new opportunities and exciting projects to support the health services in Medway and Kent, and this was a great start. We are looking forward to working with Family Action again in the future.”

To find out more about PAPAS and how to get involved please email [email protected] or call 01634 829128.

A Fantastic Start To Dale’s Summer Multisport Sessions

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Dale in the Community’s summer multisport courses got underway last week and proved extremely popular.

Over 70 boys and girls turned out for the fun sessions at the Soccer Factory and Wardle Academy.

All children were presented with two complimentary tickets for the first matches of the new season plus goodie bags from Rochdale AFC, which included information on the club’s free season tickets for 11s and unders.

Award winners were presented with a certificate and brand new autographed Rochdale football.

Not only that, three boys – Owen Raishbrooke, Jack Blackburn and Jack McDonald – have been recommended to the Dale Academy.

Keith Hicks commented: “We’ve had a great first week and we’re looking forward to welcoming more youngsters to the sessions over the next five weeks. We are looking at a bumper turn out this year!”

Sessions continue throughout the summer holidays and it’s not too late to book a place.

Boys and girls aged 5 and over are welcome to attend.

The youngsters can take part in sports such as basketball and volleyball, as well as athletics disciplines. This is in addition to the normal soccer drills on offer.

Read more here.