From work experience to School Sports Coordinator: How USW gave Leah the skills for full-time employment at Wigan Athletic Community Trust.

Leah is no stranger to Wigan Athletic Community Trust having first been given an insight into the fantastic work they do to serve their local people whilst on work experience in secondary school.

Leah comments, “Whilst I was ok at school, I was just bumbling a long and not overly interested in anything. However the work experience at the Trust inspired me to want to be part of what they do.”

Having impressed, she was invited back at interview stage for an 18-month apprenticeship. The familiarity of her surroundings put her in good stead and been Leah completed the apprenticeship programme before moving on to the foundation degree programme in partnership with the University of South Wales.

The University of South Wales allows students to gain practical experience in their desired nature of work, whilst allowing for a blended learning approach where students have both face-to face and online learning. The courses which are hosted at your local football club has a huge emphasis on gaining real world learning through placements with students only having to attend the University for short residential periods.

Although the foundation degree programme provides blended learning, allowing students to learn remotely whilst accessing work-placement opportunities. There is also a large emphasis on the cohesion and enjoyment that residential trips provide.

However, with a national lockdown in place, Leah would not get to experience the degree as she did in her 2nd and 3rd years. However, she would not be disheartened.

As the world opened again, Leah could venture into the working world through a plethora of opportunities that the Trust provides though various provisions.

She explained that this exposure made her “more organised, be able to manage time and become a better coach.”

This was the start of Leah’s journey into full time employment at the club she had known for years.

With a promotion to School Sports Coordinator shortly after she graduated from the University of South Wales, it was a role that she adores.

She said: “I absolutely love working with children, they brighten my day with how enthusiastic they are about PE and Sport.”

Despite, self admittedly not being an avid football fan like many who enrol on the course, Leah’s story is an example of how the University of South Wales Foundation Degree allows students to tailor their own learning and pathways to excel at all levels of coaching from football to dance.

 

Click here to find out more.

Foundation Degree with Bristol Rovers helped Will build confidence in finding his future career path.

Will always wanted to be a football coach, but lacked the confidence to fulfil his dream.

He was nervous about seeking out the opportunities that would allow him to progress into coaching and not comfortable in asking for help either. This was a driver in Will’s decision to enroll on the USW Foundation degree course at Bristol Rovers. He was fan of the Club and the course offered the chance to gain coaching experience alongside his studies, which in turn removed the daunting idea of having to find the opportunities himself.

He described himself as “never the confident person in the room, I would always be the one at the back being quiet.”  However, the foundation degree nurtured Will’s confidence and exposed him to real-world working environments that took him out of his comfort zone and allowed him to grow both personally and professionally.

The University of South Wales allows students to gain practical experience in their desired nature of work, whilst allowing for a blended learning approach where students have both face-to face and online learning. The courses which are hosted at your local football club has a huge emphasis on gaining real world learning through placements with students only having to attend the University for short residential periods.

The foundation degree also provides students with the ability to gain further qualifications alongside their studies including their coaching badges, something that helped Will to hone in on his future.

He explained: “I felt this differed from different educational experiences as I was able to gain work experience whilst studying. I was able to gain qualifications along the way and was able to work on different projects that the trust offered to find the area of work I enjoyed the most.”

As someone who struggled for confidence, Will hugely benefited from the small class size as it allowed him to gain more in depth, individual support from his degree mentor. Will has continued at his degree provider, Bristol Rovers Community Trust where he is now Head of Inclusion and Degree Mentor on the same programme that provided him the platform to develop his self-belief, confidence and career aspirations.

Click here to find out more.

EFL in the Community Newsletter: Issue Four – Out Now!

The latest issue of our EFL in the Community newsletter is out now!

The publication showcases a selection of the invaluable activities carried out by EFL Clubs and their Club Community Organisations (CCOs).

Taking place every day across England and Wales, EFL Clubs and CCOs collectively continue to make a huge difference and positive impact on our communities while improving people’s lives.

In this latest edition, we highlight the value of the Armed Forces community following the signature of the Armed Forces Covenant, and the inclusive culture of Club Doncaster Foundation that has given transgender woman Charlie a ‘fresh start’ in her life.

In addition, the newsletter promotes the ongoing support for young people with disabilities taking place across the network, the new Sports Business Management degree being delivered by the EFL Trust in partnership with the University of South Wales, and Wrexham AFC’s community ticketing initiative.

Also there’s an array of images from the successful summer soccer camps delivered by CCOs up and down the country.

Get Vocal with Blackpool Community Trust provides men an outlet to taking the first step in improving their mental health

Get Vocal is a men’s talking group which has been formed by Blackpool FC Community Trust, Blackpool Football Club and Blackpool Council. The group is aimed at supporting men aged 18+ by providing a safe, non-judgmental and confidential setting for them to talk openly about their mental health and challenges they may be facing. The sessions take place every Monday evening in the North Stand Community Hub from 6-8pm (excluding bank holidays). Men can simply turn up, talk and get it off their chest!

“Over the course of my life I have been affected by, not only my own mental health, but that of my friends and family. I have lost friends to their battles and faced dark times myself, and from this have developed a passion for working within mental health and supporting those that need it. When my manager came and asked me if I wanted to be a part of Get Vocal, it was a no brainer for me. I had to do it, and I am so glad that I did. It might sound alien to others, but those 2 hours a week that we have for Get Vocal, are the best 2 hours of my week. I may facilitate the group, but even sitting and listening to what’s being said has enabled me to counteract specific problems I have faced myself. The camaraderie, support and respect from every member of the group makes me incredibly proud of what we have achieved and makes me even more excited about what we could do in the future to better support the men of Blackpool. This group has proven that stigmas can be removed and that is the thing I am most proud of.” – Dan – Group Facilitator

The group was first launched 1 year ago, on World Mental Health Day and has played a huge part in supporting men’s mental health. So far, 35 men have accessed the group with a total of 298 attendances overall. The group is attended by men of all ages and backgrounds, who all have their own individual life experiences. However, the one thing the group shares in common is that they are all there to support their own mental health and provide peer support to each other. Each week, men have the time and space to reflect on their week and talk about any challenges they have faced, as well as sharing the positives, for example proactive things they have done to better support their wellbeing. Conversations have ranged from discussing relationship breakdowns, financial worries, depression and anxiety, work stress and more.

As the group has evolved and more men have started to attend, we further developed our reach to better support those who attend by setting up a WhatsApp group. The idea behind this was to enable support outside of the talking group time. Men that wanted to opt into the group did, and it is superb to see the level of support that the men offer each other throughout the week, offering each other advice, support or just to offload.

Many of the men who attend the group shared the same story about having previously put off coming and how difficult it was to make the initial first step through the door. We are also aware of many other men who have wanted to come but have felt too anxious or nervous to attend.

As a way to try and remove some of these barriers and to reach even more men, we launched The Get Vocal Podcast. The first episode was released in August, featuring local author, youth worker and spoken word poet, Nathan Parker, who came and shared his own personal journey and experiences and how he now uses his platform to empower others who may be going through difficult times. We have since released a further two episodes and will continue with monthly episodes, featuring a variety of guest speakers talking about all things men’s mental health, that the men of Blackpool can relate to. We hope that men will listen/watch the podcast and feel empowered to make that first step.

The aim of The Get Vocal Podcast is to reach even more men in our town, providing them with an online platform, that allows them to listen to other men share their own experiences and reduce the stigma attached to men’s mental health. We hope by listening, men who are in need will also feel more confident to take their first step through our doors on a Monday evening and get the support they need.

“Get Vocal is more than just a men’s talking group. A mixed group of men in many ways, however all striving for the same goal of some form of mental clarity whilst breaking down barriers and stigma. Respectful, non-judgemental.” – Participant

Extra Time Hubs with Posh Foundation reconnected David with his local community

David Allen, a lifelong Posh Fan, was like many people who reach retirement and find their social life away from work slowly diminishes. David felt life was not heading in the right direction and he felt incredibly lonely due to not having any family and friends close by.  That is when his Football Club came to his aid and he joined the Posh Foundations Extra Time Hub.

The Extra Time Hubs enable Retired and semi-retired people make the most of their free time and enjoy doing the things they want to do. With friendships, support and being the socially active forefront of the Hubs aim, participants decide what they wish to take in with various activities on offer from quizzes to walking football.

David wanted to meet new like-minded people and begin to enjoy life more after feeling lonely and isolated for such a long time. David felt that everything the hub was offering would be perfect for him. Since attending the Hub has also been feeling less lonely and much more satisfied with his life

David said “The hub gives me a reason to leave the house, it is what I look forward to most each week. I have been able to meet people that I wouldn’t have been able to meet without the Hub. I feel connected to the community again and have a real sense of belonging again.”

Gill Wignall of the Posh Foundation said “David is now a key member of the hub and volunteers his time to lead on some of our activities such as organising quizzes every week for the other members to take part in. He attends every week along with attending Peterborough United home matches.”

Peterborough are one of 19 EFL clubs that run the EFL Trust’s Extra Time Hubs, that were initially funded by Sport England through the National Lottery.

Gill continues, “Activities for older people tended to be small coffee morning or bingo sessions. The Extra Time Hubs set out to do something different and create a social community of people in their retirement years who meet regularly to socialise and to do the things they enjoy or want to try, not what they are expected to do because they’ve reached a certain age. The Hubs focus on the social side of the hub and help people to feel better by reducing their social isolation and loneliness and in doing so we also nudge them towards being more physically active too.”

EFL AND KELLOGG’S SIGN FIVE-YEAR DEAL

The EFL and EFL Trust are pleased to welcome one of the UK’s most popular cereal brands, Kellogg’s, as an Official Partner.  

With football and cereal part of daily life for millions of people across England and Wales, the EFL and the EFL Trust’s network of Club Community Organisations will come together with multinational food manufacturing company Kellogg’s to positively impact the 72 communities where EFL clubs are located.

Behind the popular favourites of millions of households in the UK, such as Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops, Kellogg’s will also have presence across all the EFL’s three divisions and five Wembley finals, as well as working with the EFL’s charitable arm through to the end of the 2027/28 season.

Ben Wright, Chief Commercial Officer of the EFL, said:

“The EFL is excited to be joining forces with a trusted global brand in Kellogg’s and we look forward to the impact that this partnership will deliver over the coming years, with the backing of a household name.

“With growing attendances, bigger audiences and an enhanced sponsorship portfolio, the EFL’s popularity is clear. Eighty per cent of the population live within 15 miles of an EFL Club and millions of fans come through the turnstiles every month, meaning the League has the ability to forge strong connections with families on a nationwide scale.”

Cathy Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of the EFL Trust, said:

“Between the EFL Trust’s vision and Kellogg’s ambition around the roles we play in our communities, we are perfectly aligned to create a significant and positive impact. Together, we will be a force for good and we will create positive moments for our communities for years to come.”

Chris Silcock, Kellogg’s UK Managing Director, said:

“It’s been our great privilege to be part of British life for more than one hundred years, so it’s only right we should be joining up with another iconic institution like the EFL. Both Kellogg’s and the EFL are brands at the heart of communities up and down the country and this is the start of a great partnership.”

 

 

Blackburn Rovers open Community Wellbeing hub at Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust recently opened a brand new Community Wellbeing Hub at Ewood Park; an innovative facility and a first of its kind to be available free of charge within a professional football stadium in England.

The opening of the Community Wellbeing Hub further showcases the commitment of Blackburn Rovers to improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing, as the Community Hub will provide a safe space for those seeking help in a non-clinical and welcoming environment.

Aiming to connect and empower people with a mental health need through effective and coordinated service delivery, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust will work closely with the NHS, and as part of this, the Hub will support their ‘stepping up/stepping down’ strategy, so individuals can receive the help needed for personal recovery and independence.

The Community Wellbeing Hub is free to access, and will provide shared office space, breakout rooms and leisure spaces for health-related organisations to work from and see their clients.

More than 50 people from various organisations attended the official opening of the Community Wellbeing Hub in September, including senior representatives from the NHS and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Also present was first-team player Dominic Hyam, embodying the ‘One Rovers’ ethos that underpins both the football club and the Community Trust’s approach to community engagement.

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust CEO, Gary Robinson, and Head of Health and Wellbeing, Eddie Owen, also presented to those in attendance regarding the importance of the Hub and the facility’s strategic objectives.

Speaking about the launch of the Hub, Gary Robinson, said: “Planning for the Community Wellbeing Hub started more than three years ago and I am very excited that we are now in able to launch the facility that will help thousands of people.

“We care passionately about improving people’s health and wellbeing. After extensive research, we discovered there was little or no non-clinical safe spaces for people to utilise for physical and mental wellbeing support.

“Unfortunately, there can be a stigma attached to clinical settings, and this can discourage people from reaching out for help, when for some this could be the best way to receive the help they require to recover and improve their wellbeing.

“There could be a number of reasons why people visit Ewood Park and we want utilise the outstanding dedicated community space to open up more opportunities for people to get support. We are really looking forward to the difference we can make now we have this unique facility.”

The opening of the Hub at Ewood Park marked a significant achievement for both the Community Trust and Blackburn Rovers Football Club, demonstrating the unwavering dedication to the local community and how important the club is too many people, both on and off the pitch.

Blackburn Rovers Head of Health and Wellbeing, Eddie Owen, added: “I’m extremely proud to lead such a pioneering project. Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and its partners feel collectively we have a brilliant opportunity to showcase this unique community wellbeing facility that supports local health related organisations, partners and participants to help improve access to quality care.

“We are looking forward to referring participants into the Community Wellbeing Hub from our current 20 health and wellbeing initiatives.

“We truly believe sport and physical activity has an extremely important part to play in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. We thank everyone who came along to the successful launch of the Hub, and we are looking forward to developing our brand new health and wellbeing strategy over the coming months.”

EFL Trust Supports Growing And Groundbreaking Youth Voice Programme

The EFL Trust – along with four EFL Club Community Organisations – are empowering youth voice in several communities via a pioneering programme.

The charitable arm of the EFL is partnering with the Youth Endowment Fund, the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and the Co-op group to deliver regionally a 12.7million programme called The Peer Action Collective.

Bradford City FC Community Foundation and The Tigers Trust (Hull City AFC’s official charity) will deliver the programme within the Yorkshire and Humber region.

In addition, The Robins Foundation (Bristol City FC’s official charity) and Exeter City Community Trust will deliver PAC in the south west region of England, all giving young people the chance to make their communities safer, fairer places to live.

Dominik Stingas-Paczko, Head of Participation and Community Engagement at the EFL Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen as a regional partner again and support our network of Club Community Organisations in delivering this ground-breaking youth voice programme.

“Over the past two years, more than a thousand young people in Yorkshire were engaged with as part of the Peer Action Collective work, driven by young people at the forefront and Club Community Organisations using the power of the Club badge.

“We’re very much looking forward to being part of the next leg of the Peer Action Collective’s journey  – now supporting Yorkshire and the south west of England – in providing a platform for the vital views of young people to make positive change in their communities.”

Since the launch in 2021, PAC has seen over 6,800 young people across the country taking on the issues affecting their local communities and creating solutions. Over the next five years PAC will impact the lives of over 11,000 young people in England and Wales through peer research and social action.

PAC is a ground-breaking network of Peer Researchers, Social Action Leads and Changemakers.

Young people with lived experience of violence find out what needs to happen to make their area a better place to live and turn it into action.  From influencing school practises, to improving local mental health services, co-producing violence reduction strategies or supporting more young people into employment – together, they are ensuring that young voices respond to issues that directly affect them.

In Yorkshire, young people provided their voice to a wide range of concerns to them, including Peer Researchers spearheading group sessions at Wetherby Young Offenders Institute where they acquired the views of a group of convicted young people as well as providing them with football enrichment.

Youngsters also attended the Houses of Parliament, speaking to MPs, about their experience, the programme and findings from young people, and even met with Bradford City manager Mark Hughes during EFL’s Week of Action where they had asked him press conference-style questions and informed him about the differences made in city.

Helen Goulden OBE, Chief Executive of The Young Foundation added: “The Peer Action Collective’s youth-led approach has already shown huge potential to reduce experiences of violence and shape a fairer future. As we launch into a five-year programme, I am genuinely excited about what might be achieved and the power of younger people to effect the change they want to see in the world around them.”

To find out more about the project, visit the Youth Endowment Fund’s website. To find out more about Co-op’s work with young people, please visit coop.co.uk/gamechangers

Port Vale FC Captain offers inspiration to Vale’s Education Squad

Port Vale FC skipper Nathan Smith welcomed new members to the Club ‘family’ at the launch of Port Vale Foundation’s Education Squad Programme.

The captain, who’s been with the Club, since 2014 – appearing more than 300 times for The Valiants – presented to a new cohort of learners for the popular education initiative which kicked off at Vale Park at the start of the 23/24 season.

Following an enrolment on a BTEC level 2/3 in Sport, the learners met Nathan at Vale Park with their families, where the captain outlined the culture, values and expectations throughout the Club.

Nathan said “The importance the Club places on valuing people is of the highest importance. We invest time and energy into making people the best they can be, and we set high standards for all staff, volunteers and learners.

“It was great to meet new members of the Port Vale family and give them a congratulations on achieving the required results as well as giving them insight into the way we do things at Port Vale.”

The Foundation revealed 23/24 Education Squad Goalkeeper Tom Beeby was called up to the club’s first team which shows the programme’s impact which operates in conjunction with Stoke-on-Trent College.

The EFL Club Community Organisation said: “We’re immensely proud that Tom’s hard work and positive mindset has given him this amazing opportunity.”

 

 

Rt Hon Dame Rosie Winterton visits award winning Fit Rovers Families project.

During the final week of the current post-natal Fit Rovers Families course on Wednesday, participants were joined by Doncaster Central MP, Rt Hon Dame Rosie Winterton, after she was involved in the team being presented with the League Two Project of the Year Award at the EFL Awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament earlier this year.

Participants were celebrating completing their final week of the course, with a fitness circuit, followed by a teddy bear’s picnic, giving them the chance to interact with each other alongside VET’s participants from previous courses. During the picnic, Rt Hon Dame Rosie sat with participants to discuss the course and find out why they’d decided to join the programme.

The post-natal course is a FREE 6 week programme, based at the Foundation Fitness gym at the Eco-Power Stadium, designed for new parents, to help ease them back into exercise following birth. The programme enables new parents to attend with their baby, eliminating the worry of childcare for individuals.

The two hour weekly session covers a wide range of health and wellbeing topics, such as mental and physical health, nutrition and mini first aid. Parents get the chance to socialise with other parents while their babies can enjoy a variety of sensory play, which differs each week during the first hour.

Following this, the second hour focuses on physical activity, with low intensity exercise classes, including Buggy HIIT sessions, resistance band training, circuit classes and yoga, all being completed with their baby by their side.

After completing the 6 week course, parents are supported with referrals to other programmes, such as the hugely successful Fit Rovers and Fit Rovers Ladies programmes, to help them continue with exercise and their physical and mental health.

Rt Hon Dame Rosie spoke of her visit to the session: “I was so proud that Club Doncaster Foundation won this award, I’m so impressed with all the work that’s gone into making this project a success. To actually see it live here, is just incredible and inspiring.

“It was great to see the number of mum’s that were there today, who were really keen to participate.”

After sitting down with some of the parents attending the session, Rt Hon Dame Rosie discussed the feedback she’d had from participants, about the course: “The mum’s said that getting on this course meant that they could bring their babies along and they could keep exercising too.

“The babies are going to be looked after here and they can keep an eye on them too. Some of the mum’s have had C-sections and were nervous about what exercises they could and couldn’t do and the advice from the staff here has helped them. They also said it’s been good for their confidence, mental health and meeting new people.”

“As a Foundation, here, you’ve got people coming from all over, coming together, getting to know each other and the community spirit really builds up.”

The post-natal project, alongside other Fit Rovers projects, is funded through the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and has been running since November last year. Emma Price, Head of Transformation at the ICB, also attended the session on Wednesday and has been pleased with how the project has taken off over the past few months, including winning the League Two Project of the Year award at the recent EFL Awards.

“We’ve seen lots of mums and families join the programme and even had a number of mum’s moving on to attending our Fit Rovers Ladies programme too.

“This programme is the only one in the UK that is linked with a football club. What we’re going to see over the next 12 to 18 months for this project is the growth into the community.

“The course is completely free. By going into the community and expanding the programme further, will really help the project and support even more families going forward.”

Plans are already being drawn up to take the award winning project into the local community, offering the course to even more parents across the city, more so for those who may not be able to travel to the stadium on a weekly basis to take part in the programme currently. One area that the health and wellbeing team are looking at targeting, is the Bentley area.

Nabeel Alsindi, GP + Place Medical Director for the ICB was also in attendance at the session on Wednesday, to take a look at what a regular session entails. He spoke about what he witnessed: “It’s really inspiring. We see a lot of people, such as young mum’s, who are struggling in the period after giving birth, and peer support really helps, which is something that is evident here, after being here for just a few minutes.

“I’m really excited to hear there is plans to expand to the local community. It can be hard for people to get to central locations, so bringing these services to people can help break down these barriers.”

Are you a new or expectant parent, interesting in our FREE pre or post natal courses?

Contact [email protected] to speak with a member of the Fit Rovers Families team.