A Fantastic Start To Dale’s Summer Multisport Sessions

/in /by

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.

BFCCT Pan Ability Player Selected for U21’s

/in /by

Blackpool FC Community Trust ‘Pan-Ability’ player Joe Blockley has been selected to play for the Great Britain U21 Deaf Squad for this coming summers ‘Deaf European Cup Competition’.

Joe who has been playing for the Blackpool FC Pan Ability ‘A team’ for the last year has been selected to represent the International team off the back of his performances and achievements this season, in total Joe has won four trophies in his first spell with the team.joe blockley bfcct 2

The GB Deaf U21 side headed to Wroclaw (Poland) on the 3rd of August to take part in the Deaf U21 European Championships where they will face other International sides such as Germany, Spain, Russia and Italy who are all strong teams that will also stake a claim for the prestigious European trophy.

Since he was 18 months old Joe has had a cochlear implant which was due to Joe suffering from meningitis, as an outcome this has affected Joe’s hearing ever since but hasn’t held Joe back from taking part in football and every other day activities, which has been reflected in his recent success.

Joe plays a variety of positions for the Pan Ability team but mainly operates as a left winger with good technical ability and also is a physical presence in the air due to his height. He is one of the younger players within the first team squad but shows his maturity on and off the field with his contributions.

Owen Coyle (BFCCT Inclusion Officer) said; ‘I have known Joe for four years now and coached him previously at another disability specific centre, it is great to see how he has progressed and developed over the years and it is really pleasing to see that Blackpool FC Community Trust have had a positive impact on Joe’s achievement’.

Community Trust to sponsor Family Stand

/in /by

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust have demonstrated their commitment to Rovers’ fans of the future by choosing to sponsor and assist with the matchday running of the new Family Stand at Ewood Park.

As a result of the tie in, the new family-friendly location in the Blackburn End half of the Jack Walker Stand lower tier will now be known as the Blackburn Rovers Community Trust Family Stand.

The exciting move will result in potentially the most lively and active area of supporter/club interaction that the stadium has ever seen, with revamped concourse facilities, dedicated children’s activities, meet and greets, giveaways and much more all coming into play, starting from the first home fixture of the Championship season against Norwich City on Saturday August 6th. The facilities on offer include communal Playstation 4’s which will be available for use throughout the games including during half time.

The area will also carry Community Trust branding to help make fans around the stadium aware of the wide range of great opportunities that the registered charity provides to those in the local area.

Gary Robinson, chief executive officer of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, is excited for the new matchday offering, explaining: “As soon as we knew that the Family Stand was heading into a new location, we wanted the Community Trust to become a key partner in its long-term success, so immediately we wanted to know if we could put our name to the venture.

“We’ve been working hard throughout the summer to get new partners on board who want to come along and make this part of the stadium as welcoming and exciting as it can be, and we’re sure that supporters will be pleased when they see the calibre of companies that we’re working with to make it happen.

“It’s also a very proud moment for the Community Trust to now enjoy such prominent branding within the stadium, with our details running the entire length of the Family Stand. Hopefully it will get more fans thinking about who we are, what we do and how we make such a valuable contribution to tens of thousands of lives in our area every year.”

Mike Cheston, Director of Blackburn Rovers, added: “We are delighted to welcome the Community Trust on board as the new sponsor of the Family Stand. It strengthens the long-running relationship between the club and the Community Trust, who have some exciting plans for that area on matchdays, which should hopefully improve the atmosphere and supporter experience inside the stadium.

“The Community Trust does a fantastic job of engaging with the local community through a number of different programmes and initiatives, so hopefully this latest move will further enhance its standing and reputation within the Ewood area.”

Read more here.

First Ever Over 30’s Football Festival for Women

/in , /by

Women from the generation that missed the female football revolution took a trip to Wembley at the weekend to enjoy the first ever EFL Trust Football festival for women aged over 30. The Festival at Lucozade Powerlegue saw over 80 women take part across 8 teams representing 6 clubs: Crawley Town, AFC Wimbledon, Swindon, Brentford, Dagenham and Redbridge and Coventry City. The talented AFC Wimbledon took the winning titles for both the plate and the cup on the day, whilst Sue Keeka from Brentford took the title for top goal scorer.

IMG_0030

Being the EFL Trust’s first ever football festival for Women aged over 30, morale was high and the day was fun filled. This gave the ladies the opportunity to display the skills they practice in weekly sessions in a competitive but relaxed environment, whilst socialising with ladies of similar ability and background.

Former Millwall Lionesses player, and FFD ambassador Dionne Lennon made an appearance on the day and was thrilled to support the ladies and see the skills on show, she commented: “What an amazing day…. It was great speaking to some of the players and hearing their stories about why they started playing football and what it has done for them was fantastic. The atmosphere was great despite the competitive edge to the games!  It was a real pleasure to attend.”

Last year, The Crawley Cogs developed sessions specifically for older ladies, the generation that missed the female football revolution. These sessions were developed specifically for ladies who have an interest and passion for football but have stood on the side lines for years: mums of grass roots players, season ticket holders, and anyone who may not have had the opportunity to participate before. From there there has been a progression in the development of over 30’s football teams. Evidently, there has been a real boom in participation in the older age range.  With over 500 women aged 30 and above now actively playing football with our clubs, there has been a 346% increase on year 1 of the FFD programme.

Carol Bates, one of the founding members of COGS, added: “It was fantastic to see so many over 30s ladies take part in the first ever tournament of its kind, nationally. After starting with 10 ladies at our first COGS session it was incredible to think that this had led to teams from other EFL Clubs coming together and enjoying football.”

We caught up with some of the COG’s players and they had a chat with us about why they love football:

Rachel Pavlou from the FA commented:

“We are delighted that the EFL Trust provided such a fantastic opportunity for these women to play football and we would like to thank all the clubs that took part… The FA has an ambitious target of doubling female participation and so initiatives like this, to provide opportunities for women over the age of 30, are crucial in helping us achieve these aims… many of these women have barely played football as there haven’t been the chances for them before, so we hope that this encourages them to keep playing the game. We would also like to thank Powerleague for providing the facilities as part of the good work that they are doing to increase the number of women that play football in their centres.”

 

The Joy of Moving!

/in , /by

Working with our network of EFL Community Trusts we have ‘moved’ over 27,000 kids through the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn project this academic year.

Now in its second year the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn Project has had an increase in delivery hours to 243,000, and more importantly 60% more kids have been moved compared to last year. Over 450 schools have benefited from this programme, knowing that the educating children on nutrition and physical activity is vital from a young age.

By combining six weeks of practical sporting sessions with classroom sessions, the programme encourages physical activity, promotes nutritional education and builds awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.moveandlearn21

Aiden Couch, Project Manager at the EFL Trust is delighted with the growth of the programme; “Since we launched our partnership with Kinder + Sport in the UK in 2013, we’ve been delighted to see our work grow significantly in scale and impact. In partnership with Ferrero we are tackling pressing issues such as inactivity, obesity and the lack of understanding about nutrition and balanced lifestyles.”

Football is used throughout the programme as a unique way to engage kids, allowing us to project the key messages across to the community. During the football season, schools and pupils are invited to their local professional football club on a match day to take penalties at the club mascot during half time… a memory that kids won’t forget too quickly! As well as that, football players from the clubs take time out to visit schools and talk to pupils about the diet of a professional athlete followed by carrying out a Q&A session.

Chris Baird, Derby County’s Captain, visited Ashgate Primary School alongside Derby defender Ryan Shotton. Baird Comments, “It’s important for any kid growing up to get the guidance from teachers and parents, but we too can have a role to play in assisting kids in making the right choices for themselves.”

Anthony Jones, Ashgate Primary School “The Kinder + Sport Move and Learn project has had huge benefits to our school and pupils, educating them on nutrition and an active lifestyle. It’s great that the kids have enjoyed the physical activity which is so important at that age, they particularly enjoyed the variety of activities on offer such as dodge-ball!  We look forward to delivering more Move and Learn to our students in the future!”

The Kinder + Sport is just another example of how the power of sport can help tackle societies issues.

Women Over 30’s Festival at Wembley’s Powerleague: Preview

/in , /by

Ladies around the country are preparing for the Women over 30’s Festival as Wembley’s Powerleague this weekend!

This will be the first ever football tournament for women over 30, hosted by the EFL Trust, and funded through the Female Football Development (FFD) programme.

With a 346% increase in women’s participation in the first year of the FFD Programme, 500 women over the age of 30 are now playing football with EFL clubs. The boom in participation has meant the demand for competitive football has increased and this festival, taking place outside of Wembley Stadium  has presented a fantastic opportunity to do so.

There will be 8 teams taking part, representing 6 clubs;

AFC Wimbledon, Coventry City, Swindon Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Crawley COGS, and Brentford.

All of the women taking part are over 30 years old, many of which missed the female football revolution, many of these women have never had the opportunity to play at this level before, with the oldest participant being 56! This programme has had countless benefits for the ladies, allowing them to socialise with other women similar to themselves, as well as get fit in a fun, and non-discriminatory environment.

Nicol Meredith, Project Manager of the FFD Programme comments:

“The FFD programme has come on leaps and bounds since it begun and has brought the benefits of sport to women and to girls who previously might not have considered playing football. The relaxed, social atmosphere has encouraged thousands of players back to the sport who previously left the game. The ladies find it extremely the sessions liberating so to now play in the first Over 30’s women’s festival at Wembley has presented them with an opportunity not to be missed!”

Former Millwall player, and FFD ambassador, Dionne Lennon is delighted to be making an appearance at Powerleague on the day and is looking forward to seeing the skills on display. She commented:

“The Female Football Development programme is brilliant and has really made an impact. The EFL Trust has done a fantastic job getting women back into playing football and attracting those who have never had the chance to play this great game. It’s a pleasure for me to have been asked by Millwall Community Trust to be their  FFD Ambassador and I am really looking forward to be attending the tournament on Sunday and any future inovlement to support and grow the women’s game even further.”

We would like to thank Sport England and the FA for funding this programme, as well as Lucozade Powerleague for providing their pitches on the day and working along side us to further enhance female football participation.

Mindful Gifts CIC celebrates donation with Wolfie

/in /by

This week saw Wolfie pop into one of Wolves Aid supported charities, Mindful Gifts CIC to celebrate their recent donation.

Mindful Gifts CIC, a shop, located in Darlaston Town Centre, helps those suffering from forms of dementia and their families and carers by bringing back memories from their childhood and early adult life. The shop, which includes a purpose built dining room, a sweet and toy department and gifts suitable for those who have been diagnosed with dementia, aims to provide advice and guidance for carers as well as it being a welcoming space to break social isolation.

The Wolves Aid donation, £11,100 over 2 years, will help Mindful Gifts CIC, to provide meaningful placements for volunteers which include people looking to get back into employment.

Wolfie was able to pop into for a cup of tea and to help out with a crocheting class, one of several low-cost activities that Mindful Gifts CIC offers for the local community.

Vicki Phipps, Founder, said

“We are really grateful to Wolves Aid for supporting us. Our 1950s shop is the first of its kind in the country and its amazing how people’s faces light up when they come in and see all the old items they haven’t seen for a long time. They can also enjoy a cuppa out of our best china and buy some carbolic soap out of grocery stores! ”

For further information about Mindful Gifts CIC please contact 01922 495994 and to see whether you are eligible for a Wolves Aid grant please visit www.wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk/wolves-aid/

Girls Only Section to be Added to RUCST Future Stars Development Centre

/in /by

RUCST’s Successful Future Stars Development Centre is to expand by incorporating a girl’s only section to the programme.

The Development Centre, which started up in September 2015, has had a wonderful first year, seeing over 70 children come and receive high quality coaching with us, and our development squads have had some great experiences playing games against various grassroots clubs from around the area, and private academies. The development squads have also embraced the use of Futsal in our training and games programmes, and have even competed in tournaments at Leeds International Futsal Arena. All this has been topped off by seeing one of our players go on to earn a place in Rotherham United’s Academy.

Now, in an effort to grow participation levels in girls football throughout the area, Future Stars will have sessions for U7’s (Y1+2), U9’s (Y3+4), U11’s (Y5+6), U13’s (Y7+8) where they will receive top quality coaching from our FA/UEFA qualified staff.

Adam Pilgrim, Football Development Coordinator & Head Coach of the programme said “Our aim is to provide somewhere for girls in Rotherham at various age groups to go and receive coaching in an environment where they can enjoy learning how to play the game. For girls that wish to develop further, I am confident that we can help show young girls different pathways, whether that is into a local team or into the elite side of the game.”

The Future Stars Girls Player Development Centre will be starting on Monday 25th July at the Phoenix Sports & Social Club in Brinsworth. Due to us receiving funding, the sessions will be FREE until September. If you would like to book your daughter’s place in the development centre, please send the following details to [email protected]:

  • Parent/Players Name
  • Age & School Year
  • Contact e-mail and phone number

Club Website: www.themillers.co.uk
Trust Website: www.rucst.co.uk
Facebook: Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
Twitter: @RU_CST

Free Exciting New Women’s Activity Programme Launched by Derby County Community

/in /by

Derby County Community Trust have launched a free physical activity programme to help females across Derbyshire get fit and active.

Kicking off with a free coffee morning at the iPro Stadium on 21st and 22nd July, ‘Active Ewe’ will give the women of Derbyshire an outlet to socialize and improve their physical fitness through weekly sessions.

The programme will look to empower Derbyshire females aged 18+ who currently do less than 60 minutes physical activity per week. All activities are accessible and will take place on a weekly basis across the city, from the iPro Stadium to leisure centres and other community venues.

It will all kick off on the week commencing 25th July, offering sessions including DanceFit, Body Combat, Circiuits, ParkFit, Women’s boxing, Spinning and free swim at selected leisure centres. There will be a mix of women’s only sessions and activities mixed with the already successful men’s Active Supporters programme.

A full timetable can be found below, as the programme grows additional sessions will continue to be added:

Monday

DanceFit at Derby Arena – 9:30am-10:30am (Women’s Only)

Tuesday

Parkfit at Alveston Park – 10:30am – 11:30am (Mixed Gender)

Wednesday

Women’s Boxing at Abbey Studios – 6pm-7pm (Women’s Only)

Thursday

Spinning at Queens leisure Centre – 12:15pm-12:45pm (Mixed Gender)

Stadium Circuits at the iPro Stadium – 6pm-7pm (Mixed Gender)

Friday

DanceFit at Derby Arena – 10.45am-11.45am (Women’s Only)

Free information sessions will be held on the 21st and 22nd July. The Community Trust staff will be on hand to give out all the information attendees need as part of the programme.

Please pre-book your place by calling 01332 416140.

Dates & times below:

21st July – 10am-10:30am at Starbucks at the iPro Stadium (Free coffee included)

21st July – 6pm-7pm at the iPro Stadium (Report to Main Reception)

22nd July – 10:00am-10:30am at Starbucks at the iPro Stadium (Free coffee included)

For more information please call 01332 416140 or email [email protected]. Read more here

Summer Soccer Schools: Places Still Available!

/in /by

EFL Community Trusts around the country are running a range of exciting summer holiday camps for kids and young people between the ages of 8 & 19 with varying abilities.

soccer schools sky blue in com

The camps will take place throughout July and August at a number of locations across the UK, and will provide high quality football coaching with outstanding value for money for all young players, with a great mix of football matches, games and competitions for kids to enjoy

Last year, thousands kids from across the UK got active and had loads of fun as a result of the the summer camps.

Many camps enjoy visits from professional players. One instance of this during an Easter camp, saw Aston Villa player Tommy Elphick stop by to help out and see the skills that were on display. Elphick was impressed with the standard of coaching that was on offer for the children.

soccer schools tommy elphick

The camps have been a great catalyst for getting kids active throughout the summer months when they would previously have been stuck in the house, as well as allowing them to socialise, therefore improving their confidence outside of the classroom!

soccerschools sheff weds

Mike Evans from the EFL Trust commented: “I think the summer camps run by our various community trust are brilliant for parents and carers as they provide them with the confidence that their children are keeping active and associating themselves with children of their own age, in a safe and enriching environment”.

To see if there is a camp running in your local area, to view the details or book onto a course, please select a location from the list below:

York, Yeoville, Wigan, Swindon, Southend, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Rotherham United,  Northampton Town, Newport County,  MK Dons, Middlesborough,  Derby County, Coventry, Colchester, Cheltenham, Carlisle United, Burton Albion, AFC Bournemouth.