Archive for year: 2019

NCS Graduate, Connor Burleigh from Doncaster has been recognised nationally for his work in the community.

Connor will today take his place amongst fifty inspirational youth ambassadors who will lead on a high profile national #iwill campaign aimed at encouraging young people to take an active part in their community. These remarkable 10-20 year olds hail from all walks of life and all four nations of the country…but they have one thing in common – a passion that drives them to help others.

Connor is an EFL Trust NCS Graduate who took part in the life-changing programme in the summer of 2018 with Club Doncaster Foundation. He has since gone on to make a huge difference in the community as part of Doncaster’s Youth Council for a number of years, he has also been awarded the Princess Diana Award for his work on anti-bullying in schools as well as renovating a playground for children with disabilities whilst on NCS.

Connor is also part of his regional NCS Youth Board where he is a voice for thousands of young adults across Yorkshire & Humber. He is one of eight new #iwill ambassadors to come from NCS and believes his experience on NCS has supported his passion to make change.

“Having already been involved in Doncaster’s Youth Council, NCS opened my eyes and gave me a better understanding of the community I live in.

“It was amazing to be given the platform to make a positive difference through my teams social action project at Rossington’s Family Hub where we renovated the playground for the use of children with disability.

“The role of an #iwill Amabassador is something I am hugely passionate about. Raising both the profile of young adults’ potential and also challenging the perception that people have of young adults my age is vital.”

“Stories like these demonstrate the difference any individual can make early on in life,” said Rania Marandos, CEO of Step Up to Serve, which coordinates the #iwill campaign. “Young people all across the UK are reaching out to members of their communities – peers, parents, teachers, youth workers – to create positive change together through campaigning, mentoring, fundraising or volunteering. Since 2013, #iwill has become a powerful cross-sector movement of over 1,000 organisations committed to transforming the role of young people in society.”

Director of Operations, EFL Trust, Mike Evans has said;

“Through NCS we know the potential of young adults and the positive impact they can make in the community if given the opportunity.

“We are delighted that Connor has been selected as an #iwill Ambassador. The EFL Trust are strong advocates of #iwill and have supported the campaign for a number of years. There is a synergy between NCS and #iwill and through both we want to ensure that young adults have the platform to make positive change in the community they grew up in.”

The new cohort of #iwill Ambassadors is being recognised at a special one-off event at The Great Hall, University of Birmingham. They will come together today to explore – with other young people, campaign partners and decision-makers – what more needs to be done to grow the power of young people to take action, have their voices heard and make a positive difference.

The English Football League (EFL) and their charity partner, Mind, have today launched an awareness campaign for World Mental Health Day 2019, Goals Worth Talking About.

Football fans at a number of EFL Clubs across the country have voted for their club’s most iconic EFL moment; each of which is set to be immortalised as street art in their respective cities.

The murals will appear around the country with the aim of highlighting how football is often a conversation starter, and the importance of talking when it comes to mental health support.

The campaign is the latest activity by the EFL and Mind, who are currently in Year Two of their ground-breaking charity partnership which aims to improve the nation’s mental health and wellbeing and the approach to mental health in football.

Fans from Sunderland, Leeds United, Preston North End, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion and Leyton Orient have voted for their favourite EFL goals via their club’s social channels and can look forward to seeing the goals brought to life through live street art in key city centre locations.

Running from the 3 October until World Mental Health Day on the 10 October, a new piece of artwork will be created in a different city each day, before photography of the murals will be displayed at special gallery exhibition in London.

Debbie Jevans, EFL Executive Chair, said, “The EFL is proud to be associated with Mind as our charity partner and we are pleased to be able to work together to highlight the challenges around mental health on World Mental Health Day.

“The power of football and the Club badge provides a platform like no other and through the Goals Worth Talking About campaign and the EFL’s wider partnership with Mind, we aim to continue to encourage conversations and improve the approach to mental health in both football and in the wider society.”

Paul Farmer Chief Executive of Mind said, “We know that football and emotion go hand in hand. That’s why we’re delighted to be marking World Mental Health Day this year with Goals Worth Talking About, as part of our charity partnership with the EFL.

“Football has the power to bring about real change. We hope that by harnessing the passion and emotion fans have about their clubs’ most significant goal through these fantastic pieces of street art, we can encourage more people to start up conversations about their emotions and ultimately their mental health too.

“Together, Mind and the EFL hope that Goals Worth Talking About can be the inspiration to people to make their first step to getting support.”

Last month, the EFL launched a new phase of Mind’s national sports programme, ‘Get Set to Go’, which is being expanded thanks to fundraising through Mind’s partnership with the EFL. The programme is nationwide and aims to support people with mental health problems to get more active as a way to improve their mental wellbeing. The Club Community Organisations of Charlton Athletic, Millwall, AFC Wimbledon, Carlisle United, Newport County, Sheffield Weds, Stevenage and Sunderland are all partnering with their local Mind for the project.

To find out more about the campaign, please visit: www.efl.com/onyourside

For advice and support please visit: www.mind.org.uk

Active Recovery, the Derby County Community Trust’s cancer rehabilitation programme, celebrated its second anniversary on 23^rd September. Over the last two years nearly 400 participants have engaged in the programme as part of their own recovery journey from cancer or through supporting a friend or family member through recovery.

The event, hosted at Pride Park Stadium, was attended by over 80 of the programme’s past and present participants, six of whom shared their stories before lunch and cake with donations going to Macmillan as part of their Coffee Morning week – which raised £111.45 for the charity.

Vincent Martin and Derek Puplett, were two of the participants to share their stories.

Vincent said: “I was diagnosed with myeloma in 2016 and it was a complete shock to everyone. I went from being the life and soul of the party to experiencing chronic back pain as a result of the cancer which made it unbearable to even move sometimes.

“My counsellor told me about the ‘Look Good Feel Better’ event at Pride Park Stadium where I met the Derby County Community Trust team. I only went to my first session in June, but it has already changed my life. The team, the exercise, meeting people I can talk to about my problems – it’s all revolutionised the way I think about things and I can deal with my back pain much more. I look forward to it every week and I’m even able to go on holiday again now which I never thought would be possible.”

Derek has been part of the programme since it started in 2017, and said, “I joined as soon as I heard about the programme after I was in recovery from prostate cancer. I wanted to get back to my previous levels of fitness and Active Recovery provided a way of doing disciplined exercise the way that I wanted to. The team wrote me a fitness plan to continue with while I was on holiday, it’s become such a way of life and has helped me hugely after gaining almost a stone after my surgery.”  

One participant sent her story to be read at the event as she couldn’t attend due it being her wedding day! She explained the role Active Recovery has played in her journey and particularly how Steph Thompson, Health Team Leader at the Trust has helped her.

Zara Scott said: “When I was diagnosed with my brain tumour in January 2018, I woke up from my brain operation and I thought my life was over. I couldn’t walk, I could only move the left side of my body and I couldn’t communicate.

“Since starting Active Recovery in March 2019, it has allowed me to push my fitness on to the next level and my confidence has grown so much since starting at the gym.

“Steph is amazing! She is so patient, encouraging and has boosted my confidence more than I could ever imagine. She takes her time to explain the benefits of the exercises and suggests further advice on diet to help me reach my goals.

“Unfortunately, I cannot be there today as it is my wedding day. Steph has even taken further time out to help me look fantastic in my chosen wedding dress!”

Active Recovery is available to anybody who is undergoing treatment or in the five years following their treatment. It is also open for partners, friends or family attend in support of the participant. To make a self-referral to join the programme please contact [email protected].

Sol Bamba joined the Cardiff City FC Foundation, the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club, as they celebrated Roald Dahl Day at Herbert Thompson Primary School.

Roald Dahl Day is an annual event that celebrates the worlds, characters and stories of the Welsh novelist, with Matilda at the heart of this year’s celebrations.

Pupils from Year 4 enjoyed learning about the Cardiff born novelist and the fun character that is Matilda, who could move things with her mind.

The session aimed to improve children’s confidence in reading and develop their creative writing skills.

Children were asked to write about what their superpower would be, inspiring creative writing. If reading Roald Dahl’s Matilda wasn’t enough inspiration, Bluebird defender Sol Bamba shared what his superpower would be and engaged with the children, helping to spark their creative minds.

This was not the first time fan favourite Bamba’s had visited Herbert Thompson as the defender regularly attends community events, using his presence and the power of the Cardiff City badge to change lives.

Sol Bamba said: “A good education is so important and I think the badge can engage youngsters, especially those who are Cardiff City fans.

“If I can be a role model and inspire them to work hard at school, then it’ll be my honour.“

Tobi, a Year 4 pupil from Herbert Thompson Primary School, said: “My superpower is being positive and being able to get through tough times. I look up to inspirational people like Sol Bamba and realise that I want to be like them someday.

“It’s been a really good experience and has helped us with our confidence. Sol Bamba is a really inspirational person to us.”

The visit was organised as part of the Premier League Primary Stars project, which uses the appeal of Cardiff City FC to inspire all children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.

The Bluebirds Charity recently celebrated 10 years of changing lives, during which time it has invested over £10 million in sport and education programmes across South Wales.