Archive for year: 2019

Southall MP Virendra Sharma swapped parliament for the playground as he joined pupils from St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School yesterday. He took part in a Joy of Moving Move and Learn session, which inspires 9-10 year olds to get physically active and enjoy movement by learning through play. With temperatures soaring to 24 degrees, the pupils learnt about the importance of hydration during exercise before heading outside to showcase their skills to the local MP.

Delivered by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, one of 26 Football Clubs delivering the Joy of Moving programme, this Move and Learn project aims to inspire pupils to be physically active and enjoy movement. During the six week in-school project, children up and down the country will learn, through fun games inspired by the Joy of Moving methodology, about the importance of physical activity and balanced diets based on the Eatwell Guide.

After attending the session, Virendra Sharma praised the impact of the project, he said:

“I feel honoured to attend St Anslem’s Joy of Moving project today and see the pupils come together to learn about the importance of moving.

“It is fantastic that organisations such as Ferrero UK, the English Football League Trust and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust are providing support and resources to inspire children to live healthy lifestyles.”

Data from Sport England shows that only 22% of Years 5 – 6 are active every day. Through the Move and Learn project, each child in this year group receives an additional 9 hours physical activity and learning.

St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School has certainly reaped the benefits of the programme, Tito Perera, Deputy Headteacher of the school, said:

“Our partnership with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust started in January 2019.  Since then, the support and commitment from the coaches and senior leaders has been incredible. 

“We were privileged to be part of the Joy of Moving programme, which has helped the children to grow in their knowledge and understanding of having a healthy lifestyle. We look forward to a continued partnership with Brentford FC CST.”

Move and Learn is part of the Joy of Moving programme which is a CSR initiative for Ferrero developed in partnership with English Football League Trust. It is designed to inspire active lifestyles in children and help them develop positive habits for adulthood. Along with the Move and Learn project, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust runs a multitude of health and education projects – engaging with a staggering 2,000 pupils in the borough of Ealing.

As a part of Integrated Care Week (1-7th July), we are showcasing life-changing programmes for people with learning disabilities delivered by Pompey in the Community, the official charity of Portsmouth FC. The programmes were also celebrated as a part of National Learning Disability Week in Parliament on 20^th June.

Clare Martin, CEO of Pompey In The Community Trust, presented at Sport You Can, a national event celebrating the best examples of sport in learning disability settings. At the event, she showcased the club’s incredible partnership with the national social care charity Community Integrated Care and the success of their adult learning disability team.

Community Integrated Care is one of Britain’s biggest and most successful social care charities, and a major care provider in Portsmouth. The charity teamed up with the club last season to commission weekly accessible sports and activity sessions for the people with learning disabilities and autism, and special matchday experiences. Community Integrated Care has also supported the ongoing growth and success of the club’s learning disability football provision.

At the House of Commons event, lead figures at Community Integrated Care hailed the values and commitment of Pompey in the Community.

Clare Martin, CEO of Pompey in the Community, says: “It was an honour to present at such a prestigious and inspirational event, showcasing Pompey in the Community’s commitment to inclusion for people with learning disabilities. We have been thrilled to work in partnership with Community Integrated Care to develop several innovative opportunities that promote the health, happiness and inclusion.

“Pompey in the Community are excited to see this partnership grow and develop in the seasons ahead.”

Kristie Burberry, Regional Manager for Community Integrated Care in the South of England, says: “We were delighted to engage Pompey in the Community at this important event. The charity, and the club as a whole, have demonstrated a genuine commitment to changing lives through sport.

“It was only right that the quality of their work and this partnership was celebrated on this national stage, in front of leaders in the sport and care sectors.

“It is a privilege for us to work with the current Checkatrade Community Club of the Year and we are committed to strengthening this partnership in the seasons ahead.”

As part of our Extra Time Hubs launch this week, we’re highlighting the story of one particular person who has found a new lease of life through the programme…

Tony, who is retired and found himself very lonely after going through a divorce late in life, credits Derby County Community Trust’s programmes, including EFL Trust Extra Time Hubs, for turning his life around.

After a period of what he describes as ‘lonely depression’, Tony realised he needed to change something and as a lifelong Derby County supporter, the work of Derby County Community Trust really appealed to him.

He joined the Rams’ EFL Trust Extra Time Hubs as a volunteer and thanks to the programme, now finds life more fulfilling, has made many new friends and has something to look forward to every week.

He said: “I had retired from a very fulfilling job in education. I thought my life would involve normal things that retirement brings: family, friends, holidays and plenty of time in the garden.

“However, things didn’t work out as I anticipated. A sudden, and to me, unexpected relationship breakdown turned my life upside down and I found myself living alone feeling quite bereft from the retirement I anticipated.

“After a period of what can only be described as lonely depression, I realised I needed to do something.

“I now volunteer at Derby County Community Trust’s Extra Time Hub, where we bring people together in a comfortable, welcoming environment with the goal of helping people improve their health and wellbeing.

“And that is precisely what my involvement with Derby County Community Trust has done for me.

“My life is now full of activity and I now have more friends than I have ever had before.

“We meet socially at the EFL Trust Extra Time Hub, have meals out and organise many other social events.

“The support and camaraderie of the friends I have met through the Hubs has been vitally important in giving me back my self-esteem and confidence. I can’t believe how much my life has turned around.”

Studies show that 42% of those over the age of 55 are inactive and would like opportunities to meet peers to feel less isolated, live well and do things they enjoy.

Funded with the support of Sport England’s Active Aging fund from the National Lottery, the EFL Trust Extra Time Hubs programme will initially be delivered by 12 EFL Clubs across the country, harnessing the power of football in local communities to bring people together. All 12 Clubs will hold launch events at their respective grounds throughout the week.

To find out more, follow the hashtag: #ExtraTimeHubs or visit www.efltrust.com/extratime/

• Upbeats pick up ninth DS Active title in Birmingham
• Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s Down’s syndrome team win final 8-1

The Charlton Upbeats won a sensational ninth DS (Down’s syndrome) Active national title on Sunday 9 June.

Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT) record-breaking group secured their eighth consecutive success in style, beating Bristol Down’s Syndrome Football and Swindon Town’s joint All Stars team 8-1 in the final.

14 Upbeats travelled up to this year’s tournament, split into two teams: Upbeats Addicks and Upbeats Valiants.

Organised by the Down’s Syndrome Association, the DS Active National Festival brought 24 teams from across the UK together, with more than 150 participants in total.

The Upbeats travelled up to Birmingham the night before, staying in the Arden Hotel near the National Exhibition Centre with their families and CACT coaches.

Upbeats Addicks were drawn in a group alongside Merseyside Blues, who they beat in last year’s final, and took on in their opening game. 1-1 midway through, it finished 3-1 to the Upbeats, just like last season’s final.

The Addicks won all five group games, seeing off the likes of Millwall Community Trust and Fulham FC Foundation’s DS teams, who they beat 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.

Upbeats Valiants’ results included a hard-earned 1-0 win against Lincoln City Foundation’s DS team and a 6-1 drubbing of Merseyside Whites.

Jack Lyons was the Valiants’ top scorer, with nine goals in his five matches. But defeat to QPR in the Community’s side meant they missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals on goal difference.

Upbeats Addicks got there, however, and beat Lincoln 4-0 to set up a final against Bristol and Swindon’s combined team, who triumphed against Arsenal Community’s North London United in the other semi-final.

The Upbeats raced into a 4-0 lead within four minutes. All Stars pulled one back but a fine right-footed drive from Jack Wood soon made it five and the Upbeats went on to cruise to victory.

Attending his first tournament, Ben Geary, a CACT Casual Coach who helps train the Upbeats weekly, said:

“My first weekend coaching the Upbeats in a competitive way was great fun! The atmosphere was incredible and everyone was so welcoming. What an amazing experience!”

The Upbeats were similarly thrilled.

Malick Irmal, who was appearing in his fifth tournament, said:

“Charlton had more power, more energy; we did good! This feels like our Champions League final”.

James Barnes, who has been involved in the programme since the start, said:

“I feel overwhelmed. It was an amazing performance by the Upbeats. Let’s do this and win next year’s DS Active tournament and bring that back to Sparrows Lane too.”

William Ely, who scored a brace in the final, said:

“I did my best out there and it was a great day. It’s eight times in a row that we’ve won it, but I want to win it again.”

Another successful title defence next year would see the Upbeats win their 10th title, securing what some supporters are already referring to as la Decima.

They celebrated in style, with their own rendition of chants and songs they and more than 38,000 other Addicks had sung at Wembley as Charlton’s first-team clinched promotion.

The programme allows participants to play high-level football in an inclusive environment but also increases the aspirations of Upbeats and their families, strengthening bonds and relationships between them.

On 26 June, the Upbeats will be heading to Belfast to take part in the George Best Community Cup. It will be the third time they will participate in the pan-disability tournament run by the Irish FA.

On UK Carers Week, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust highlighted how they gave Mia, a young carer for her mum, an experience she would never forget.

With the noise levels escalating, and a sea of red scarves behind her, fourteen-year-old Mia Lloyd nervously took her position at the side of the pitch as Brentford FC’s official photographer for their match against Blackburn Rovers back in February.

She took part in the football club’s first Community Takeover, which saw ten children from eight of Brentford’s community projects, go behind the scenes and join match-day staff to learn the ropes.

Mia, who is a young carer for her mum, joined Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s young carers project when she was eight, and credits the project with igniting her passion for photography.

Her eight-year-old self could scarcely imagine that, six years later, she would be photographing Brentford’s most high-profile players and have her work showcased on Brentford FC’s website.

“I really enjoy photography – it has allowed me to express myself and I was honoured to be able to photograph a team that I have supported since I was little.

“It is only through the Ealing Young Carers Project that I have been able to develop my passion for photography.”

And for Mia’s mum, Jacky, the day proved a ‘proud mum moment’ as she watched her daughter photograph one of Brentford’s most memorable matches of the season: the Bees fighting back from 2-0 down to win 5-2 against Blackburn Rovers.

“I have to admit I felt pretty big-headed seeing my daughter on the pitch in front of all those football fans; I never thought she would do something like this, so I am immensely proud to have witnessed that,” she explained. “Young carers need a break and deserve to be ‘normal’ teenagers like everyone else – I think it is a fantastic project.”

With 700,000 young carers living in the UK, the Trust’s young carers programme aims to provide teenagers like Mia with much-needed respite. Commissioned by Ealing Council, the project gives carers between eight and 18-years-old somewhere to socialise, learn new skills and gain in confidence. Since the project has been commissioned to the Trust, participation has gone from 25 young carers to nearly 200.

Along with photography, meeting other young carers has proven a lifeline for Mia.

“Meeting other young carers has been great as they understand what it’s like to be ‘me’. The project has helped build my confidence and I can share experiences with other young carers.”

Kathryn Sobczak, the Trust’s Young Carers Coordinator, has seen first-hand the change in Mia.

“The fact that Mia took part in the Community Takeover and took photographs of professional footballers in front of thousands of people is testament to how far she has come,” Kathryn said.

“When I first met Mia, she was quiet. But now she has grown in confidence and made many friends.”

The project also offers one-to-one mentoring and a wide range of activities, including: after-school homework clubs; lunchtime clubs; fortnightly youth clubs; fortnightly swimming clubs and day trips.

Employment and education opportunities are made available too, including work experience placements and CV writing.

If you know someone who could benefit from our Young Carers project, you can contact Kathryn at [email protected] or on 020 8326 7044.