Tranmere Youngsters Bridge the Generations

A heart-warming story has seen pupils from Co-Op Academy Portland Primary School write letters to Tranmere Rovers in the Community’s Dementia group.

The young children decided to do this act of kindness as part of their social action project for the Premier League Primary Stars Programme, as they have been learning about the local community and the history of Wirral.

As part of the project, the children also wanted to reach out to the elderly who are feeling isolated during this time so TRIC asked the pupils to write the letters to those who take part in our Dementia group as part of the Tackling Loneliness Together programme.

In the letters, the children asked how they are, how they are coping through lockdown, alongside asking what it was like growing up and how things have changed throughout the years.

The task proved to be an excellent opportunity not only for the children to improve their writing skills  and make a positive impact on someone’s life but also to make those isolated at this time feel connected.

Moving forward, the children from Portland Primary will keep in regular dialogue with the Dementia group via pen pal, and we look forward to seeing how the relationship grows.

Faye Jones, from Tranmere Rovers in the Community, said:

“We identified this as a perfect opportunity to bring the children and the dementia group together to have a positive impact on all involved.

“It is great the young children can engage with the elderly, and it was a brilliant way of bringing various generations together during this difficult time.

“The children were wonderful and wrote some lovely letters and asked a number of interesting questions. It gave the elderly people the opportunity to reply to the letters and reminisce about their lives and when they grew up.”

 

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Tackling Loneliness: When Ronald and Jack Met

Jack and Ronald have a lot in common, both are former armed forces personnel with a love of ballroom dancing and both are living alone and lonely.  However, now thanks to Blackpool FC Community Trust they are in regular contact with each other and combatting their loneliness.

As part of the Tackling Loneliness Together project, funded by DCMS and EFL Trust Blackpool Football Club Community Trust (BFCCT) have created a referral process to enable external partners to refer those individuals in the community who are most at risk of being lonely and socially isolated.

Ronald had not been out of his house for a few months and did not have much social interaction with others. Ronald has family who lives abroad and speaks to them regularly through the use of skype. Ronald served in the armed forces and was a Ballroom Champion with his wife, who passed away 18 years ago.  Jack has been housebound for a while due to very poor mobility, however, he still has a visit from his son once a week. Jack is a veteran of the royal marines and used to also be a ballroom dancer.

When Jack and Ronald were referred to the loneliness programme, it was was amazing how much they has in common and it became the Trust’s mission to introduce them both to each other.  However, firstly in the lead up to the introduction, the community trust supported both Jack and Ronald through weekly phone calls, garden gate visits and postal packs containing recent Blackpool Football Club match day programmes, puzzles and letters from pupils who attend Park Community Academy.

Once the Trust staff had built a relationship with them both, they were finally able to set up a 3-way call, which included Jack, Ronald and a BFCCT staff member. The gentleman spoke about what they have been doing, their days in the armed forces and their ballroom dancing days. They both agreed that they would like to keep contact and start to contact each other through Skype. This caused a minor issue as Jack had never used Skype before and did not have it on his tablet. The Trust brought in a local partner, Blackpool Coastal Housing and Ability Net, who have contacted Jack to support him with accessing Skype.

Dave Maclean, Blackpool FC Community Trust’s Community Engagement Manager, said,

“The connection that these gentlemen had from their first phone call conversation was extremely heart-warming and justifies why a project like this is needed. To be able to bring together two lonely gentlemen who are socially isolated and do not have much human interaction and befriend them who has such strong common interests is exceptionally special.”

 

 

Foundation Of Light Helps Rosalind Find Companionship

For years, Rosalind Copeland from Southwick, Sunderland, has been an active member of her community.

An ex-councillor, the 76-year-old is a familiar face in the region, volunteering for a variety of causes and keeping herself busy after her husband passed away 12 years ago. But when the pandemic struck in March, Rosalind took the decision to shield in her home, cutting herself off from the community she so dearly loves and the regular social interactions she needs.

Thanks to the support of the EFL Trust’s Tackling Loneliness Together programme, Rosalind is now getting support from the Foundation of Light to stay mentally and physically healthy at home.

The Foundation gifted Rosalind a tablet so she can access a range of activities including bingo, quizzes, Sit and Be Fit Seated Chair exercises classes and Football Banter talk-ins.

Foundation staff have even gone the extra mile to help by providing Rosalind with activity packs, regular befriending phone calls and garden-gate visits including delivering a cake to her on her birthday.

“It’s companionship.” Rosalind explains. “I haven’t met the people in person but being able to talk to them over Zoom and having something to do and look forward to on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday is very worthwhile. It’s helped me focus on today and then I focus on the next one and the next one. Whereas before I had nothing to look forward to.

This is something that’s cheered me up. The exercises, doing the quiz etc. I’ve actually never won at bingo in my life, and I’ve won twice. I’m chuffed to bits.

When I’m doing the exercises, it’s really good because I’ve got arthritis. When it comes to the quiz, I’m useless but I’ve got to wrack me brains and I’ve got to think. On Fridays for the football and listening to Sunderland in the past, it’s absolutely marvellous.”

Rosalind is just one of over 1,000 older people the Foundation has supported through lockdown. Hundreds of care packages have also been distributed to ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities are looked after during these difficult and challenging times.

 

Elaine’s Story “It me feel quite emotional that someone who didn’t know me cared enough to get in touch”

Elaine talks about how how Lincoln City have helped here through ‘such strange and difficult times

“My first contact from Lincoln City Foundation was a phone call in May during lockdown asking me if I was ok and how I was coping. It made me feel quite emotional that someone who didn’t know me cared enough to get in touch during such a strange and difficult time. After our conversation I then received their activity booklets, including my favourite Sudoku, and there were invitations to join in walks, meetings and learn new skills.

I began going to the LNER stadium to meet up with others. I cannot praise the staff enough for their warm and friendly welcome which immediately made me feel at ease. I found it so enjoyable meeting new people and also having the opportunity to be in the stadium, which only a football fan could totally understand how much I’ve missed it!

I’ve also tried learning a new skill, Aikido, which has really tested my concentration skills. It is helping me to try to follow instructions, improve my balance, and think about the positioning of left/right limbs, rather difficult for me! But above all I feel so much better about myself and proud that I’m doing something completely different. Nev is incredibly patient and we can laugh at some attempts, which to me is the best medicine of all. He is an inspirational teacher who is very encouraging and realistic. He also shares words of wisdom not only relate to our learning but every day life. I’m also getting essential exercise outside in our local park and again meeting new people.

So thanks to the Foundation Thursday and Friday have now given me a new purpose to my life that I look forward to so much. I also feel a sense of belonging and being part of a caring community. More importantly I know that if I’m feeling down or anxious I can get in touch with them which to me is an extremely reassuring support

I would like to thank Lincoln City Foundation for enhancing my life and for the care and support they are showing to help our local community.”

Click here to find an Extra Time hub near you 

Edith Thomas: “I was really glad when I had that phone call from Wigan Athletic Community Trust, it was a real lifeline for me.”

For many people in the local community, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant they have become even more isolated.

But thanks to funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and EFL Trust in June, Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been able to provide much needed support for those at risk of isolation through the Tackling Loneliness Together project.

One person who has benefitted is 86-year old Edith Thomas whose experience of lockdown has proved a difficult time with no close family living nearby and restrictions preventing her from going out and enjoying her usual day to day life.

But, after being contacted by the Community Trust in October, she now enjoys regular communication with staff through garden gate visits and online coffee mornings.

She said:

‘Lockdown has been awful because I’ve always been used to going out and now I can’t go out at all. I’ve got nobody to go out with and I don’t even go out for a walk to the top of the street. I’ve stopped all my activities and I don’t go shopping anymore. I did sit at the front of the house in the summer which I obviously can’t do at the moment. I just got fed up of it. When the hour goes back in October I’m always down because I know its going to be dark. “It’s so dull outside and having no family close by I don’t see anybody at all.”

So far Latics have made over 1000 phone calls and hundreds of garden gate visits through the programme to keep those at risk of loneliness connected to their communities, and for Edith a phone call provided her with a much-needed lifeline, she explains,

“I just couldn’t cope with it so I rang the doctor and they contacted me on the Monday and then by the Tuesday I had a call from the Community Trust. I was really glad when I had that phone call, it was a real lifeline for me” .

Now Edith is a regular attendee to the Trust’s weekly virtual coffee mornings and something she looks forward to. she adds

“I like joining the Zoom sessions, it’s made a big difference as when I wake up on a Tuesday, instead of thinking I’ve got nothing to do I know I can do my jobs and join the Zoom session at 11am.It makes the day go quicker as every day seems a long time when you live on your own.”

During the festive time, the Trust are delivering Christmas support packages to people at risk of isolation as part of the Tackling Loneliness Together programme and are calling on a contribution of £5 from Latics supporters to significantly help the cause and ensure more deliveries to people over the festive period.

Donations from supporters will assist the Trust in providing a number of items within bags including Christmas puddings, crafts and other festive gifts. To make a donation to the appeal, you can do so by heading to Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Just Giving page here.

 

Rams Captain Gives Ray a Surprise IT Lesson

Ray was very isolated in the first pandemic as despite having a large family, many of them live abroad and he does not have any local family members. With no access to technology he was not able to access Derby County’s virtual timetable, but staff from the community trust kept in touch with phone calls.

However, Derby County Community Trust rolled out of an IT loan scheme were able to provide Ray with a tablet, meaning he can take part in session, watch his beloved Rams play on RamsTV and keep in touch with his family. He is going to ‘bubble’ up with some family in Lincolnshire over Christmas and plans to take the tablet with him to watch games over the festive period.

To introduce Ray to his new device and as a pick me up for a lifelong Derby supporter, first team captain Curtis Davies to give him a call under the guise of providing some IT support

Watch Here

https://youtu.be/l637LeTZ0kU

I had never heard of Zoom and wouldn’t have known where to start

Bolton Wanderers Community Trust have been helping hundreds of older members of the Bolton community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, including loaning and training people how to use new technology. 

As part of the Tackling Loneliness Together programme, Community Trust staff have made 1000’s of welfare phone calls to older fans, dropped off packs containing puzzle books, activity books and baking ingredients through garden gate visits, send letters to fans, held weekly get togethers on Zoom, provided free tablet loans and most recently offered 1-1 walks during this newest lockdown period.

One individual that has benefitted from the support offered has been Joyce, who before lockdown was a regular attendee at a number of groups at the stadium including the Trust’s Extra Time Hub and attended Bolton Wanderers matches as part of her routine.

As part of the programme Joyce has been loaned a tablet, attended weekly Zoom get togethers and has recently undertaken 1-1 walks with Trust members of staff. BWCT’s Active Ageing Development Officer Carl Halliwell said,

“Joyce was a little reluctant at first when it came to technology and she took some persuading that she would be able to use the tablet and access Zoom sessions without problem. Joyce now attends three zoom sessions a week with us and is extremely comfortable with the device, she has found many uses including watching her beloved Bolton Wanderers via ifollow. It was a hurdle she overcame herself and this has given her lots to do during lockdown and reduced times of boredom”

Speaking to Joyce about the work that the Community Trust has been doing, she said,

Just want to say thanks for loaning me a tablet. Not having access to computer, I had never heard of Zoom and wouldn’t have known where to start being in touch with other people via this. Boredom is a large part of recent times and now I can actually see other people. Also it has enabled me to watch Bolton games which I have been missing badly!! BWCT has also been great in providing 1-1 walks which get us out into the fresh air and give us exercise. Thanks again and can’t wait till Fitter Fans and Extra Time Hub are back in operation.”

EFL Football Clubs have been bringing people together and connecting older people at risk of loneliness

This year has been unprecedented, but I’m very proud of our network’s phenomenal response. The EFL Trust supports and resources the 72 charities associated with football clubs in the EFL. We exist to create stronger, healthier, more active communities. 

Since lockdown began in March, our network has delivered over 689,000 food parcels, sandwiches and hot meals to vulnerable community members. There have been over 240,000 outgoing and incoming conversations with fans and EFL community members needing support during the pandemic. Over 30,000 PPE items and over 6,000 prescriptions have been delivered.

Our Club Community Organisation (CCOs) were not specifically set up to do this work, but they adapted quickly to the needs of their communities helped by our funders, including a grant of £810,000 from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which allowed us to expand our work tackling loneliness among older people.

The statistics above, impressive though they are, tell only part of the story. Behind every statistic is a person.  

People like Edith from Wigan, who says:

“Lockdown has been awful because I’ve always been used to going out and now I can’t go out at all. I’ve got nobody to go out with and I don’t even go for a walk to the top of the street. I’ve stopped all my activities and I don’t go shopping anymore. I did sit at the front of the house in the summer which I obviously can’t do at the moment. I just got fed up of it. I just couldn’t cope with it so I rang the doctor…”

Edith explains what happened next:

“…The doctor contacted me on the Monday and then by the Tuesday I had a call from the Wigan Athletic Community Trust. I was really glad when I had that phone call – it was a real lifeline for me. I like joining their Zoom sessions, it’s made a big difference as when I wake up on a Tuesday…instead of thinking I’ve got nothing to do I know I can do my jobs and join the Zoom session at 11am.  It makes the day go quicker as every day seems a long time when you live on your own.”

On the other side of the country, Elaine from has also had help from her local football club.

“It made me feel quite emotional that someone who didn’t know me cared enough to get in touch during such a strange and difficult time. After our conversation I then received their activity booklets, including my favourite Sudoku, and there were invitations to join in walks, meetings and learn new skills.”

Like Edith, Elaine has found the regular Zoom calls with Lincoln City a vital lifeline. However if people did not have access to technology it further amplifies their isolation. So some of our CCOs have loaned people tablets and lap tops. Access to technology is only part of the issue – learning to use the myriad of meeting software is daunting enough for the IT savvy – so our CCOs have provided guidance on how to use them. Joyce from Bolton was one lady who was loaned a lap top. She told us:

“I had never heard of Zoom and wouldn’t have known where to start being in touch with other people on this. Boredom is a large part of recent times and now I can actually see other people. Also it has enabled me to watch Bolton games which I have been missing badly!!”

Another recipient of a tablet was Ray, a long term Derby County fan. Ray got a big a surprise when his IT support call turned out to be from none other than the Ram’s captain Curtis Davies. You can watch the call here https://youtu.be/l637LeTZ0kU

Click here for more details and a list of all the clubs involved in these amazing projects.

Forest Green Provide Christmas Cheer

FGR Community teamed up with 10 local care homes and sheltered housing schemes to spread a little kindness and joy over the last few months. Residents at Winslow House and the Steppes, Nailsworth, were in for an afternoon vegan treat in October, a welcome letter, and a copy of the Green Devil Newsletter produced by FGR’s young Ambassadors.

During November, the Ambassadors took part in “Challenge Cheer Someone Up” where they were tasked with being creative writing letters, making crafts, or drawing pictures which were gifted to the residents, FGR supporters and others in the local community. Bernard a recipient said, “It really made my week!”

Danielle Winslow House Administrator wrote:

“We would like to thank yourself, all of the Forest Green Rovers staff and Ambassadors for your beautiful letters to all of our residents. Our residents thoroughly enjoyed them and were all so grateful. We appreciate everything you are doing to help us during this difficult time. I would also like to share our positive news that we are now Covid free and so are really looking forward to working with you some more in the near future. Please do not hesitate to contact us.”

Sarah Urquhart, Head of FGR Community reported:

“Beautiful handmade Christmas cards are being made for our first team players and are also being sent out to our participants of the Tackling Loneliness Together project. We have found that many people of all ages are feeling really lonely and isolated and so FGR Community and FGR Academy are together supplying gifts, shirts, food, newsletters and cards to boost hampers. We’ve been working alongside the local Food Bank, The Long Table’s Freezers of Love, Community Roots, Nailsworth Youth Club, KidsStuff, Play Gloucestershire and HomeStart to spread some Christmas joy. Thank you’ s extends to our community partners Candriam Kids Fund, First Choice Utilities, Quorn, Faith in Nature and Morrisons.