Over 600 primary school children to benefit from free resources thanks to Wigan Athletic Community Trust

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Over 600 primary school children will benefit from free resources provided from Wigan Athletic Community Trust this week.

Staff from the club’s official charity are working with a number of local schools to deliver activity packs this week to 638 children.

The packs will provide youngsters and their families with the chance to enjoy a number of fun games and activities at home with bags including a soft football, learning resources, balloons, snacks and a stationary set.

The Community Trust have worked with over 4,000 primary school children in the last year through the Premier League Primary Stars programme, which provides PE coaching, after school clubs and support for pupils with literacy and numeracy as well as working with teachers to develop their confidence in delivering PE.

Helen Grindley, PE lead at St Oswald’s Primary School said: “A big thank you to Wigan Athletic Community Trust for the goody bags which the children have received this week. 

“There are some great resources and ideas in them to keep the children busy and active whilst they are having to stay at home during this difficult time. Thank you very much again.”

The Trust also recently delivered 150 packs to pre-school children and their families with no access to internet.

School Services Manager for Wigan Athletic, Gareth Nolan, said: “Over this difficult period, we have had to adapt as an organisation.

“Even though we are unable to work in schools, we are able to provide these activity packs to keep the children and their families physically and mentally active whilst at home.

“We are committed to enhancing the lives of children and young people who need it most, and these packs will certainly do that.

“I must also add a big thank you to Cathy Robinson, Wigan’s School Games Organiser, who has offered her time and effort to assist us in putting the bags together which has been a great help.”

For more information please email Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Schools Services Manager Gareth Nolan on [email protected].

Carers Week: Aliyah’s story

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As part of Carers Week, we take a look at Aliyah’s story, an inspirational young carer from Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust’s Young Carers project.

Aliyah’s story

Aliyah, who is 17, has cared for her Mum since she was six years old. Her responsibilities involve doing the shopping, cleaning the house, cooking for the family and when her mum isn’t very well, taking her up to bed. All of this, alongside studying and working at the weekend to pay for things she wants.

Recently, Aliyah had to leave her job due to isolation during lockdown and continue caring for her mum as she is at risk if she leaves the house.

Aliyah has been attending Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust’s Young Carers project since she was 10 and believes the project has offered her huge support and respite in her life. This hasn’t stopped during the difficult time.

She said:

“The Young Carers project has been a constant over the years for me, it has supported me and helped me figure out my place in the world, all while having fun!”

Brentford’s Young Carers project has been running for over 9 years supporting young carers with group sessions to meet young people in a similar situations, homework clubs, weekly youth clubs, and activities to offer respite.

Since COVID-19, Brentford have been engaging through online platforms hosting quizzes, drop-ins and contacting each young carer to check in on their welfare and offer support during a difficult time.

Aliyah continued:

“The support has been great since we had to isolate. I have had a few calls from Brentford. It’s nice to know that other people are thinking about you and offering help.”

Kathryn Sobczak, Brentford’s Young Carers Co-ordinator, has noticed the transformation of Aliyah over her time on the programme.

She said:

“Aliyah has been part of the Young Carers project for 7 years now, starting off quite a quiet young girl, now full of confidence.

“This is really evident for us to see throughout the time we have known her. She has stepped up in the project to support the younger carers, acting as a mentor.

“In more recent years Aliyah has attended our transition project to support her with CV writing, interview skills and attending to get an insight to the working world.”

Aliyah has also expressed a keen interest in giving back and volunteering at the Young Carers programme that has supported her over the years when she reaches 18 and her time on the programme ends.

During lockdown, Aliyah was keen to share her journey and have her voice heard through NCS’ ‘Youth Rising’ Podcast. Please click here to listen.

Over 250,000 children had fun with the Joy of Moving Home School Festival

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The Joy of Moving Home School festival reached over 1,300 schools and engaged with thousands of families across England and Wales.

Recognising that children would miss out on their school sports day this year, the Joy of Moving Home School Festival aimed to fill that void and give children and families great activities to do at home.

The Home School Festival is part of the Joy of Moving programme which is an unbranded CSR project by Ferrero designed to help children develop valuable life skills and get moving.

Over the last six years, it has been developed and delivered in the UK in partnership with the English Football League Trust, through a combination of unbranded play-based games and classroom learning.

Following the launch of the new online Resource Hub, the network of 73 Club Community Organisations delivered the Joy of Moving Home School Festival, using the power of football to engage with children, families and schools.

The digital festival was born in lockdown, repurposing the traditional delivery of the Joy of Moving programme during which Community Club Organisations deliver a festival in schools engaging all ages in games and activities throughout a single day.

The current circumstances meant this was not possible and so the Joy of Moving Home School Festival was created so that families and children could have an afternoon of games and activities to get them moving and have fun in the safety of their homes.

Mike Evans, Chief Executive at EFL Trust said;

“The response to the Home School Festivals have been incredible. The EFL Trust team and our partners at Ferrero were determined to offer an alternative sports day and range of activities. The campaign engaged over 250,000 children across over 1,300 schools and also reached over 8 million people through social media.

Home-schooling is a huge challenge for families across the country. The Joy of Moving Home School Festival was there to offer respite and fun for families in the safety of their own homes. I want to thank all the families for getting involved in the festival, and we encourage them to keep playing these games and activities.”

Charlie Cayton, Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Ferrero UK, comments:

“Playing is an important element in children’s growth and development – and we know that children are more like to be active if they are enjoying themselves. Following the nation’s lockdown, we wanted to support parents at home to help them get children moving through play and having fun. Our Joy of Moving Festivals brings a smile to over 20,000 children in schools every year and we wanted to support families remotely by delivering this fun day of activity at home through our resource hub and partners at the English Football League Trust.“

Take a look at the festival hashtag #JOMHomeFestival to see what happened.

The Joy of Moving programme, a Ferrero CSR project, has been supporting Year 5 children across EFL Communities in the UK for the past 6 years. The Joy of Moving programme has consisted of two elements; the Move & Learn programme and Joy of Moving Festivals. Over 310,000 children have been introduced to moving and learning new skills, all while having fun and playing.

To get involved with the Joy of Moving Games visit www.joyofmovingresourcehub.co.uk 

Mel and Grace’s voluntary work leaves lasting positive impact on local community

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As part of Volunteers Week we take a look at Mel and Grace, two inspirational young volunteers whose work has made football accessible for women of all ages in Bristol. 

The voluntary work completed by the inspirational duo has left a lasting positive impact on their local community and has created opportunities for the two youngsters.

Mel and Grace began their journey with Bristol City Robins Foundation seven years ago when, having become too old to attend the Foundation’s holiday camps, they offered to volunteer and help run the camps. The commitment and desire to help their local community was quickly noted by staff at the Robins Foundation and the pair were invited to become members of the newly formed Youth Council – a body of young people who help shape the Foundation’s delivery.

Frustrated by lack of opportunities available for women and girls to get involved in football, something both Mel and Grace had first-hand experience of, the duo, along with their fellow youth councillors, embarked on a mission to address the issue head on.

This mission led to council helping the Robins Foundation to setup the innovative F3 (Free Female Fitness) programme, which provides women and girls of all ages the chance to have fun and engage in football and fitness free of charge. The innovative project has three level catering for the varying need of women and girls aged 6-100. F3 Mini Girls Hub is for girls ages 6-11 and looks to get girls into football by having a positive social environment for them to learn and develop. F3 PL Girls Hub is for ages 11-16 helps young girls transition into grassroots or representative football and F3 female fitness is for anyone aged 16-100 and provides a safe, fun environment where participants can get fit.

The project continues to run digitally on a bi-weekly basis during this period of lockdown.

The work of Grace, Mel and the rest of the Youth Council in setting up this project was recognised on a national level with the programme winning the FA’s national participation award in 2017/18. The project has gone from strength to strength since its conception with over 80 women and girls regularly taking part in these sessions.

The way the project has brought people from different generations together is embodied by Ruby, Alena, Mandy, and Diane – four generations of women from one family who all participate in the F3 sessions.

Ruby, aged 14, was already attending the Girls Hub and her mum Alena, would be there to drop her off so having a session that she can join in with during this time has been ideal. However, not wanting to go alone she brought her mum Mandy, Ruby’s Nan. Not wanting to be left out Great Nan Diane, who hadn’t played football in around fifty years, joined in too, she said:

“It’s really nice to be getting active and playing sports again. I haven’t played for many years!”

Alena, who had never played football at all before, has lost over 2 stone since taking part in the sessions.   

Robins Foundation Projects and Partnerships Manager, James Edwards commented: “Mel, Grace and all of the Youth Council are an absolute credit to the Foundation.


“They have all worked tirelessly to help improve their community for everyone.”

Their voluntary work has led to opportunities for both of the youngsters; with Grace gaining full-time employment as an Apprentice Coach with the Robins Foundation and Mel further developing her coaching skills on one of Bristol City Robins Foundation’s higher education programmes (Foundation Degree in Community Coaching).

Lucy: “Volunteering has given me a sense of purpose. It’s a great feeling helping my local community.”

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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the EFL Trust and its network of Community Club Organisations have quickly adapted, identifying ways to make sure we can keep supporting our communities and reaching out to those in need.

One of those ways has been through volunteering. We are so proud that some of our staff have risen to the challenge and taken their time to volunteer in their communities. Never has there been a more important time to utilise the ability of the Football Club badge to enhance and improve people’s lives.

Lucy’s volunteering story:

When COVID-19 hit the UK and Boris started with the daily announcements, it quickly hit home at how serious this pandemic was going to be, for the country and our local communities.

Working within EFL Trust and being surrounded by fantastic organisations that are constantly helping the community, my first thoughts were ‘what can I do to help?’

At one of the awaited announcements from the Prime Minister he launched an initiative called ‘NHS Volunteer Responders’, a group of volunteers that would help in their community to support non-medical tasks and those that were having to self-isolate due to specific medical conditions.

I signed up the next morning and after a couple of days going through checks and procedures I became an official NHS Volunteer Responder.

The jobs have varied and increased significantly since the app was launched, ranging from me doing many shopping trips for people, transporting people home from hospital to a check in and chat to support those in isolation over the phone.

Shopping trips in the north have not been without their challenges, toilet roll and flour has been like gold dust up here, so the jobs have not been as easy as they seem at times and phone calls with the isolated have racked up to hours at times… I know I can talk!

I have had lots of comments from those using the service that we are doing a fabulous job but I believe I have got more out of this experience than those I am helping.

After being furloughed, I think it can be easy to fall into the trap of feeling you have a lack of purpose in the day, as we are so far away from normality and a normal daily routine.

So volunteering has certainly kept me busy and given me a sense of purpose. It is a great feeling helping my local community and the NHS in a small way at this time.

#EFLCommunities



Brentford players prove a welcome respite for young people in their community

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“Who is your favourite Disney princess?” is not the typical question a professional footballer gets asked. Yet 11-year-old Hadija asked just that to Brentford’s goalkeeper Luke Daniels a couple of weeks ago.

Luke, a 32-year-old goalkeeper with hundreds of league games and England youth international caps to his name, was taking part in Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s ‘Short Breaks’ project online, which supports children with special educational needs.

Along with questions regarding Disney princesses, he was quizzed on his favourite cereal and book before turning quizmaster himself.

Ghausia Amin, Deputy Education Manager of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, said:

“Hadia was animated in the session with Luke, giving her the opportunity to develop her social and communication skills, speaking and engaging confidently with Luke.

“She is particularly missing school and her friends; therefore, with Luke joining in the session there was an opportunity for a new and fun experience – while in lockdown.”

Yet Luke isn’t the only Brentford player who has supported children and young people during this difficult period. Ethan Pinnock offered his pearls of wisdom to budding young footballers on Brentford FC Community Sport Trust’s post-16 football education programme through an online Q&A and Ollie Watkins spoke to ardent Brentford fan Callum about the benefits of the Trust’s activity packs from Brentford FC Community Sports Trust. Josh Dasilva showcased his skills by challenging Trust participants to beat his total of 239 keepie-uppies in two minutes and six seconds.

All the activities are part of the Trust’s #BeeatHome campaign that was launched at the end of March in response to the Covid-19 crisis. With the government restricting all but essential across the UK, Brentford FC’s award-winning charity began to migrate all its front-line community activity online.

Lee Doyle, Chief Executive of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, said:

“The interaction between the players, our participants and coaches has added a brilliant dimension to the sessions. The candid comments have provided our post-16 education students with an insight into the commitment required to succeed.

“In turn, some of the feedback from our participants show the high esteem in which the players are held and may help to add something extra to their performance when the campaign resumes.”

And as a football club that prides itself on its community spirit, is it no surprise that Brentford players took up the challenge of supporting children and young people during the government lockdown. 

Newly-signed Tariq Fosu helped run a football session for children from Brentford’s Football Development Centre – along with Sergi Canós, Dominic Thompson and Josh Dasilva recording messages to promote community projects online.

Shandon Baptiste helped Hounslow Council with some Stay at Home messaging by taking part in an Instagram takeover while Watkins, Pinnock, Canós, Fosu and Christian Nørgaard have spoken directly to, or recorded messages for fans over the past two months. Others, including team captain Pontus Jansson and defender Rico Henry have helped out with special birthday messages.

Brentford FC has previously prided itself on its players’ involvement in the local community: in 2019 its player ambassador project was shortlisted at the London Football Awards for “Community Project of the Year.”

For more information about Brentford FC Community Sports Trust online activities, visit www.brentfordfccst.com

Latics Deliver PPE to Care Homes and Hospices

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Wigan Athletic have delivered 2,000 facemasks to Care Homes and Hospices with  money raised from Latics’ academy, supporters and players

Wigan Athletic Community Trust have this week been out distributing 2,000 facemasks to care homes, hospices and other organisations thanks to the donations from the Wigan Athletic Academy, the club’s supporters and first team players.

So far, over £2,000 has been raised to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to many organisations across Wigan.

Chris Durnan, Manager of Ash Tree Care Home Hindley, who received a delivery of masks, said: “A big thank you to Wigan Athletic for the kind donation. It’s heart-warming to know we are being thought about by so many different people in the current pandemic. Thank you especially to Wigan Athletic Community Trust for thinking of us and delivering the vital PPE to us in these difficult times.”

Wigan Athletic’s involvement in the initiative began when first team player Danny Fox donated to the initiative organised by his former Nottingham Forest teammate Dexter Blackstock to provide more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to frontline staff.

Fox delivered hundreds of items of PPE to care homes and hospices in his local area.

Latics supporters then continued to back the campaign via donations with the support quickly raising £1,000 before Wigan Athletic’s academy staff and players topped those donations up by backing academy strength and conditioning coach Mark Stone to row a marathon in his back garden, via donations.

Wigan Athletic’s executive chairman, Darren Royle, said the unity of club staff and supporters to make such a significant donation makes him immensely proud.

“Firstly, I would like to thank everybody who has donated to this cause; we know the 2,000 facemasks will be genuinely appreciated and the staff that have been delivering the masks have spoken of the gratitude from all of the recipients.

“This is a perfect show of the unity required to thrive in the situation we are presented with. First team players, academy staff, staff across all different areas of the club and supporters have come together to donate to this cause.

“The excellent Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been out delivering these masks – thanks to the support of one of our long-term partners Westwood Motor Group – in a safe and responsible manner and I couldn’t be more proud that our people continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our community during this challenging time.”

How you can get involved?

  1. Donate as little as £1 to donatetonhs.com
  2. Follow up your donation with an email to [email protected] stating either ‘Wigan’ or ‘Wigan Athletic’ to ensure your contribution is ring-fenced to Wigan and local organisations.
  3. Share with your friends and family and encourage everyone to donate just £1 to the cause!

“The feeling of helping your local community when they need it the most is priceless.”

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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the EFL Trust and its network of Community Club Organisations have quickly adapted, identifying ways to make sure we can keep supporting our communities and reaching out to those in need.

One of those ways has been through volunteering. We are so proud that some of our staff have risen to the challenge and taken their time to volunteer in their communities. Never has there been a more important time to utilise the ability of the Football Club badge to enhance and improve people’s lives.

Read EFL Trust Performance Management Partner, Claire’s story below:

Claire’s volunteering story:

I have been volunteering with MFC Foundation to support Community Integrated Care (CIC) to help recognise the huge efforts being given by their staff on the frontline.

CIC is a national social care charity which works with both adults and children with learning difficulties, physical disabilities mental health and autistic spectrum disorders in addition to those that have age related needs and dementia.

They really wanted to show their staff that they appreciate them, however all the service users they work with are high risk and during this pandemic it has been impossible to go out to every single centre and thank everyone individually.

I worked with nine other people, some MFC Foundation staff and some other volunteers from the local community to help deliver thank you packages to all the CIC staff working tirelessly across the North East.

Even better, I got lucky and managed to deliver to areas of Sunderland and Newcastle whilst wearing Middlesbrough kit (this was a challenge in itself!).

Honestly, I would encourage anyone to do some sort of volunteering as it has been so rewarding.

Staff were in tears that their employers had done something nice for them, some enjoyed just talking about their families and interests and some of the services users were so happy just having someone different to wave to through the window.

It can be something big or small but the feeling of helping your local community when they need it the most is priceless.

#EFLCommunities

Thousands of children and families will benefit from EFL Trust’s and Ferrero’s Joy of Moving Home School Festival

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On International Day of Families, EFL Trust and Ferrero UK are launching the ‘Joy of Moving Home School Festival’, a full afternoon of home school activities and games to get children and their families moving and having fun.

Following the launch of the new online Joy of Moving Resource Hub, the Home School Festival will be delivered by 73 EFL Trust network Club Community Organisations and at a time when children are unlikely to experience the fun of their school sports day this year or missing play time with their friends, will offer children and families an afternoon of movement and fun with different games and activities to choose from.

The Joy of Moving programme, a Ferrero CSR project, has been supporting Year 5 children across EFL Communities in the UK for the past 6 years. The Joy of Moving programme has consisted of two elements; the Move & Learn programme and Joy of Moving Festivals. Over 310,000 children have been introduced to moving and learning new skills, all while having fun and playing.

Mike Evans, Chief Executive at EFL Trust said;

“We are delighted to bring the Joy of Moving Home School Festival to thousands of households across the UK. So many children will miss out on their Sports Day and our festival should offer fun whilst also keeping children active during these times.”

Our network of Club Community Organisations have been doing some amazing work in response to Coronavirus, and this is another way in which football is supporting the community and reaching families in all regions of the country.”

Charlie Cayton, Director of Corporate Affairs and communications, Ferrero UK said;

“We have had a strategic partnership with the EFL Trust for many years delivering our corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects the Joy of Moving Move & Learn and Festivals. We have swiftly worked with EFL Trust to adapt the programme to share our simple and fun unbranded games with parents and teachers, that give ideas on how to get kids moving through play. This includes a freely accessible resource hub for everyone. We are really excited to see the Joy of Moving Home School Festival in action.”

The games and activities are based on the unique Joy of Moving methodology, developed by Ferrero with key independent parties including Foro Italico (Rome University) and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). This methodology inspires children to move through play across the world, whilst developing key skills in four major areas: physical fitness, motor coordination, cognitive functions and creativity and life skills.

The Joy of Moving Home School Festival will begin next week. Keep a look out for schools taking part and showing how they are having fun with the Joy of Moving online by following #JOMHomeFestival or to find more fun games to play visit www.joyofmovingresourcehub.co.uk.