Janet and John

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This is not an article extoling the virtues of the famous early reading books but one that pays a well-deserved tribute to two people who have made a massive contribution to the communities of their Football Clubs and had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of people.

Janet Preston, Head of Morecambe FC Community Sports and John Halpin, Head of Carlisle United Community Sports Trust are both about to retire from their respective roles, having spent a combined total of over 50 years serving their communities.

There are many terms overused and overhyped in sport and ‘loyal servant’ is one of those…however in both Janet and John’s cases it is very apt and maybe even understates their impact and service. Both Janet and John came to their Clubs when their Community Organisation were in their infancy and were not much more than an outreach programmes to get kids playing football. They both leave having created much bigger, more diverse and well run charities that help all sections of their community solving many of societies biggest issues.

Mike Evans CEO of the EFL Trust, comments,

“Of course we will miss them both massively as individuals. However, due to their sterling work, the charities they have been instrumental in creating have such a solid structure that the legacy they leave will continue long into the future.”

Janet Preston Morecambe FC Community Sports

Janet, is stepping down after 20 years of loyal service, to spend more time with her family. Janet has been with the charity since its inception as a ‘Football in the Community Scheme’ when the Club was playing non-league football and based at Christie Park. Leading the organisation on its journey to becoming a fully-fledged charity in 2007, Janet gained national recognition from peers along the way. During that time, Janet has worked with five first-team managers, two interim managers and hundreds of players, ensuring that they played their part in the community.

Janet said:

“It has been an absolute honour to lead Community Sports for the last 20 years, improving the lives of so many people in the community, through our range of projects. I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people inside and outside of Morecambe Football Club, working with fantastic partners and developing long lasting friendships. Morecambe FC Community Sports and the football club will always be a part of me, but I feel now is the right time to pass the baton on to enable me to spend some deserved quality time with my family. I leave the charity in a strong position and safe hands, with a dedicated team to take the charity onwards.”

Morecambe Football Club Co-Chairman Rod Taylor said:

“The Community programme has developed from an embryonic idea to what it is today, and Janet can take great pride in her role along that 20-year journey.   A Community programme is a vital heartbeat of any football club and the wider community, sometimes with initiatives that are not at the forefront of the public’s awareness. We wish Janet and her family well for the future and look forward to seeing her at the Mazuma Stadium on matchdays.”

John Halpin, Carlisle United Community Trust

It is some 38 years ago that a Carlisle United scout alerted the manager to a ‘nippy young Scottish winger’ called John Halpin. John went on to represent to Club 153 times over 7 years and later had a spell as Club manager.

The much-loved winger went on to manage the Community Sports Trust, bringing the organisation in to the modern era. From an outreach programme that serviced the needs of local primary schools, it now has schemes and projects which cover every area of society, providing much needed contact for those who otherwise perhaps wouldn’t even get the chance to leave the house, let alone interact with like-minded people.

Chairman Andrew Jenkins said:

“John was first spotted by our scout Jack Watson in the Stokoe days, when he was out on-loan from Celtic to Sunderland. There was a transfer fee involved but everybody at the time felt it was business well worth doing. When you think about it, it proved to be a bargain considering he’s been at the club for nearly 40 years. To me John has been a great ambassador for the Club and someone you love to meet and talk to. He throws himself into everything he does and the healthy position the Community Sports Trust is in is proof of that.”

John said

“I was actually going to retire when I was 60 [last November] but with so much going on post-Covid, I didn’t think that would be right. I wanted to make sure that all of our projects were back up and running and the staff at the Trust have been magnificent, they really have.

“They’ve not only picked things up again, but they’ve pushed it on to new levels, and that’s why I know that I’m leaving it in very good and capable hands.
“I will miss it, of course I will, but I’m also very relaxed about the decision I’ve made. It’s important to give my family some of my time, it’s been all about football for so much of my life, and I’m really looking forward to that.

“I love the club, I certainly won’t be cutting all ties, I’ll be keeping a very close eye on what everyone is doing and I know that the Community Sports Trust staff will be taking that side of the business forward at every opportunity.”

Young Blackburn Rovers fan George doesn’t let his cerebral palsy stop him from being active

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“He gets stuck in; he gives everything a try and there is nothing that he doesn’t want to do”

Young Blackburn Rovers supporter, George, has recently started in reception at Avondale, in Darwen, a partner primary school of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.

George has cerebral palsy, and he has difficulty maneuvering himself around independently. However, this doesn’t diffuse his enthusiasm to participate in the EYFS gymnastics sessions run by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust at his school on a weekly basis.

The sessions focus on helping the children travel with both their hands and feet, with around 30 students aged 4-5 from Avondale participating each week.

George’s one-to-one, Zoe, said: “George has come on a lot, he gets stuck in and gives everything a try.

“When he first started his limbs were very tight and I do physio sessions with him daily. He wears splints, not for the PE sessions that Blackburn Rovers Community Trust or we provide, but his flexibility has come on. George’s balance is getting better, and he’s benefitted massively from all the sessions he has available to him.

“He has cerebral palsy, it’s his lower limbs so it predominantly affects his lower half

“George is a massive Rovers fan and every time we come, he says ‘I love Blackburn Rovers’ so it’s great to connect the two and he knows the familiarity of the club so it’s great that he can do sessions.”

Each week, the sessions follow a different engaging theme to allow the children to use their imagination, and just recently, the session was focused on superheroes and animals.

The skills Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s staff teach include balancing both on and off apparatus, jumping and landing safely, transferring weight from one limb to another and rolling.

George is always looking to get involved with each activity put in front of him, and always has a huge smile on his face.

Sarah, SENCO lead at Avondale, said: “George is a resilient little boy who will give everything a go. He always has a smile on his face, and we include him in everything we can.

“He has physiotherapy sessions every day at school to ensure that his muscles are getting stretched, and we are trying to build that up. He is making progress.

“George loves football and he loves Blackburn Rovers. It is good he is encouraged to have a go at anything, and he looks forward to the sessions Blackburn Rovers Community Trust runs.

George’s dad concluded by saying: “George loves to be active and never lets his disabilities hold him back. He’s a big Rovers fan and always tells the family how much he loves doing PE with Rovers.”

Every Player Counts with Wigan Athletic Community Trust has given Carl a sense of belonging in his local community.

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Carl presents a mild learning disability and also expresses his struggles with mental health, but the Trust Every Player Counts session has given Carl a sense of belonging in his community. As well as this the sessions provide him an opportunity to play the game he loves whilst keeping fit and encouraging social interaction.

He commented on why he enjoyed the session: “Come enjoy the game, get an hour out of the house, enjoy the session. Get to know everyone and become part of the team.”

The Every Player Counts programme which was funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust for 6 years has helped 12,498 people with a wide range of disabilities play football – many for the first time. The programme was delivered across 40 EFL Club Community Organisations, with around 19,000 Every Player Counts sessions being provided.

He is now 36 years old and has been involved in Wigan Athletic Community Trust provisions since the age of 16 where he participated in Premier League Kicks sessions. Carl’s involvement with the Trust speaks volumes as to the benefit it has on the local community.

Carl is a big character within his team, and his passion for the sport shines through. He even attends the sessions if he is injured to offer his support and encouragement to other players.

The big reason for Carl’s continued engagement with the Trust is not only the fulfilment it provides but also gives him the reason to leave home.

He explains: “It’s got me more involved. If I’m at home I’m going to be bored so I just want to play football on Wednesdays. It gets me out of the house so I enjoy coming here.”

Wigan Community Trust has played a huge role in Carl’s life, and he has now expressed a desire to volunteer at other programmes facilitated by the Trust to give back in the way the Trust has given to him.

From Participant to Coach: How Foundation 92 Changed Damian’s Life

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“Last week I was working in a Youth Centre discussing crime and one of the kids questioned ‘what do you know about it?’. So, I told them about my past and what I’d been through, so I know how they feel.”

Damian is now a coach at Foundation 92, Salford City FC’s Charity, however he was once on the other side of their provision as a participant and his outlook was very different. Damian had been dealt a rough hand and after being made homeless he began to experience depression. His depression became so intense that he believed there was no way out and one day he said to his mum “I love you, have a good life.” With no intention of returning home, he went to the train station to end his life, but as he tried to do so, a stranger pulled him back and asked Damian what was wrong.  Simply put, Damien replied, “I’m done.”

Damian was invited to Foundation 92’s, 92 Shield programme and this is where the trajectory of his life began to change. The programme provides a safe space for football and conversation for those who have faced various hardships.

On his experience with the programme, he explained: “I love football and so my mental health totally changed where from I was down in the dumps of not wanting to get up in the morning to having something to look forward to.”

The Foundation 92 staff became a support network to Damian that he felt he could turn to at any time.

And now as a full-time Community Sports Coach at the Foundation, this hasn’t changed.

He said: “the Foundation has given me a sense of well-being and family with some of my colleagues, knowing that you can talk to and trust them.”

His progression from participant and coach is something he “can’t believe” and he now hopes he can use his own experiences to help people in his local community through their struggles.

“We do a lot of work in education, so I’ve been involved in helping children that need extra support with their behavioural challenges, so it’s given me an insight into what other people’s lives are like. I can put myself in their situations and give them a bit of guidance and support.

“Most of the things that they have been through, I’ve seen or experienced myself, so we have similar upbringings or backgrounds. It’s about how you put it [experiences] through.”

EFL LAUNCHES ‘TOGETHER – SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES’ TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS DURING COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

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The EFL has today launched ‘Together – Supporting Communities’ an initiative to support the communities and fans of the 72 League Clubs during the cost-of-living crisis.

The scheme will see EFL Clubs provide community services and matchday offers to help people in challenging economic times and will contribute towards the Government’s ‘Help for Households’ initiative.

In rapid response, EFL Clubs and their respective Club Community Organisations (CCOs) have already rolled out a variety of support to those hit the hardest, with foodbanks, clothing donations and even ‘heat hubs’ providing lifelines to members of disadvantaged communities in England and Wales.

EFL Club examples

  • Bradford City – launching ‘City Hub’ food bank in January 2023, to support families with weekly food packages
  • Bristol City – offering discounted tickets for selected fixtures in January and February
  • Cambridge United – ‘Forever United Café’ runs twice a week and is a warm and welcoming space for people to attend
  • Ipswich Town – ‘FIND a Warmer Community’ the Club will be collecting donations of warm clothing for others to use in the community
  • Leyton Orient – ‘Kids for a Quid’ and ‘Football for a Fiver’ in December at selected fixtures
  • Middlesbrough – ‘Warm Welcome Project’ open to all ages, inviting individuals into the Stadium for a hot drink, warm room, free Wi-Fi and a chance to chat
  • Millwall – weekly coffee mornings, Lions Food Hub, discounted after school and holidays clubs and the ‘donate a coat’ scheme
  • MK Dons – Season Ticket holders can bring a friend for free at a selected fixture in January
  • Rochdale – foodbank service and debt advice support on board its ‘One Stop Bus’
  • Rotherham United – Every Miller Matters, the Club will offer warm spaces and support for families and individuals this winter. Running 3 days a week and open to anyone wanting to come to stay warm, charge their electronics and have a warm cup of coffee/bowl of soup.

EFL partners eBay, Lifebuoy and Papa Johns will also be joining the initiative, by providing ticketing and food offers for the rest of the season.

eBay will be using its partnership with the EFL to allow supporters and people in the local community, who may not usually be able to attend EFL fixtures, to do so through the provision of match day tickets, further showcasing a commitment and drive to bring communities, and EFL clubs within them together. Lifebuoy will also provide tickets to EFL matches, specifically targeting families in need.

Papa Johns is offering all EFL ticket holders 50% off pizza through their Show Us Your Ticket campaign. This season-long campaign aims to boost fans’ matchday experience and reward their loyalty during the cost-of-living crisis.

To find out more and see the full list of EFL club offers visit: https://www.efl.com/supporters/together-supporting-communities/

EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said:

“Providing a warm stadium for a coffee morning, a regular food bank or clothing collections, ‘Together – Supporting Communities’ will offer real tangible help for those people hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis within our communities.”

“While EFL Clubs support people all year round, we recognise that now more than ever we should come together and maximise the power of our network to support people who are struggling.”

Millwall midfielder and the 2022 EFL Championship Player in the Community, Billy Mitchell, said:

“Having grown up in the area, I’ve experienced first-hand the outstanding community work delivered by the Club and the ongoing commitment it has to supporting local residents during these challenging times.

“I’m really passionate about the work Millwall does and as part of this initiative the Club will be running a number of projects including a Food Hub, discounted after school and holiday clubs as well as our weekly drop in coffee morning.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young people are using their voice to prevent youth crime in Yorkshire with ‘peer’neering project

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Two teenagers from Yorkshire at the forefront of a pioneering regional project presented to convicted peers to tackle youth crime in the region. Read more

THE EFL TRUST SCOOP UP UK ECOMMERCE AWARD

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The EFL Trust and digital agency Courageous, won the Sports, Leisure and Toys, eCommerce Website of the Year Award at the UK eCommerce Awards for its Official Soccer School website, after being shortlisted alongside Hobbycraft, PING and Prescription Swimming Goggles. Read more

Peter Walker: The journey that the Peer Researchers have been on is wonderful and transformational

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Following the one year anniversary of delivering the Peer Action Collective Programme, we spoke with Peter Walker, Project Manager, who tells us more about the project’s impact. Read more

Lee’s Story: “I honestly don’t know where I’d be without FIT FANS. It’s made me have a much more positive outlook and feel more in control of my life’”

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After losing his parents Lee spiralled into a depression that affected his confidence and self-motivation.

For 6 years Lee retreated into himself, he did very little activity and his mental health was declining, to the point he sought professional help. Daily takeaways and a craving for sugary drinks, coupled with the lack of activity meant Lee’s was unfit, unhappy and overweight.  That was 2 years ago, today a, lighter, healthier, happier Lee has set up a Sunday League Football team and competes in track and field athletics.

It was seeing an advert for Sunderland AFC’s FIT BLACK CATS programme that changed things for Lee. A very anxious and despondent Lee made the brave step to join the programme run by the Club’s Foundation of Light charity. The free 12-week programme is part of the EFL Trust’s FIT FANS initiative, which is run at over 40 EFL clubs and provides those aged 35-65 with an opportunity to make a life-style changes, to help lose weight, get fitter, and lead a more active life.

The fact that the 12 week programme was at Stadium of Light was a big motivation for football fan Lee, he comments, “Training and learning inside of the Stadium of Light was a fantastic experience and so inspiring,”

Thanks to FIT FANS Lee ditched the daily fast-food and learnt how to manage his cravings for his favourite Dr Pepper drink and began changing his eating habits; all of this progress led to him achieving the biggest weight-loss of over 6kg – a feat he never thought he’d reach.

“I honestly don’t know where I’d be without the programme. It’s made me have a much more positive outlook and feel more in control of my life’”

However, the 12-week programme was only the start of the process. FIT FANS is all about making small sustainable lifestyle changes that can be carried forward. As can be seen with Lee’s journey; two year later he has lost another 6kg of weight, is living a totally different life and doing thing he never thought possible.

Lee explained. “It started with running. I hadn’t done any running in almost 12 years, but I was doing three 5-mile runs a week when the course finished. It was the running that sustained me through lockdown. Then when things opened up again, I felt confident and fit enough to play a few casual games of football and I really enjoyed it. There, were quite a few of us that weren’t part of a team and were just playing the odd game here and there. I recognised some of the guys could really benefit from playing more regularly. So, I set up a new Sunday league team. It’s hard work doing all the admin, but I can see the benefit that the guys get from playing and I know from my own journey what a difference it can make – so it’s well worth it”

Not content with one new sport, Lee has also taken up track and field athletics. He explained, “I really enjoyed Athletics in my younger days but really thought I was too old for it now and those day had gone. However, I felt in such good shape, that I thought why not give it a go again? So I did, I was a bit rusty at first but stuck with it and after a few months I was able to be competitive in the sprints and throwing events and so I’ve kept going.”

Lee has also kept up with the healthier eating lessons he learned during FIT FANS.

He says “I’m not dieting and depriving myself of food, but just eating sensibly and balanced. I’ve not totally cut out all the things that you might consider unhealthy, I have them when I feel like it – they are only unhealthy in excess anyway.

Most of all my Mental health is good now. The dark days seem a long way, away. My life is totally different now and It all started with see a Facebook ad for FIT BLACK CATS. So I’d really urge anyone feels like they are in bad place to give it a go because it really can change your life”

To register your interest in your local FIT FANS please complete the form below, selecting your chosen club from the drop down menu

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    Northampton Town Community Trust Wins Top European Award for Tackling Loneliness.

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    Northampton Town Community Trust have been announced as the winner of the prestigious #Morethanfootball Award for it work tackling loneliness.

    The More than Football Award honours the best social initiatives in Europe delivered by a European Club, League, or FA by celebrating the work they do on and off-pitch on a local, national and international level.

    Northampton Town’s winning project was part of the EFL Trust’s ‘Tackling Loneliness Together’ initiative which enabled EFL clubs to play an important and unique role in supporting their local communities when issues associated with loneliness were put into sharp focus at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With financial support from DCMS to initially drive the activities and additional funding and support from local partners, EFL Clubs created a range of locally delivered support services. From zoom cookery lessons for widowed men in Derby to Christmas Day phone calls in Wigan and Christmas dinner deliveries in Stoke, the project offered support to over 33,000 people – more than 75% of which were over 65 years old – and over 120,000 phone calls were made to those at risk of becoming isolated.

    Northampton Town FC Community Trust alone supported 1,210 people aged over fifty to reduce the feeling of loneliness and improve their mental health and wellbeing. The impact of the project is wide reaching, and the stories Audrey and Michael outline just how the project has reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation, helped develop new friendships and improved people’s mental health and wellbeing.

    Mike Evans, Chief Executive of the EFL Trust, said: “Football starts conversations, helping people to connect, and we are immensely proud Northampton Town Community Trust and indeed how our clubs put their communities first and providing vital support for those who were at risk of becoming lonely and suffering the effects of deteriorating mental health.”

    The award was handed out during the 18th EFDN Conference in Budapest, Hungary, which assessed not only on the quality of the project but also on the level of promotion and engagement. The attending member clubs at the Conference, voted the Northampton Town Tackling Loneliness project as the best social initiative delivered by a European Club, League or FA.

    Northampton Town Chairman Kelvin Thomas said “We are so, so proud. A huge well done to Phill Smith and all of the staff at the Northampton Town Community Trust as well as Scott Desborough and all of the Trustees for their work and the difference they make to so many lives. This project was a club wide effort, and I am so, so proud of everyone involved. We have always felt this club has fantastic community engagement but to see that work honoured on both a national and international scale makes us all exceptionally proud.”