Decency: “FIT FANS has changed my life physically and mentally”

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Decency attended FIT FANS hosted by Luton Town Community Trust prior to the turn of the new year where she exceeded her own expectations.

Prior to the course, she had clear objectives to get fitter, gain knowledge around nutrition and food choices all whilst learning more about herself.

With the course designed to push participants out of their comfort zones, all while maintaining their own pace, the practical sessions become more intense through increasing cardiovascular exercise and introducing strength and conditioning work. Despite this, Decency praises the course as one that is “informative and organised.”

Most importantly, she looked forward to attending the course each week as it provided great social interaction too. Decency said

“The course has changed my life physically and mentally with a positive impact on both, I now feel so much fitter and have lost 11 kilograms since the start of the course. My blood pressure has also dropped which makes my GP happier!”

As an individual, Decency has always enjoyed being involved in fitness which was a major pulling factor for her whilst part of the same cohort as her older sister brought about a whole new level of competitiveness to those. She commented:

“Exercise has always been good for people’s mental health and the course has shown that.”

Average weight loss statistics for the FIT FANS programme are impressive and exceed those of many other programmes. On average women lose well over 3kg and men over 5.5kg by the end of the 12 weeks. We also have evidence that lifestyle change, and weight loss is sustained over the following 12 months. More than 90% of men and 85% of women lose weight during the programme with many losing a clinically significant amount.  Our data shows FIT FANS helps people to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary time, leading to weight loss, a significant reduction in reduction in blood pressure and improvement in self-reported mental wellbeing measures.

To find out more about FIT FANS click here.  

 

Chelsea and Liverpool unite off the pitch through NCS

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Whilst they might be rivals on the pitch for the Carabao Cup Final clash on Sunday, off the pitch, Chelsea FC Foundation and Liverpool FC Foundation have been sharing the same goal to support young people on the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme. Read more

Over 10,000 people were supported by Wigan Athletic Community Trust last year

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Wigan Athletic Community Trust has released its latest report, which demonstrates the positive impact on thousands of people in Wigan and the surrounding areas over the past 12 months.

The Community Trust works with Wigan Athletic to Improve Health, Enhance Life Chances and Create Stronger, Safer Communities.  The charity provides 26 different programmes across three priority areas of work: Schools, Community Development and Training and Skills which helped over 10,000 local people last year.

This year’s report looks at how the Community Trust has helped residents in Wigan throughout their life course – from enabling children to be more school ready, through to working with the adult population to enable them to live well and then age well. Highlights have included launching The Supporters Project alongside the Official Supporters Club to use funds raised by Latics fans to help older people at risk of social isolation, raise aspirations of young people and support grassroots junior football clubs through a number of small grants.

As the community continues to recover from COVID-19, the Trust has also ensured further opportunities for young people to get back into employment, whilst work with 30 nurseries across Wigan has improved the school readiness of 239 youngsters.

Phillip Williams, Chair of Trustees, said: “The past 12 months has once again provided us with challenging period, but our staff have continued to adapt and respond to the challenges facing our community and are a credit to not just the Community Trust but to the Club as a whole. The work we do wouldn’t be possible without the backing of Wigan Athletic, as well as national and local partners including Wigan Council, the Premier League, PFA and EFL Trust who I’d like to thank for their ongoing support. I am very proud as Chair of Trustees and I hope supporters take great pride in reading about the positive impact we have had.”

Where restrictions have allowed, appearances from Latics’ first team and academy players have provided participants and supporters, both young and old, with many moments to remember. From sharing their experiences on racism in the game with pupils to helping pre-school youngsters become school ready, alongside making garden-gate visits to older people at risk of isolation, players have continued to make an invaluable contribution and impact to the work of the Trust.

Wigan Athletic’s Chief Executive, Mal Brannigan said: “Prior to Phoenix 2021 Limited acquiring Wigan Athletic Football Club in 2021, the incoming Board were already aware of the work carried out by Wigan Athletic Community Trust and how integrated it was within the town and the region and so we were determined that the Club continued to strongly support the Trust in the future. We have enormous pride in how Wigan Athletic Community Trust uses the power of the Wigan Athletic crest to improve the lives of thousands of people a year. The report is a testimony to the outstanding work and commitment of the Trust’s staff and as a Club, we are immensely proud that people in Wigan and the surrounding areas are continuing to benefit as the Trust’s impact goes from strength to strength. On behalf of the Chairman, Talal Al Hammad and the rest of the Board, I would like to place on record our appreciation for the work that all Wigan Athletic Community Trust staff carry out and for their unwavering commitment to improving health, enhancing life chances and creating stronger, safer communities in Wigan and the region.”

To read the Impact Report, please [CLICK HERE]

featured imaage courtesy of Bernard Platt

“It wasn’t long before I came back to NCS”

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Travelling back to the summer of 2019, Charlie Boulby signed up to NCS, having no set idea on what to expect or what she was going to get out of it. Fast forward almost 3 years later, Charlie discovers new skills, new confidence and a new career on NCS with Sheffield United Community Foundation (SUCF).

NCS is the ultimate experience for young people aged 16-17, in which they are given the opportunity to make new friends, develop new skills and create new memories. Players of Sheffield United will be celebrating the success of young people on NCS as they will be hosting #NCSMatchday when they play Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.

One of the testaments to SUCF’s successful NCS programme is Charlie. Upon Charlie’s initial first experience on NCS with SUCF, she took part in a social action project, which allowed her to make new friends and develop her own skills.

The Social action project phase of NCS is the conclusion of the programme, in which NCS participants band together as a group to generate ideas to make a positive impact in the community.

For Charlie, her group decided to raise money for a local heart charity. To raise the funds, the group used their innovation and charisma, as they hosted a quiz night, as well as hosting other small fundraising events. Their efforts were rewarded as they raised over £1000 for a charity her group was passionate about.

Charlie summarises her first NCS experience in Summer 2019:

“I did not have a clue what to expect and I ended up having the best summer of my life.”

After experiencing an incredible summer, Charlie didn’t want her NCS journey to end there. She joined SUCF’s NCS Local Youth Board which focused on raising awareness for important causes and supporting local charities within Sheffield. However, due to the pandemic, this opportunity was cut short and she decided it was a good time to focus on her A-Levels.

Once NCS was available to young people again, Charlie was keen to get back involved and applied to be an NCS Team Leader during Summer 2020 with SUCF.

“It wasn’t long before I came back to NCS after I applied to be a team leader for the summer programme. I felt that this was really rewarding as not only did it give me the opportunity to give something back, but it also boosted my confidence massively, especially after coming out of lockdowns.”

“Being a team leader gave me the opportunity to explore a different kind of responsibility that I had never experienced before. Working with young people from different backgrounds, I acquired a great set of social skills which came in handy as I applied for a degree apprenticeship with the police.”

With new skills acquired from her experiences with NCS, Charlie now possessed the right attributes and confidence, which allowed her to progress her passions even further, as she was able to secure a full-time role at SUCF as an NCS Recruitment Coordinator.

“I didn’t make it through the application process with the police, but I wasn’t deterred and most recently I was given the opportunity to work with the Foundation full time.

“Thanks to this, I’m now in a position where I’m learning a whole new set of skills including time management, project organisation and public speaking, all of which are putting me in good stead to get exactly where I want to be in the future.”

NCS staff, like Charlie, play such a crucial role in making young people’s experiences the best they can be. If you are interested in working on NCS this summer to gain new skills and build confidence, please click here

FIT FANS returned to Deepdale in 2021 with great success

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FIT FANS returned to Deepdale in 2021 with 59 men and women completing the 12-week programme at Preston North End throughout the last year.

The programme enables participants to partake in physical activity whilst also educating them on lifestyle habits that can be changed in small, manageable steps to create a sustainable lifestyle. Funded by Sport England through the National Lottery and run at around 40 EFL Clubs across the country. It is a free health programme for men and women aged 35-65 who are looking to lose weight, get fitter and lead a more active life.

One of the male participants, Vijay Parekh lost just under 10kg in weight and 6cm on his waist measurements, these changes also resulted in a reduction of his BMI. Vijay started his fitness journey prior to enrolling on FIT FANS with Preston North End’s Community and Education Trust but he credits the programme for his ability to lose weight whilst gaining increased knowledge on factors such as calorie intake, portion sizes and step counts.

He said: “It’s just been brilliant. Seeing the differences between the beginning and now, I’m really happy with it.

“Physically I’ve seen a lot of difference, mentally as well because losing weight has helped out. Mentally I feel better. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge in the sessions, which has been brilliant, just to help keep losing weight.”

Carole Baldwin was part of the cohort in summer 2021 but because of the positive effects it has had on her life, she has remained involved in the programme as a volunteer to support others starting out their FIT FANS journey.

She lost 10.2kg over the 12-week period and 13.7cm on her waist, figures and results that have changed her life.

She explained: “I’ve absolutely loved it right from day one. My blood pressure is down a lot, I’ve lost weight, I’ve gained confidence, I’m happier than I have been for years and years. I’ve now been given the knowledge and the skills to carry on with this for the rest of my life, and I will, I’ve no intentions of going back to the old Carol, never again, I’m staying like this forever.”

Average weight loss statistics for the FIT FANS programme are impressive and exceed those of many other programmes. On average women lose well over 3kg and men over 5.5kg by the end of the 12 weeks. We also have evidence that lifestyle change and weight loss is sustained over the following 12 months. More than 90% of men and 85% of women lose weight during the programme with many losing a clinically significant amount.  Our data shows FIT FANS helps people to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary time, leading to weight loss, a significant reduction in blood pressure and improvement in self-reported mental wellbeing measures.

To find out more about FIT FANS click here

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster praises Preston North End Community Education Trust for their positive work in the community.

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Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, visited Deepdale Stadium recently to meet people who have benefited from the work and impact of Preston North End Community Education Trust (PNECET) programmes. Read more

Rochdale AFC Community Trust’s Apprentice Ikram Irfam has become the first point of contact for many customers

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Ikram first joined the Trust in Summer 2021 as part of the club’s traineeship programme. The programme took on six trainees on a 25-hour work placement with a variety of educational options available. A traineeship is a 12-week training programme run by many Football Clubs that developed people’s work-based skills and build their confidence, so they are ready to start their careers.

He immediately immersed himself in everything the Trust offers from supporting the office and admin teams, delivering Soccer Schools to the Military Veterans charity fixture.

With an obvious hard-working, keen to learn attitude, upon completing his traineeship Ikram was offered the chance to work full time for the charity through the Government’s Kickstart Programme, supported by the EFL Trust.

The Kickstarter scheme, which supports the employment of a young person for 6 months, allowed Ikram to work full time as a Business and Marketing Assistant, supporting day to day business functions and getting his teeth into photography and graphic design.

“Ikram has so much potential” commented Ryan Bradley, Community Director.

“He fits into our team perfectly and is always keen to learn.

People often comment about the young man in the suit in our office- he’s the first point of contact for many of our customers and works to support all of our staff across all of our programmes.

He’s not the finished article yet, and like every young person, he needs further support and training, but we all believe in him and look forward to seeing him develop”

This further training will see Ikram embark on a two-year Apprenticeship in Business Administration with Hopwood Hall College to gain his Level 3 qualification.

“When I left school, I never thought I’d end up working at the football club” commented Ikram.

“I’m glad I did the traineeship with Rochdale Training, and the Kickstarter programme really helped me decide on what I want to do going forward.

I’m looking forward to learning more about Business Administration and I’ll also look to continue to work on my design, photography and marketing skills as well”

Ikram will be hopeful that his effect on those at the Trust will long continue into a full-time role after he gains his apprenticeship award.

Jacob Fahy: Plymouth Argyle’s Rising Star Apprentice

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As we continue to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting all the great work of EFL club’s apprenticeship schemes, we reflect on Jacob Fahy’s journey with Plymouth Argyle.

Jacob featured in last year’s celebrations but has since gone on to hit new heights in his role as he was awarded Apprentice of the Year Rising Star Award at the end of 2021!

Jacob credits a 12 week traineeship with Argyle Community Trust as being the turning point in his life. He describes the Traineeship course as “a game changer for me – it helped me work out what I wanted to do and rebuild my life. The course was an amazing experience and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”

Plymouth Argyle are one of several EFL Clubs on EFL Trust’s traineeship programme. A traineeship offers youngsters aged 16-23, who are currently not in education or employment the crucial first stepping stone to getting a job. The 12 week courses are week based at professional football clubs. Trainees receive free training in employment skills such as CV writing and interview skills in addition to receiving support on their functional Math and English skills. Crucially they also get the chance to gain valuable work experience in a wide range of industries.

“My confidence was at a real low and I found going out an experience that made me really anxious” says Jacob Fahy.

Prior to starting the Traineeship programme, Jacob had been out of education and employment for over 2.5 years. Jacob is very open and honest in describing his journey from this starting point, highlighting that “my confidence was at a real low, so meeting the tutor for the first meeting was a real challenge.” After scheduling a meeting in the relaxed surroundings of a local coffee shop with a referral partner that Jacob was working with (and after much discussion about Jacob’s favorite football team Liverpool’s title chances), Jacob had decided he would like to step out of his comfort zone and join the programme.

Throughout the course, Jacob opted to complete his work experience in coaching children. This was something that he excelled in and thoroughly enjoyed, so much so he knew that this was what he wanted to do in the future.

He says “Prior to the course, I was not sure what I wanted to do and lacked any real career focus or motivation. Working with children through my work placement though was amazing and helped me to realise what I was passionate about!”

Jacob successfully completed the course and then sought to progress onto an apprenticeship, applying for a vacancy at Plymouth Argyle Football in the Community Trust. Jacob’s charisma and new found confidence were pivotal in him securing the role, to Jacob’s delight!

Jacob then continued to undertake the Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship standard. The apprenticeship looks to support those aspiring to follow a career in the sport or education sectors, through working with children across both school and community sports contexts.

Part of Jacobs’s role has afforded him the opportunity to become involved in supporting key workers and vulnerable children at St. Catherine’s Primary School in Launceston, Cornwall, during the national lock down caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Jacob describes this experience as being “absolutely incredible, allowing me to build some amazing relationships with pupils and staff, whilst also being able to support them in getting active and staying healthy.

Dan Shurmer, Plymouth Argyle Football in the Community Trust Training and Skill Manager comments, “We are extremely proud of Jacob’s progress and very much look forward to supporting his professional development through this exciting apprenticeship pathway.”

 

QPR’s Apprenticeship Scheme was the perfect opportunity for Anna to pursue a career in Community Coaching

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QPR’s Community Trust provided Anna Hampshire with the opportunity to pursue a career, she never thought was possible.  Having graduated University in the Summer with a degree in Human Biology and a Masters in Sports Science, Anna sought out the Trust’s and secured an apprenticeship after realising that community coaching was a possible career path and she has not looked back since. Anna has taken up a vital role in the Trust’s education team where she was named Premier League Primary Stars Officer six months into her apprenticeship.

She explains: “I was fortunate to begin my apprenticeship here with QPR in the Community Trust and then six months into that I was offered a full-time role as a Premier League Primary Stars Officer and have loved every minute of it.

“I had never really coached primary school-aged children before; I had always worked in secondary schools so it’s new and different, but I enjoy it so much.

“I have always been into sport, and I have always enjoyed helping people. At University I coordinated the volunteering in my halls, but I never realised this was an actual career path that I could go down, but as soon as I found the Trust, I realised that was for me.

“Day to day I am based at local primary school, Ark Burlington Danes Academy Primary where I undertake all their PE lessons as well as their after-school club, on Friday’s I come into the office to do my admin work so inputting data and planning my sessions.

“But it’s great being here, walking round the local area in your QPR kit and people recognising you and seeing the other coaches is a nice feeling.”

She added: “It’s the apprenticeship scheme has been fantastic for me, whether you are coming straight from A Levels or from University, or you simply just aren’t sure on what to do then it is a good starting point, for me it was a good foot in the door to then move onto my now full-time role.

“I have been supported by great people who I could always go to if there were any problems or any questions about the local schools, they have such a great deal of knowledge of the local area and that has really helped me get to where I am now.”

Mentor Gavin Forbes who has managed the apprenticeship scheme was quick to highlight just how successful the process has been since its creation in 2017.

He explained: “With the assistance of the training provider, Mitre Group, we have been able to support a number of apprentices on their career journeys.

“80% of our apprentice’s work still within sport with 50% of those are working with QPR in full time & part time roles within the Trust or Academy.

” I have seen the benefits of the programme to the apprentices and have seen them grow in confidence in delivering projects & supporting people within the community and Anna is no different.”

Gavin added: “Anna has been a brilliant addition to the Trust and has been able to develop a great rapport with the children and staff at Ark Burlington Danes Primary Academy.

“She has shown great initiative and always approached helping others with enthusiasm and commitment which has been evident within her delivery.

“I am proud of Anna’s progress and proud to have her as part of the R’s family.”

Anna is proof that an apprenticeship can be the perfect way to kickstart a career path you love whilst providing to the local community.

Apprenticeship with Millwall Community Trust allowed Zak to gain valuable experience

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Zak Jaques started his progression through Millwall Community Trust’s Traineeship programme. A traineeship is a 12-week training programme run by many Football Clubs that developed people’s work-based skills and build their confidence so they are ready to start their careers. This saw Zak learn and nurture both soft and hard-skills in order to build his way to full-time employment at the Trust.

Zak  was previously part of the Employment Support Programme at Millwall Community Trust where he received experience as a receptionist in order to gain his Level 2 Customer Service qualification. Having gained knowledge and skills of a real-world working environment, he was given the opportunity to continue his work at the Trust as a volunteer.

With 6 months of voluntarily work under his belt, Zak was approached by his manager about the apprenticeship programme the Trust offered in partnership with Southwark College. He immediately signed onto the course and has not looked back.

He explained: “I did a Business Admin Level 3 Apprenticeship that was in partnership with Southwark college. I started in January 2019, it was an 18-month apprenticeship with 4 days in the workplace and 1 day in which I did offsite learning at the college.

I learnt a range of different aspects of business administration from legislation’s to internal and external organisational structures and their sectors, and much more.”

During his apprenticeship, Zak was able to implement his learning into improving the Trust.

He said: “We had to do a project on something that improves our organisation and the project I chose to do revolved around maintaining a cleaner environment. Our dustbins were constantly overfilling due to the waste produced from different events previously held at the Trust. My project would help create a new system for dustbins to not be overfilled.”

Millwall Community Trust has not only aided local people into avenues of work, but their apprenticeship programme provides young people with valuable experiences.

Zak believes this has been pivotal in his transition to becoming an employee within the trust because “A common issue, particularly with young people trying to get into employment, is the lack of experience. An apprenticeship helps you get a step into the world of work with minimal previous experience, which was a great benefit for me.

“I would recommend an apprenticeship to everyone. It helped me gain experience, skills and secure role here.”

John Scarborough, MCT’s employment and education manager, witnessed Zak’s progression at MCT first-hand.

He said: “Zak’s journey at the Trust is a real credit to the hard work and dedication that he has shown since enrolling initially in our Employment support programme.

During that journey, he has benefitted from many different Millwall mentors along the way – all of whom would testify of Zak’s progress both in his role and as a professional employee.

The ability to complete his employment support programme and being able to access an apprenticeship opportunity is a testament to the support pathways apprenticeships provide. It gives us as an employer, but also participants on our programme and in the wider community a chance to upskill themselves, as well as secure long-term employment and a sense of distinct professional identity.

We really look forward to seeing Zak’s continued journey at the Trust and the positive effect he has on his colleagues and our participants who access our facilities.”

Zak will now look to continue his impact on the Trust as he continues his journey with Millwall.