Teenagers taking part National Citizen Service (NCS) ‘Keep Doing Good’ with Bristol City Robins Foundation are implementing their very own social action project to benefit people of all ages in the community. Read more
After weeks of isolation due to the global pandemic many people, particularly the elderly, are falling prey to loneliness.
Young people from Portsmouth were keen to help tackle this issue by making sure people in their community had not been forgotten.
A group of 11 teenagers have taken part in ‘Keep Doing Good’ with Pompey in the Community. The programme is part of the National Citizen Service’s (NCS) ‘One Million Hours of Doing Good’, a wider pledge to enable teens to take an active role in helping the country recover post COVID-19.
Following a week of community exploration and understanding the issues in their local community better, the group set their sights on supporting elderly people in their community.
Sarah Musson, 16, from Portsmouth said;
“The team realised the importance of helping elderly people and the issues of isolation. We wanted to make sure that people were not being forgotten and are supported during this time.”
Partnering with the EFL Trust’s ‘Tackling Loneliness Together Project’ at Pompey in the Community, the team got to work preparing care packages. Thanks to a grant of £810,000 from the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Pompey are part of 32 EFL Club Community Organisations who are tackling loneliness among older people.
The team put an appeal on social media as well as contacting local Supermarkets and managed to procure hand sanitiser, chocolates, puzzle and Sudoku magazines, tissues, hand cream and books. The team also put together ‘Happy letters’ to include in the packages, as well as a COVID-19 guide to help them with all key information they now needed to know.
Marilyn Bishop was lucky enough to receive one of the care packages and she was desperate to share her thanks with the young people. The video shows a young person reading out the letter sent by Marilyn and captures the moment she met the young people.
Here is what she said:
“We just want to thank you so much for our care packages, it was such a surprise and very much appreciated – not just for the lovely, generous contents but for the way in which they were presented, so much care. The ‘icing on the cake’ was the letters that you included – so very thoughtful and caring. Meeting you albeit briefly was a pleasure. You are all a credit to your school and the NCS and Pompey in the Community which is run brilliantly.”
This summer, thousands of young people through Keep Doing Good will be tackling Loneliness in their local community by picking up the phone to them sending them letter or care package like this group from Portsmouth.
Sarah, 16, has reflected on her time Keep Doing Good, saying;
“Keep Doing Good has been one of the best experiences of my life. Seeing the impact I’ve had on other people and seeing how big of an impact it has made on me as a person has really changed the way I see myself and the world. It’s been the best 2 weeks of my life and has made a significant impact on me as well as helping those in need in the community.”
This week 32 football clubs launched the ‘Tackling Loneliness Together’ project which is aimed at connecting older people at risk of loneliness.
A recent study from the Office National Statistics (ONS) showed that 2.6 million adults reported that they felt lonely ”often” or ”always” whilst 7.4 million adults reported their well-being had been affected through them having felt lonely in the past seven days.
COVID-19 and the lock down restrictions brought loneliness in to sharp focus. In these troubled times Football Clubs across the country stepped up to provide a vital life line for people that were or could have been affected by loneliness. Over 120,000 phone calls were made, food and prescriptions were delivered, conversations were held at garden gates activities such as quizzes and coffee morning were held online and when people couldn’t access the internet they were loaned tablets.
Many people like Roger, who is a season ticket holder at Plymouth Argyle, benefited from the support that has been offered by his club. As we went into lockdown he unexpectedly lost his wife and faced isolation on his own. Argyle Community Trust have supported him with regular calls and doorstep visits. Roger, aged 80, said: “Losing my wife was a terrible time and facing isolation alone was something I was dreading, however the support that I have received from Argyle Community Trust and the Club has been fantastic and has helped me feel less lonely and got through the darker days.”
Now thanks to a grant of £810,000 from the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), 32 EFL Club Community Organisations in locations considered to be deprived will continue and expand this work.
The new grants will allow for expanded activities across the country under the campaign ‘Let’s Tackle Loneliness Together’. As well as the befriending phone calls, online social groups and pen-pal schemes that started during the COVID 19 restrictions, Football Clubs will be doing much more to tackle loneliness.
Many CCOs are involving young people of their NCS programme as a way to connect the generations and make a lasting impact across the generations.
Derby County have a volunteer chef and have filmed 6 cooking sessions aimed at males who live alone or are living with partners who are no longer able to cook. The Rams are working with Coop on this initiative, who organise the ingredients for their staff and volunteers to collect and deliver to individuals.
Club Doncaster Foundation, Doncaster Rovers charity have launched an online community, called Home Goals, which has given local people a platform to communicate safely, as they learn new exercises and activities. Over 700 people, all of which are people who live in and around the Doncaster area, were encouraged to do one form of exercise each day during the month of July, and to share their experiences and feelings with other members of the group.
Middlesbrough FC Foundation are clearing an overgrown garden that will be used to create a safe distanced space for residents to meet. This month young people from Boro’s NCS groups are going to carry out more work in the garden to sow new flowers and plants. The Foundation is also working to bring together a gardening group of local people to maintain the area.
The EFL Trust will also be one of a number of charities and business across the UK who will join the government’s Tackling Loneliness Network, leading the charge against Loneliness. The group will explore ways to bring people together to build strong community spirit, with a focus on groups at particular risk of loneliness, and will work to continue these initiatives in the future
Click here for more details and a list of all the clubs involved
A community space can once again provide a vital respite for people with mental health challenges thanks to a group of young people.
18 young people, aged 15-17, from Wakefield have transformed a local allotment area which supports people who are experiencing problems with their mental health.
The group completed a two-week programme with Wakefield Trinity called ‘Keep Doing Good’. The programme is part of the National Citizen Service’s (NCS) ‘One Million Hours of Doing Good’, a wider pledge to enable up to one million hours of teens taking an active role in helping the country recover post Covid-19. In their final week, the group pulled up their sleeves and volunteered at Appletree Allotments in Wakefield.
This week is ‘National Allotments Week’ and the benefits of an allotment go much further than growing fresh produce – the outdoors and interaction with nature has proven benefits for mental health. Appletree Allotments is a community space, and is a referral place for people with mental health issues or who are suffering from loneliness. Once there, they receive 1-to-1 support sessions, meet new people and talk about their mental health.
The allotment relies on volunteers, but due to COVID-19 there have been fewer people able to help out and so it has become overgrown. The group of young people have worked hard to transform the allotment so it is a safe and happy place for people to visit once again.
Keaven, 16, one of the volunteers is delighted at what the team has done. He said;
“It’s been really nice to give something back to the community, especially to those that need it most. It’s been fun to volunteer at the allotment – we’ve been painting, weeding and even met the chickens! The people who work at Appletree are so nice and they’ve taught us loads.”
“It’s good to get some volunteering experience in a really friendly environment, especially after being home for so long!”
Bridget Hill, Charity Manager at Spectrum People who manage Appletree allotments said;
“What a difference a few days make and lots of wonderful NCS volunteer hours. We are so pleased to welcome this amazing group as their helping hands to Appletree which needed a lot of TLC. The individuals Spectrum People supports will really enjoy this space once they come back after lockdown.”
Thousands of young people in Yorkshire and The Humber, like this group of young people, are due to take part in ‘Keep Doing Good’ in August with EFL Trust (official Charity Arm of the English Football League) and other local organisations. During their time on the programme, young people will develop themselves and make a positive impact on the community through a social action project volunteering their time supporting local issues in their community.
For more information on ‘Keep Doing Good’ click here.
The leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Cllr Danny Thorpe, visited a targeted summer camp which gives 8 to 16-year-olds from the Borough a week of educational and sporting activities.
Participants on the Young Greenwich Summer Camp are provided with a healthy breakfast and lunch as part of the programme, as well as being given the opportunity to learn new skills and make friends.
CACT has launched a fundraising campaign to raise a final £10,000 towards the Summer Camp programme.
13-year-old Samuel, who attended the first week of the Young Greenwich Summer Camp, said:
“Being bored at home alone, there’s nothing to do. No one to socialise with, no friends.”
Natalia, 14, described lockdown as “difficult”.
The programme was set up to ensure vulnerable young people from the Borough have an enjoyable summer after months of lockdown.
“What I enjoyed about the summer camp is being around people again. It’s just so nice to get that familiarity back, to be around people my age who I can talk to,” Natalia explained.
Cllr Thorpe visited the camp on Thursday 6th August alongside Cllr Matt Morrow, the Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Children & Young People.
As part of their visit, Cllr Thorpe and Cllr Morrow visited The Valley, meeting catering staff from Gather & Gather, which is providing healthy meals for young people on the programme pro bono.
They also met young people and staff at one of the programme’s three venues, John Roan School in Greenwich.
460 unique attendees are taking part in the programme across four weeks.
Samuel said:
“I’ve particularly enjoyed the education and all the sports. Claire and Paul from CACT would be the ones who have made a difference because on Monday I came here and I was very angry… but I got to learn that it’s alright to get angry and that I was able to control myself.”
Jeannette Harrison, CACT’s Head of Youth Service, said:
“We know lockdown has been hardest for children living in disadvantage. We’re grateful to all partners – and Eltham Hill and John Roan School – who make what we can offer possible. All donations to the project will help give them positive memories from summer 2020.”
Supporters can donate to the Young Greenwich Summer Camp here.
Lockdown has been challenging for Bodhi, aged 9 and his mum Caren. However Bodhi, who has global developmental delay and autism, has been managing the lockdown by taking part in Brentford FC Community Trust’s online Short Breaks activities for children with disabilities.
His mum Caren believes that physical activity for Bodhi is now needed more than ever. She said:
“Bodhi has not had occupational therapy for over a year and this is not the first time we have had such big break sadly. Doing sport activities, which incorporate both gross and fine motor skills, is hugely beneficial. Because of his age, he now wants to do ‘regular’ activities, so sports can mean he is learning without him realising it!”
Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s Short Breaks project, commissioned by Hounslow Council, supports children with a disability with their confidence and development through a range of free sporting activities. Over the past year, the project has engaged with more than 150 children in Hounslow.
Under normal circumstances, these sessions are delivered on a weekly basis in Osterley and during the school holidays.
Yet the government lockdown has meant that Brentford FC Community Sports Trust have had to be creative in how they deliver physical activity for children while at home.
Chris Tribe, The Trust’s Disability Manager, said:
“We’ve had to find new and innovative ways to engage with our participants and encourage them to stay active at home. Since the lockdown began, we created and sent out weekly sports challenge videos for families to try at home, which have proved to be really popular.
Caren adds: “Although we home educate, and have lots of resources, we still found it a bit difficult to establish a routine and ensure a balance between education and fun. It is also difficult for us parents to constantly look after the house and kids – I honestly don’t sit down!”
Richard got his dream career off to a flying start after completing a 12-week Traineeship with Fulham FC Foundation.
The 12-week traineeship helped the 26-year-old take his first step onto his dream career pathway, after spending a year out of work and searching for a new job.
Previously, Richard worked in retail and despite enjoying it at times, feels it just wasn’t for him. He always had a keen interest in computer science and believes the opportunities on the traineeship and the support from the Fulham FC Foundation staff helped him reach his potential.
He is now flourishing in his current full-time role as an ICT Support Engineer at ALRA (The Academy of Live & Recording Arts) after completing the traineeship in 2019.
He told the EFL Trust: “I was without a job for a year and so keen to work in ICT, I just needed guidance and support and the traineeship with Fulham FC Foundation really gave me that.
“The great thing about the traineeship is that it is tailored towards you and your career goals, so mine specifically focused on computer science.
“Everyone on the traineeship was great, I made friends I still speak to now and it really opened up my eyes being based at a professional football club. Having the opportunity to work alongside ICT support specialists at the Club stadium helped me gain essential knowledge in the area and land the role I really wanted.”
Ryan Dempsey, Youth Engagement Officer at Fulham FC Foundation believes the environment and approach of the traineeship is what makes it so unique to other education pathways.
He said: “We meet the young people first and gage what they want out of it to really see what part of the journey we can help with the most.
“We work with smaller groups so that it’s easier to maintain and bring out the best potential of our trainees individually to help them in the career goals.
“We also continue to support them even after they have completed the course, staying in touch to offer any further advice or help.”
Richard added: “I’d really recommend the traineeship if someone needs help getting onto their career path.
“It gives you a routine and is a great safety net and guide. You’re around people who will push you and help you achieve your goals, just having someone there to encourage you can really help.”
To find out more about EFL Trust Education & Employability programmes visit: https://www.efltrust.com/educationandemployability/
Back in April, Fulham’s official Club Doctor, Justin Yeoh, signed up as a volunteer to help homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine (and previous GP), used his medical experience to support vulnerable individuals placed in protective hotel accommodation by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
With all football matches suspended at that time, Fulham supported the community response to COVID-19 by deploying experts like Dr Yeoh and other members of the FFC medical team whose skills are invaluable in difficult times.
Dr Yeoh has been treating rough sleepers who have been put up in hotels across the capital to keep them safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Back in April, Dr Yeoh said: “Fulham and the Fulham FC Foundation have been working with many key local partners and have been keeping in touch with supporters and people from our neighbourhood.
“Whilst football is currently suspended, I’m glad to have been invited to offer my services to Turning Point and work closely with them, St Mungo’s and the local authority to support the tremendous work being carried out with the homeless in the borough.
“The voluntary work I do is very rewarding for both myself and the patients that gives a little bit of help to those in need.”
Dr Mohammed Al-Saidi, Consultant Addictions Psychiatrist at Turning Point, said: “Dr Yeoh’s support on our clinical team is a great opportunity to reach some of the most vulnerable people in society. This is a crucial step for many to get off the streets for good.”
Brentford fan Jennie Sibley never knew that her football club could offer her the support she needed during the lockdown – especially when she first found the lockdown a daunting experience.
“We did not know much about the virus and being over 70 I was aware that if I caught COVID-19 it may be quite or very serious for me. I have usually gone out most days so being restricted within the confines of my home was alien to me,” Jennie said.
Yet Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s Pilates, Yoga and chair-based exercises classes proved a welcome distraction during the COVID-19 crisis and ensured Jennie stayed healthy at home.
“My regular exercise classes had been cancelled due to lockdown (I do these with Age UK, and Hounslow over 60s programme),” Jennie explained. “But I saw an advert in Brentford FC’s newsletter for the online health and fitness classes.”
Back in March – at the height of the government’s lockdown – the Trust launched its #BeeatHome campaign that encouraged children and adults to remain active within their homes.
Brentford FC Community Sports Trust’s online fitness classes are delivered in partnership with Hounslow Council, and include yoga, Pilates, Bootcamp and Boxercise, ensuring adults across the borough of Hounslow could still remain active.
And Jennie has certainly been impressed with the quality of teaching she has received from the classes, she said:
“Each teacher I have tuned into seems to be at the top of their game: very clear with instructions, clear demonstration of exercise, clear explanation of what/why we are doing an exercise. They all seem to have been very thoughtful and empathetic teachers.
“I have enjoyed every class I have been to and had the satisfaction of knowing I am investing in my health for now and the future.”
Jennie hasn’t been the only Hounslow resident who has benefited from Brentford FC Community Sports Trust health classes during this period: roughly 100 local adults have been benefiting from these classes every week.
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