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As part of International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the fantastic transformation of  participants who believe that working with our Community Trusts have given them incredibly valuable experiences as they look to progress in their careers and studies.

After quickly impressing coaches on the EFL Trust Futsal games programme with Albion in the Community (AITC), Faye Williams, aged 16, was subsequently accepted onto the FA Disability National Emerging Talent Programme aimed at identifying future England internationals.

She believes the support she has received from AITC has been pivotal to her achievements.

She said: “AITC have been very supportive and they have really helped me improve my confidence as a player. I’m so proud to represent the Club I support and wear the badge.

“During my time with AITC, I have learned the importance of reaction time, developing more intelligence in the game, the importance of communication and I have more interest in my personal fitness levels too.

“The high level of coaching has really enabled me to achieve my dream of playing for England.”

The teenager, who has a hearing and language impairment, signed up to play with AITC having been involved with the Club Community Organisation for five years.

She was spotted by AITC’s Futsal Coach Chris Day, at the age of 12 during a school football tournament in 2014.

Currently, alongside playing for AITC’s EFL Trust Futsal team, Faye plays for AITC’s under-18’s disability team and the AITC Talent Hub.

Faye is the only girl among 80 students currently studying on AITC’s two full-time sports diploma courses, which combine academic study with daily futsal training and competitive fixtures.

Talking about her experience of being the only girl on the course, she said:

“When I heard I was going to be the only girl I was nervous, but I chose not to let it stand in my way.

“I’ve grown up playing football with boys and even my school was 75% boys so I’ve been used to it.

“My advice to any other girls interested in playing football or futsal would be to give it a try and if you’re passionate about it don’t let anything hold you back.

“It’s challenging, fast paced and very technical so it can really improve your game.”

Faye is a fantastic example of someone who won’t let anything stand in their way of achieving their goals.

Looking forwards, her dream is to represent England Women and her coach Chris Day has no doubt that if she keeps on putting in the hard work, her goal isn’t too far on the horizon.

“I truly believe Faye has the potential to become an international futsal player, and a very good coach within the game at some point if she wants.

“She recently impressed the International Futsal Academy at Loughborough University, when we took a group of students there, and I’d love to see her move there after she finishes with us in two years.

“She has been an absolute please to teach and is a great example of the benefits of having joined-up the pathway within the Albion in the Community scheme from aged 11 to 16 and beyond. The EFL Trust Futsal programme has been key to her development.”

Sarah McAdam, AITC’s BTEC Programme Manager added: “Faye is an incredibly resilient and committed individual who has impressed everyone with her determination to overcome barriers in order to succeed.”

95% of staff Walsall FC Community Programme have progressed through an apprenticeship…

Over 25 years, Walsall FC Community Programme has run a very successful Apprenticeship programme, in its varying guises since 1989.

95% of  staff at Walsall FC Community Programme, including the current Community Director Adam Davy who joined the Club in 1994, have progressed through an Apprenticeship programme.

The programme has four new first year Sports Coaching Apprentices this year, as well as our first ever Digital Marketing Apprentice, working on WFCCP’s marketing and social media.

The Digital Marketing Apprentice is undertaking an 18-month qualification, and is helping grow Walsall FCCP’s marketing output alongside the scheme’s Marketing Officer. The apprenticeship includes:

• BCS Level 3 Certificate in Principles of Coding
• BCS Level 3 Certificate in Marketing Principles

Adam Davy, Community Director, said: “Our apprenticeships scheme goes from strength to strength and nothing highlights this more than the fact that we now have a Digital Marketing Apprentice added to our ranks, alongside the regular Sports Apprentices.

“It now means that we can further demonstrate the impact our work has in the local community by the addition of a further 35 hours of marketing and exposure each week. I’m really pleased with the work Mariette has produced for us in the short time she has been here. If all goes to plan she will become a valuable full-time member of staff in the future, and continue to grow the infrastructure of the whole team.”

Walsall FCCP also currently employ 6 full-time coaches, all of whom have previously been apprentices, and two of which completed the second year of their Apprenticeship last year, before becoming Assistant Community Officers in September.

Sports Apprentices complete the most up to date industry standard qualifications and our staff deliver Health, Education, Engagement and Sport programmes through our inclusive and diverse range of activities.

In Year 1 they complete;

• AfPE Level 2
• Level 2 NVQ in Activity Leadership
• Key Skills Maths and English. (if Required)

In Year 2 the Apprentices complete;

• AfPE Level 3

Apprentices also complete their FA Coaching Badges during their time at the Club.  The experiences and qualifications gained enable Apprentices to apply for full time jobs with our Community Programme or within the Sports Industry.   Over the years we have seen many Young People who have completed the Apprenticeship programme and have gone on to progress themselves further, these include;

Harry Rogers – 3 years apprenticeship – 2 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports coach at a local Primary School.

James Sellman – 2 years apprenticeship – 6 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports coach at a local Primary School.

Simon Bailey – 2 years apprenticeship – 4 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports coach at a local Primary School.

Dan Johns – 2 years apprenticeship – 4 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports coach at a local Primary School.

Adam Haywood – 2 years apprenticeship – 3 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports coach at a local Primary School.

Christopher Hearsey – 2 years apprenticeship – 3 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Learning mentor and teacher qualified status.

Jamie Hawkins – 2 years apprenticeship – 10 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Community Manager at a High School

Jamie Edwards – 2 years apprenticeship – 6 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Coaching for New York Red Bulls and running his own sports business in the State of New York USA.

James Fryer – 2 years apprenticeship – 2 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Strength and Conditioning Coach at Local Sports Centre.

James Holland – 2 years apprenticeship – Progressed to Coaching at WBA Community Trust.

John Hunter-Barret – 2 years apprenticeship – 2 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Lead Foundation Coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Katie Grainger – 2 years apprenticeship – 2 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Coaching WBA Community Trust.

Chris Shepherd – 2 years apprenticeship – 1 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to teacher at local high school.

Luke Tisdale – 1 year apprenticeship – Progressed to Foundation degree at university and Lead Youth phase Coach at Coventry City.

Scott Sumner – 2 years apprenticeship – 4 years employment with WFCCP – Progressed to Sports Coach at a local Primary School.

Community Manager for Education, Paul Larvin, said: “It’s going really well.

“Our programme has up-skilled a large number of 16 to 18-year-olds, who had no previous experience in the industry or coaching qualifications, and they’ve been employed by schools and other organisations.

“We’re really pleased with our apprenticeship programme as it helps us grow as a Department and Charity.  We will be advertising for new Apprentices in the next month and look forward to seeing the next generation of Apprentices joining us”

Assistant Community Officer, Joe Roberts, added: “I really enjoyed my time as an Apprentice. 

“I joined the Scheme in 2016 and worked hard to gain experience and pass my Qualifications.  When a position within the Department became available, I was eager to apply and really pleased to be given the opportunity to begin full-time employment at Walsall FC.  I am enjoying the role and I would encourage young people to consider Apprenticeships if they enjoy practical learning and want to work in the sports industry.”

More details regarding Walsall FC Community Programme can be seen on www.walsallfccp.co.uk, Facebook (Walsall FC Community Programme) and Twitter (@WFCCP)

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s support of the local Islamic community has helped the charity to win its first ever accolade at the British Muslim Awards.

The official community outreach arm of the football club were named as the ‘Community Initiative of the Year’ winners at the national awards ceremony on Wednesday night, in recognition of their tireless efforts to offer experiences and opportunities for the benefit of Blackburn with Darwen’s Muslim residents.

A delegation from the charity travelled to West Yorkshire to attend the ceremony at The Bradford Hotel, where they were recognised for the range and diversity of the projects they have offered to that section of the local community, including citizenship and anti-racism programmes, hosting inter-faith sports tournaments, supporting aid appeals from Islamic charities and offering stadium visits and coaching sessions for refugees and asylum seekers.

Much of the work that was recognised on the night is coordinated by the Community Trust’s community inclusion manager, Ilyas Patel, who was overwhelmed at being recognised as one of 30 award-winners at the nation-wide celebration.

“I’m just so shocked to be honest,” he admitted. “It was unexpected, but it’s great that a national award has recognised the work that we’re doing in our local community.

“I’ve accepted the award on behalf of everyone at the Community Trust who work so hard – day in, day out. Making a difference to our community is what we do every day.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone within our charity and the support from the football club for giving the platform to achieve this success, as well as those within our local community who kindly nominated us to be in contention for this prize. It’s heartening to know that they really value what we’re doing.”

The British Muslim Awards are in their seventh year and exist to recognise the wide range of achievements from outstanding individuals across the UK who positively impact business, charity, sport, arts, culture, religious advocacy, education and medicine.

The Community Trust’s triumph was its fourth major award in the past 12 months, having also been recognised for its contribution to local society at the most recent EFL Awards, HIVE Awards and Northwest Football Awards.

To find out more information about Blackburn Community Trust visit: http://www.brfctrust.co.uk/Community/ 

Cambridge United’s ‘Mind Your Head’ programme has been cited in an All-Party Parliamentary Group report as an example of good practice in the mental health sector.

The report, which was prepared by a working group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood programme, quotes ‘Mind Your Head’ on pages 53-55 as “an example of a successful practice based evidence programme that is certainly capable of successful adoption and replication in other school settings.”

You can view the report here

The programme, which is delivered through Cambridge United Community Trust in partnership with Cambridge youth mental-health charity Centre 33, aims at helping secondary school children deal better with stress and anxiety.

To date, the programme has been delivered to more than 1000 students over six sessions that destigmatize mental health, educate young people about how to deal with stress and also encourage young people to discuss how social media can both positively and negatively affect their well-being.

Talking about the impact of the programme, Adrian Bradley, Head of Sport and Health at EFL Trust said:

“It’s excellent to see the Mind Your Head project cited in the report and it is a good example  of the large amount of work going on at EFL Clubs helping their communities to tackle mental health issues.’’

Paul Farmer, CEO of MIND, praised the Club’s approach. He said:

“It’s great to see Cambridge United taking such a strong leadership position in putting mental health at the heart of football. Their ambition to be a mentally healthy club, supported by their practical action plan, is a model for the game. Mind’s partnership with the EFL is seeing clubs across the country starting to take action, working together with local Minds…I’m delighted to see the CUFC approach in the club and community taking shape.”

Ben Szreter, Cambridge United Community Trust CEO, said:

“We’re flattered to have had recognition within parliament for our Mind Your Head schools programme. Cambridge United’s ambition to be a mentally healthy football club has taken shape over the last year or so across the football club and we’re pleased to be able to help to open up conversations about mental health and destigmatise the issue.”

To find out more about Cambridge United Community Trust’s ‘Mind Your Head’ programme visit: https://www.cuctrust.co.uk/health/mental-health/ 

Tony, aged 75, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly seven years ago, credits Derby County Community Trust’s Active Recovery Programme for keeping him highly motivated throughout his treatment.

Within a few months of diagnosis he had the tumour removed, but in a routine check-up six months after the procedure, tests indicated that the prostate was not fully removed.

This meant Tony had to begin a course of aggressive radiotherapy, where he had 33 courses in just two months, leaving him physically drained.

Despite the treatment being successful in removing the prostate, 18 months later significant bleeding led to a sigmoidoscopy which discovered radiation burns. There was no treatment option, only to wait and hope that the burns would heal and scar over.

Almost six years after his initial diagnosis, Tony was discharged by his consultant in May 2018, but still requires follow up tests as a precaution.

Throughout his illness and treatment, Tony was a member of the Derby Prostate Support Group, and was invited to a Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Event at Pride Park Stadium. The Derby County Community Trust team gave a talk on Active Recovery, an exercise programme designed to complement cancer treatment and recovery.

Tony got in touch with Derby County Community Trust’s cancer advisor, and due to living outside the city of Derby, agreed to try one session a week. He’s not looked back ever since, and is a dedicated member of the group, who not only has helped himself by taking part but spreads the word about the programme to ensure as many people who are overcoming cancer can gain the additional support.

From diagnosis and through treatment, Tony felt significant physiological changes, which led to behavioural changes and psychological problems. He experienced a loss of self-confidence and low self-esteem, and his family were affected too as they found it difficult to come to terms with everything that was happening.

Through joining the Derby Prostate Cancer Support Group, Tony and his family realised that they were not alone with their problems, psychological therapy improved his self-esteem and helped his family to understand the changes and the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Active Recovery improved his self-confidence due to improvement in balance, coordination and stamina. Working in a group with others who were overcoming cancer like himself was hugely important to Tony, and most he found that it was highly motivational.

He said: “The hardest part of dealing with cancer diagnosis and treatment was the way it changed my behaviour and feelings, as this didn’t just impact me, but my family. Support groups, therapy and Active Recovery helped us realise that we weren’t alone in what we were going through.”

 “Active Recovery really improved my self-confidence as I was able to better my balance, coordination and stamina. Working in a group with others going through similar experiences to myself was really motivating as we were able to support one another.”

To find out more about the Derby County Community Trust’s cancer rehabilitation programmes, please see: https://www.derbycountycommunitytrust.com/programmes/health/active-recovery/