Fulham FC’s FanActiv Wins at Global Sport Award

10th November 2016/in Inclusion /by EFL Trust

Fulham FC Foundation’s innovative fan’s health programme, fanActive, has won international recognition as winners of the Beyond Sport ‘Best New Innovation’ Award.

Last week Fulham FC Foundation and London United – the charitable arms of London’s professional football clubs – were recognised before an audience of global sport industry delegates for the programme which has had a massive impact on men’s health.

fanAcitv, is a men’s health programme that converts existing rivalries between football fans into healthy competition to get men moving more,. The programme was launched December 2015, in partnership with the NHS, Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

fanActiv is the ultimate clash of London football clubs as fans compete for bragging rights in a series of physical activity challenges, and through use of a digital platform encourage their rivals to keep up. Turning the inherent rivalry between football fans into healthy competition, the programme gets London males aged 35+ moving more through weekly physical activities, fan challenges in the community and health messaging at participating clubs’ grounds.

Backed by wearables giant Fitbit UK, the programme challenges fans to ‘walk, run, cycle their way to the top of the league table’. The pilot, delivered by Fulham FC Foundation, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, produced life-changing results for participants. Among them were 244 kg total weight loss, an average of 16 hours per week reduction in sedentary behaviours, and a total BMI loss of 72.5 points.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/fulham-fc-foundation/health-and-wellbeing/fanactiv

Students Start their Degree with Football Clubs

29th September 2016/in Inclusion /by EFL Trust

Did you know you can study for a degree with a football club?

Over 100 students have just start their degree course with Football Clubs around the country.

The Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development has been designed in conjunction with the University of South Wales and the EFL Trust in order to identify the type of skills and qualities that are required to work within professional football clubs community departments or national governing bodies in areas of growth such as social inclusion, community coaching and football development.

The Student are based predominantly within their own football club with a minimum of five days per year at the USW Sport Park, our £3.7m state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre. Take at look at some of this years student at the induction day

NCS In Action

30th August 2016/in NCS, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Among the numerous Social Action Projects carried out by participants on our National Citizen Service Programme (NCS) this summer, one particular group showed tremendous versatility in splitting their time between two important local causes.

The youngsters got their hands, feet and clothes dirty for a day of maintenance at the William Sutton Memorial Hall, a local community centre in St Budeaux, as they set about a day of painting, gardening and general graft.

It was then time to emulate our Olympic heroes with a fun run through Central Park, raising money and awareness for the Dash of Silver charity, an organisation dedicated to helping fight cancer in men.

As part of NCS, participants are required to carry out 30 hours of voluntary work in their Social Action project, a great way to end a programme that included residential stays, outdoor activities and fantastic life experiences.

Plymouth Argyle Community Trust have spaces on the NCS programme in October. To find out more, please contact the NCS team of Dwain Morgan and Ryan Yeoman on 01752 562561 ext.4 or email [email protected] [email protected]

BFC Community Trust Develop First Ever Junior Amputee Football Team

12th August 2016/in Inclusion, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Blackpool FC Community Trust have been working in partnership with the English Amputee Football Association (EAFA) to develop the first grassroots amputee specific football team for U16’s.

The team took part in the ‘One City – Tom Jordan Memorial Cup’ on Wednesday 10th August 2016 at Manchester City’s state of the art CFA. The tournament welcomed teams from across the country with players who had a range of impairments such as Cerebral Palsy, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Specific Learning Difficulties, Deaf and Visually Impaired along with BFCCT’s very own Amputees.

The team so far is made up of six individuals who have a range of amputations or congenital deficiencies, the players who have lost their missing limbs through traumatic accidents, birth deficiencies or illness such as cancer.

Jamie Oakey (Blackpool) was born with his foot missing and was the captain of the side on Wednesday. His mum Elaine said: “Jamie was born with his foot missing, they spotted this on my 29 week scan and told me he was one in a million to be born like this.

“Since Jamie has been attending the Blackpool FC Community Trust sessions his confidence has grown massively and he’s always dreamed of playing football regularly and competitively which he will now get the chance to do, its amazing.”

The team is the first of it’s kind as Amputee Football in England is currently growing and developing but there is still a lack of provision for juniors (U16’s). The EAFA have been working hard over the past year and have recently created a ‘GB Junior Squad’ which is for selected amputee junior players to attend and train at a more ‘prestige’ level, apart from Ireland these were the only two Junior training sessions in place throughout the world.

Blackpool FC Community Trust started to work in partnership with EAFA to create the first junior ’TEAM’ which would give a host of children the opportunity to play football in a fun, regular and competitive environment which is the first of it’s kind not only in England or Europe but in the World!

The team played against different opposition in their first outing including Sheffield Wednesday Pan Ability, Aston Villa Pan Ability, Manchester City Pan Ability and Rotherham Pan Ability. They played four matches just missing out on the semi final stage but scoring 6 fantastic goals in the process. It was a huge achievement for the youngsters.

The team will now enter their first league competition in September as they get ready to take part in the Lancashire FA Ability Counts League, which BFCCT already has a number of disability teams competing in.

Inclusion Officer, Owen Coyle, said: “This is a fantastic addition to our disability programme. It’s wonderful to know we are helping to change these youngsters’ lives and also to host the first ever competitive junior amputee team is incredible. Thanks to EAFA for their support and we are really excited to see how the programme develops.”

Well done to Jamie Oakey, Ben Tierney, James Middlehurst, Teejay Stainer, Liam Brittles and Cody Rayner who were part of the tournament team on Wednesday.

If anybody would like to participate in our disability programme please contact [email protected].

Teenagers Are Pushing Their Limits On NCS This Summer…. Spaces Still Available!

12th July 2016/in NCS, News /by Andrew Rudkin

What are you doing this Summer? Over 6000 young people across England have already dedicated their summer to NCS with EFL Trust, but luckily there are still spaces available!

The 2-4 week programme is designed to help 16-17 year olds improve their confidence, learn new skills and discover how they can create real change in the community. Across the country teens have already started their NCS journey, challenging themselves through outdoor activities such as rock climbing and canoeing.

Jack Hinson, 16 from Sheffield who is currently on NCS with Sheffield Wednesday said; “I’ve only been at NCS for a week but I’ve already made so many new friends, we’re all really enjoying the opportunity of independent living and the outdoor activities like archery and gyhll scrambling have been amazing. This is definitely the best way for me to spend my summer, I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Each teenager will volunteer 30 hours of their time to the social action project, meaning over 180,000 hours’ worth of time dedicated to good causes in local communities.

Dominik Stingas Packzo, EFL Trust commented: “Summer is well underway and we’re seeing huge potential in this year’s teenagers. Everyone is getting along so well, they’re getting stuck into the challenges we’ve set them and they’ve been telling us they can’t wait to start learning about how to create their own social action projects.”

He continues: “There are still spaces available for teenagers in Yorkshire and Humber to sign up. It’s a chance to escape, take on new challenges and make new friends with people they wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to meet. Parents give such amazing feedback in the change of confidence they see in their teens, it really is an opportunity not to be missed!”

An experience to change your life and prepare you for your future is only minutes away! Click here now!

Say yes to an amazing Summer you’ll never forget. To find out more about NCS visit www.ncsefltrust.co.uk

Pan Ability Champions Meet Their First Team Manager

8th July 2016/in Inclusion, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Last month, Blackpool FC’s Community Trust Pan Ability squad met first team manager Gary Bowyer after a successful year of Pan Ability football.

Blackpool FC Community Trust Pan Ability programme gives opportunities to young people with a number of disabilities and special needs to engage in fun football sessions whilst keeping them active at the same time. All of the participants who play for the Pan-Ability team have various disabilities such as Deaf, Cerebral Palsy, MLD and SLD.

The team have won eight trophies for the trust in the last twelve months which hasn’t gone unrecognised by the newly appointed first team manager. Bowyer was quick to congratulate them on their triumphant year, by meeting them pitch-side to talk about their success and future plans.

“It was really good to meet the new manager and to see that he recognises our great success as a team ” Richard Wilkinson (Forward).”

We use the power of sport to help tackle all forms of disadvantage and promote equality. Our community trusts exist at the very heart of 72 diverse communities and bring people together from all walks of life.

Exciting Opportunity for Young Disabled People and Their Carers in Plymouth

7th July 2016/in Inclusion, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Young disabled people in Plymouth will get a fantastic new opportunity this Summer thanks to Plymouth Argyle Community Trust. The Trust are delivering special short break sessions catered to young people with a disability. As well as giving young people the chance to socialise whilst improving upon their skills, the sessions will also give carers a break from their daily work.

Every Monday and Tuesday from 9am – Midday, Argyle’s Short Breaks will involve fun-filled football sessions, stadium tours, smoothie making, table tennis, wii fit activities, games consoles and many more fun activities.

Working closely in partnership with Plymouth City Council, the Trust aims to give carers respite but to also offer new opportunities to young people they may never have experienced in the past.

Each day sees the youngsters taking part in fun-filled sport sessions, aimed at improving their basic skills whilst making new friends. The courses, full of mini-games and technique workshops, sees each participant work with Argyle coaches, giving them a unique experience of what it is like to be a professional ‘Pilgrim’.

To compliment practical sport sessions, each participant takes part in exciting workshops aimed at improving their understanding of both the game, as well as the importance of leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Skills that will be introduced include smoothie making classes, kit design and basic first aid tips.

Find out more by contacting the Health & Disability Officer Josh Grant on 01752 562561 ext.4 or email [email protected]

Nottingham County FITC Make Prominent New Mental Health Signing

7th July 2016/in Health, Inclusion, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Notts County FITC are at the frontline of improving the mental health of men and women from Nottingham. FITC deliver numerous projects which have successfully improved the mental health of 100s of people across the county of Nottingham. County are looking to increase this even more with the addition of an exciting new “signing” to the team which will add significant skill and experience.

Dr Nigel Plant has recently joined Notts County FC Football in the Community (FITC) since his retirement as Associate Professor teaching Mental Health Nursing at the University of Nottingham. A life-long Notts County FC fan and mental health specialist, Nigel has joined former Notts County FC manager and captain, Ian Richardson to work part-time on FITC’s mental health projects, offering additional support. He commented “I believe these projects provide a unique service in a non-clinical environment, and reach out to members of the public who may be put off from seeking assistance from more formal and assessment-based services”.

FITC delivers six community mental health projects in total, including two very different projects for men and women, using multi-sports and physical activity, while achieving positive, long-term benefits for participants.

The men’s project “On the Ball” was designed nine years ago in collaboration with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust (the local NHS mental health trust), has received several awards and is recognised as an example of national best practice among professional football clubs. The “Notts County” model has developed such a wide-reaching reputation that the team have received visits from mental health workers from Norway and Iceland in the last few months.

The project uses football to build team working, communication and social skills. It enables participants to train in a structured football environment with high quality staff. Participants benefit from a healthier lifestyle and regular activity, giving them more energy and helping them feel more positive. The project includes half-time team talks based on topical, high profile football stories, which encourage participants to open up and discuss issues such as depression, anger management, communication and team working, among others. In this way, participants benefit from positive mental health promotion in a non-clinical environment.

Meanwhile, the women’s project “Right Mind” was introduced 18 months ago and is a multi-sports and social project, which has been a success from the outset. Sessions are based around exercise which participants select from a menu of activities. These are delivered by male and female coaches in a relaxed, supportive environment. The main focus is ensuring everyone has fun by playing a range of sports and taking part in different physical activities. Participants make new friends and have the opportunity to socialise at the end of sessions.

“Right Mind” participant Kat Turner: “I feel like I am much more stable at home, it gets me up in the morning and out of the house meeting other people. I just feel it’s helping my all round mental and physical health. I’ve been losing wight ad thinking about what I eat more, and it encourages me to do things for myself which I probably wouldn’t have been motivated to do. So it’s definitely helping my confidence and motivation”.

Dr Alan Pringle, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham (UoN) and expert on the impact of professional football on mental health: “Although many excellent professional football community mental health schemes are in existence. The longevity of the Notts County FITC mental health schemes set them apart from the others”.

Rotherham United Crowned Good Mood Champions

13th June 2016/in Inclusion, News /by Andrew Rudkin

Rotherham United Community Sports Trusts (RUCST) Inclusion football team were crowned champions after a fantastic season in the Good Mood league.

The Good Mood league which is part of the Ability Counts League was developed by RUCST & Sheffield and Hallamshire FA and aims to give fun but competitive 11 a side football opportunities to a variety of people including people who experience mental health difficulties, Asylum seekers and people with housing and/or substance misuse issues.

Sam Firth, Disability Officer for the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA was on hand to award RUCST inclusion team with their winner’s trophy.

In addition to claiming the winner’s trophy, Ryan Heald was awarded Player of the season for his playing quality and continued commitment to the team. Following a successful year with RUCST inclusion, Ryan has now gone onto full time employment.

Rotherham United’s Inclusion Football team also competed in the Ability Counts 7 a side league, where they managed to finish second overall.

Trudi Race, Disability Officer at RUCST said “Myself and everyone at Rotherham United Community Sports trust are immensely proud of the participants who have been involved in the team and the league, they are a brilliant group to work with”.

New National Sport Strategy Tackles Inactivity

27th May 2016/in Health, Inclusion, News, Sport /by Andrew Rudkin

The Football League Trust is backing Sport England’s new Strategy for the future of sport that was released this week.

As well as continuing to support people who already play sport, there will be a much greater emphasis on groups who are typically much less active such as women, disabled people and those from lower-socio-economic backgrounds.

Mike Evans, Director of Operations at the Football League Trust, comments, “The new strategy places a much stronger emphasis on the benefits that taking part in sport can bring, such as improving both physical and mental health, social cohesion and reducing crime. This is an approach that 72 Football League Community Trusts in our network have been taking with considerable success for a numerous years. For example our Female Football Development programme, is very much about getting inactive women and girls from all backgrounds involved in sport with the focus firmly on fun and fitness.”

Sport England will spend £250 million to combat inactivity as part of five-year strategy which also include dedicated funding to get children and young people active from the age of five, Mike continues. “Because football clubs are in the heart of their communities they are very effective at getting young people active. Our Trusts an incredible amount of work in schools already with programmes such as Kinder+Sport Move and Learn are getting children active as well as teaching them the benefits of healthy eating.”

More about the strategy

The strategy will help deliver against the six health, social and economic outcomes set out in the Government’s Sporting Future strategy.

Key features of the new strategy are:

Dedicated funding to get children and young people active from the age of five, including a new fund for family based activities and offering training to at least two teachers in every secondary school in England to help them better meet the needs of all children, irrespective of their level of sporting ability

Working with the sport sector to put customers at the heart of everything they do, and using the principles of behaviour change to inform their work

Piloting new ways of working locally by investing in up to 10 places in England – a mix of urban and rural areas

Investing up to £30m in a new volunteering strategy, enabling more people to get the benefits of volunteering and attracting a new, more diverse range of volunteers

Helping sport keep pace with the digital expectations of customers – making it as easy to book a badminton court as a hotel room

Working closely with governing bodies of sport and others who support people who already play regularly, to help them become more efficient, sustainable and diversify their sources of funding.

Read the new strategy Towards an Active Nation.

Did you know you can study for a degree with a football club?

EFL Trust

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