Inspirational Bristol Youth Are Transforming Their Community

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Bristol City’s Youth Council are a group of young people taking practical action in their community in order to create positive social change that is of benefit to the wider community as well as to the youth council themselves. They have designed and delivered some brilliant projects addressing issues that are relevant to their community. They shine as individuals and as a group. They were instrumental in City’s holiday camp success and this year they have delivered 5 ground-breaking projects.  They really are the voice of their community and are constantly coming up with new community issues to overcome.

They were involved in the Bristol clean up, hosted a girls event which saw over 100 girls attended, developed and delivered an anti-poverty free football camp, a free disability holiday camp-over 50 in attendance, F3 girls session, Luke 5s League to combat Anti- Social Behaviour, developed a Mumball session, weekly youth disability session and recorded all of their achievements by writing a Social Impact report.

The programmes they have run have addressed a number of issues in society and in only a year have completely transformed perceptions, attitudes and behaviour.   There was a problem within the community, people didn’t have confidence, were subject to anti-social behaviour and didn’t feel they could afford activities or be would be heard within their own community.

Now people are able to access affordable sessions, which in turn is giving people greater confidence, which is leading to more people accessing education and qualifications and less people witnessing anti-social behaviour and substance misuse. The most important result is that for the first time young people are feeling As if their voices are being heard and they are actually making their community a better place.

They have won a number of awards already and have been invited to talk in front of hundreds of people. As well as all of the above they have all had their own journeys documented. They were all chosen or referred to the organisation for their own specific reasons.

This is Ben and Michael, the brains behind the LUKE 5s league

Ben: 16

Ben has grown in confidence, Ben was constantly breaking into the football courts and being aggressive to staff. He was the brains behind the LUKE5s league. He and all the other Youth Council have volunteered their time at every single holiday camp. Giving up their own school holidays to help deliver the camps

 

Michael, 16:

Very introverted, was always around the courts, struggled socially. No grass space to play at home. Broke into facilities to play football. Constantly chased off. Met at a social inclusion session. Luke 5s was his idea with Ben, he is now the league admin and organiser.

LUKES 5.

Every Friday night young people aged between 14-16 turn up to play in a FREE football league.  This brilliant project, put in place to address anti-social behaviour. Which has lowered around the site by 90% compared to last year.

The youth council wrote a bid to get this funded, then went out and sourced sponsorship, which was based upon feedback from young people. “At this age appearance is everything, so we have a teenage fashion shop sponsoring the project, the winners get a load of clothes” says Ben. We also get further education organisations to come out and talk to them about options for their next stage in life.”

 

#IwillWeek Celebrating the Impact of our Young People

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We’re celebrating how youth social action helps build communities this #iwillWeek – join us!

This week, 12-16 November 2018, is #iwillWeek which serves as a focal point for anyone and any organisations to communicate the benefits of youth social action. This year our focus is on young people. Their voices. Their impact. Their story.

#iwillWeek is a yearly celebration of the anniversary of the inception of the #iwill campaign. The #iwill campaign is a national initiative, led by Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, that launched in 2013 with high-level cross-party support. The campaign has a goal of enabling 10 to 20 year-olds from all backgrounds to have access to volunteering, campaigning and fundraising opportunities by 2020. We call this youth social action – making a difference through practical action in the service of others.

It is an independent cross-party campaign, led by 875 organisations from across sectors, of which we are proud to say we’re one. We believe that enabling more  young people, wherever they live and whatever their background, to become active citizens, will have a long-term, unifying impact on the future of our country.

Across our network of community organisations linked to the 72 EFL football clubs young people make a massive impact.  This week we’ll be celebrating some of the work that they do for their community.

Young People from NCS Help Remember

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Last weekend on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, 7 young people from Yorkshire and Humberside represented their generation and helped the country remember at the National Remembrance Service in London.

Read more

Teaching Excellence and Widening Participation : EFL Trust and USW Degree Wins Two National Awards

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Last night the EFL Trust’s partnership with the University of South Wales (USW) received two awards at the Advance HE Awards, celebrating their contribution to the education sector.  The USW and EFL Trust Community Football Coaching and Development programme won The ‘Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence’ and also a Spotlight Award for widening participation.

The Spotlight Award acknowledged the degree’s contribution to widening participation and social inclusion, by engaging individuals in otherwise hard to reach areas of the UK.  The unique reached is achieved through EFL Trust and its network of Football Club Community Organisations linked to EFL Football Clubs across the county.

The Community Football Coaching and Development degree has been designed in conjunction with 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. On this course, students learn about children and youth coaching, sports coaching, football development, social inclusion, sports management skills and the business relate

Jay Probert, Programme Lead for the Community Coaching Programme, said:

“This award is worthy recognition of the contribution all partners make to ensuring this course the success it is today. Towns and Cities across England and Wales are benefitting immensely from the 30,000+ hours that students are delivering within their local communities and in turn these students are enhancing their personal toolkit to make them highly employable. This award also recognises the innovative “flipped university” approach which we have developed over the past 5 years, allowing this course to be delivered through such an expansive network of partners, non of which would have been possible without the endorsement of the EFL Trust.”

Henry Seaton, EFL Trust Head of Education and Employability said:

“ It’s a well deserved accolade for USW and the staff in the Football Club Community Organisations that help first generation HE students start their careers in community coaching. The EFL Trust is proud to have supported the development of this unique and innovative programme.”

Advance HE came into being in March 2018, following the merger of the Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher Education Academy and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Advance HE are focused on supporting the sectors desire to improve its own practice and create ‘safe places’ for the sector to address its challenges without the need for government intervention.’  USW and EFL Trust are delighted to have their work acknowledged in these, the inaugural Advance HE Awards

INSPIRED BY FIRST WORLD WAR CHRISTMAS TRUCE FOOTBALL HELPS CELEBRATE ‘ONE WORLD’

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The EFL Trust and our network of EFL club charities are pleased to be part of One World an ambitious project by internationally acclaimed artist Mark Wallinger to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of the ending of World War One.

One World, is a new work co-commissioned by Liverpool Biennial and 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary.

Inspired by the famous Christmas truce of 1914, when soldiers from both sides emerged from the trenches and met in No Man’s Land to exchange gifts and play football, Wallinger has taken the football itself as his canvas. He has transformed the football into a globe of the world, taking his inspiration from the celebrated image of the Earth taken during the Apollo 8 lunar orbit on 24 December 1968. Captured at the moment of earthrise, it is an image of enduring beauty, depicting a peaceful planet floating in the vastness of space.

In partnership with organisations including the EFL Trust, Sport England, the Football Foundation, Sport Northern Ireland and sportscotland, a limited edition of the One World football will be released in November to community football projects across the UK, with the simple request to each person to upload their own #OneWorld video in response to Wallinger’s call for action.

Football clubs throughout the country will be using the ball in a variety of projects. From their work with primary school children all the way through to ‘sporting memories’ session for those living with dementia, the balls will reach a wide range of people in communities across the country.

Mark Wallinger said: “It is 100 years since the Armistice was agreed in 1918, and 50 years since the Earthrise photograph was taken on Christmas Eve 1968. One World is my contribution to the legacy of those precious moments – spreading a message of peace for the world. Time to stop fighting and start playing. Playing the beautiful game. Let’s take that image of a precious and fragile world into the future and celebrate the joy of playing together.”

Mark Wallinger is one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists. Having previously been nominated for the Turner Prize in 1995, he won in 2007 for his installation State Britain. His work Ecce Homo (1999–2000) was the first piece to occupy the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. Labyrinth (2013), a major and permanent commission for Art on the Underground, was created to celebrate 150 years of the London Underground. In 2018, the permanent work Writ in Water was realised for the National Trust to celebrate the Magna Carta at Runnymede, and The World Turned Upside Down will be unveiled in 2019 for the London School of Economics.

Wallinger has held solo exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery, London, England (1995); Portikus, Hamburg, Germany (1999); Museum for Gegenwartskunst, Basel, Switzerland (1999); Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium (1999); Tate Liverpool, Liverpool, England (2000); Vienna SeceVienna, Austria (2000); Whitechapel Gallery, London, England (2001); Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany (2004); Hangar Bicocca, Milan, Italy (2005); Museo de Arte Carillo Gil, Mexico City, Mexico (2006); Tate Britain, England (2007); Kunstverein Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany (2007); Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau, Switzerland (2008); Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway (2010); Museum de Pont, Tilburg, Netherlands (2011); BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, England (2012); Serlachius Museum, Mänttä, Finland (2016); The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland (2017); Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Scotland (2017); Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato, Italy (2018) and Jerwood Gallery, Hastings, England (2018). His work is also displayed in the collections of many leading international museums including Tate, London, England; MoMA, New York, US; and Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.

One World is co-commissioned by Liverpool Biennial and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, with support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

 

Teens ‘Kickstart’ to be Leaders

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15 teenagers from South Yorkshire and Humberside were selected from thousands of applicants to take part in a special programme that will help them develop into leaders of the future. Read more

OVER 100 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ENJOY WIGAN’S EVERY PLAYER COUNTS FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

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Young people with disabilities from nine Wigan Borough schools recently competed in the annual Every Player Counts football festival at Wigan Soccerdome.

Hosted by Wigan Athletic Community Trust, the event saw more than 100 children from schools including Atherton Community High School, Dean Trust, Hawkley Hall, Hope, Oakfield, St John Fisher, St Peter’s, Standish and Shevington in attendance at the third year of the festival.

 

Launched in Wigan by first team stars Will Grigg and Michael Jacobs in 2016, the festival aimed to improve the skills and techniques of participants through a number of inclusive activities before taking part in a football tournament.

The Every Player Counts programme is funded by the Wembley National Stadium Trust and administered by the EFL Trust, and aims to get more people with disabilities involved in sport.

Sean Rowlinson, Sports Coach at Wigan Athletic Community Trust, said: “This event continues to go from strength to strength with more and more young people involved each time. The festival this year was a real success and was well received by both participants and schools.  Every Player Counts scheme has seen us work with more than 600 people with disabilities in Wigan, giving them the opportunity to play football and sport, but more importantly helping them to improve their development and confidence, as well as meeting new people.”

The Community Trust engage with schools and colleges across the borough on a weekly basis as part of the programme, and work with the club’s junior and adult disability football teams who compete in the Greater Manchester Ability Counts League.

 

FOOTBALL FESTIVAL BRINGS WIGAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

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19 teams from different communities across the Wigan competed against each other in the Together Cup before the Latics game against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

Organised for a second consecutive year by Wigan Athletic Community Trust, Wigan Council and Inspiring healthy lifestyles, more than 80 people took part in the event at Robin Park Arena, which aimed to bring under-represented communities across Wigan together.

Supported by Kick It Out, teams included Leigh Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support (LASARS), Support for Wigan Arrivals (SWAP), The Brick, Addaction, Football 4 Forces, Every Player Counts, Leigh Youth Voice Group, RECLAIM project, Hindley Kicks, Global Friends, Place 2 Place, Wigan Mosque, Wigan Youth Zone, Wigan Council, West Bromwich Albion Kicks and Derby County.  Tom Flower, Head of Community at Wigan Athletic Community Trust said:

“The event was brilliant because not only did it bring communities together, it gave them all an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, while also having the chance to play competitive football next to the DW Stadium.”

Participants were invited to Latics’ home fixture against the Baggies later that afternoon, a game which saw Paul Cook’s side pick up three points thanks to Josh Windass’ second half strike. Councillor Chris Ready, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Wigan Council, said: “The tournament was all about building positive community relations through football, bringing people together and encouraging respect for each other, it was a superb event. He added:

 “There were people involved who originally came from countries all over the world and everyone had smiles on their faces. October is black history month so it’s an appropriate time to provide opportunities to work together to build stronger communities across Wigan.”

Winners of the adult tournament were Leigh Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support, while successful in the junior section were Hindley Kicks.

Giulia Kelemen, 12, originally from Romania but now living in Leigh, said:

“It was hard work but really fun. We started off as strangers but made new friends because it was all about teamwork, so it showed we all have lots of similarities and should all be equal.”

For more information about Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Community Development programmes, please email Steve Eastwood on [email protected] or call 01942 318090.

 

 

 

 

JOB VACANCIES: NCS Performance Management Partner x 2

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Post Title: NCS Performance Management Partner x2

Role Status: Full time (35 hours), Permanent.

Organisational Base – 1st Role: Home Based – Managing the South East Region (Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Crawley)

Organisational Base – 2nd Role:Office Based – EFL House, 10 – 12 West Cliff, Preston PR1 8HU – Managing the North West Region.

Reporting To: Operations Manager (Community Engagement)

Salary: £27,000 to £33,000 + Benefits package

Formed in 1888 by its twelve founder members, the EFL (English Football League) is the world’s original league football competition and is the template for leagues the world over. It has 72 member clubs, each of which embodies the unique heritage, pride and passion of the communities they represent. The EFL is the largest single body of professional clubs in European football and is responsible for administering and regulating the EFL, the Carabao Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy, as well as reserve and youth football.

EFL Trust is the official charity of the EFL and uses the power of sport to improve lives and make a positive contribution to 72 communities across the country.

The Trust draws together each of the 72 EFL Club Trusts to tackle society’s greater goals by inspiring people through powerful projects built upon a foundation of four key themes of sport, education, community engagement and health.

Key projects are delivered by the dedicated network of community trusts associated to the 72 EFL clubs, one of those programmes is the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.  NCS is a government funded national programme for 16 and 17 year olds designed to help young people on their transition to adulthood and the roles they can play in their community.

EFL Trust hold a prime contract for delivery of the NCS Programme in Yorkshire and Humber, as well as 7 regional sub-contracts across various regions in England.  2 vacancies exist for experienced Project and Performance Managers to work in the in the South East and the North West sub-contracting regions.

The Candidate

You will be given the autonomy to steer and influence the success of the regions NCS performance.  You must have the ability to build strong an effective relationships and the confidence to challenge when appropriate.  You will have self discipline to mange your own workload and focus priorities.  You will have experience in a similar role managing the performance of contractors using qualitative and quantitative measures.

You will have the support of an experience and supportive team in an organisation which values people.

Regular travel is a feature of both roles and occasional evening and weekend working including some overnight stays.

Benefits Package:

  • Generous Company Pension Scheme, with an EFL Trust contribution of 10% of basic salary.
  • Opt-in private healthcare.
  • 23 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays), rising to 25 days after 5 years. Holiday year commences 1st (Holiday purchase scheme in operation).

For an informal chat please email in the first instance, [email protected]  EFL Trust Business Manager.

To apply please request an Application Form from Jessica Dexter, HR & Payroll Officer at [email protected].

Closing Date: Friday 9th November at 5pm.

Interview Date(s): Role 1  – 20th November 2018 – 55 Blandford Street, London W1U 7HW

                                      Role 2 – 21st November 2018 – EFL House, 10 – 12 West Cliff, Preston PR1 8HU

 

Candidates must be available for interview on the respective dates.

Blackburn’s successful EuroFIT healthy lifestyle programme set to relaunch this month

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Following the level of success achieved during its previous incarnation, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust can reveal that the EuroFIT (European Fans in Training) programme is set to be relaunched within the next month.

The 12-week healthy lifestyle initiative, which is catered for men aged 30-65, first ran from February this year and proved a huge success. On average, the group lost an astonishing 20.9kg in weight, along with 28cm of their waist measurements.

EuroFIT is a unique scheme which provides a series of health and nutrition activities for men looking to improve their lifestyle within Blackburn and its surrounding areas.

The course will revolve around specifically designed two hour sessions, which will take place at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre, Nuttall Street, Blackburn, BB2, 4JF.

These sessions, which cost just £3 per person, will involve a series of education workshops and sporting activities in a bid to improve the group’s knowledge of diet and nutrition, lifestyle choices, and weight/waist measurements.

And whilst the aim of EuroFIT is to increase the level of physical activity each participant endures, former attendee Mike Graham believes the programme can also have a massive affect on one’s social life.

He said: “I set up two groups [Facebook and Whatsapp], so we can all communicate and encourage each other to keep active and lose weight. We compete against each other and use that as motivation to see who would do the most steps in one day, for example.

“We have now booked a regular weekly spot at the Indoor Centre to play football and it is helping to keep everyone active.”

Programme leader, Ilyas Patel, said: “The success from last year’s programme was massive. People like Mike who came on board are all now good friends, it’s great to see.

“They want to keep their healthy lifestyle and whilst it isn’t specifically a weight loss programme, we saw everyone lose weight.”

An open evening for the programme will be held in the Darwen End at Ewood Park on Monday 29th October, with further details to be announced in due course.

The evening will involve participants attending an introductory session, completing paperwork, and having their height, weight and BMI (body mass index) measured.

To register your interest for EuroFIT, please click here. For any further information contact Ilyas Patel on 01254 508256, or by email at: [email protected].