Archive for category: News

More than one million people are now participating in football-led community programmes and activities every season.

Today, all 72 EFL clubs will come together for the EFL’s Community Day of Action to highlight and showcase the impact of this work in towns and cities nationwide.

EFL Clubs use the power of football to have a positive effect on thousands of people’s lives in the UK every day, helping participants to improve their lives with programmes focused on health and wellbeing, education, community outreach and much more.

The EFL’s Community Day of Action presents a unique – and brand new – opportunity for all EFL clubs to simultaneously raise awareness of the impact they are having by creating a national platform to highlight the community work that happens across 72 towns and cities, 365 days a year, seven days a week.

Approximately £50million is being invested every season by the EFL Trust and Club Community Trusts into key areas, using the power of football to help people in need across sport, education, health and community engagement programmes.

The work is having a significant impact in communities up and down the country.

For example:

•  For every £1 spent to deliver Millwall Community Trust’s programmes – more than £7 is generated in cost savings to society
•  Pompey In The Community’s crowdfunding campaign generated over £100,000 to build a new community facility to increase the Trust’s capacity by 100%
•  Wigan Athletic Community Trust have helped to reduce anti-social behaviour by up to 50% in selected communities by providing sports opportunities for 4,000 young people
•      At Charlton Athletic Community Trust, the social value of the community trust’s mentoring programme is estimated at over £2.3million
•      Over 1,000 young people have participated in  NCS with Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, improving their skillset, confidence and raising over £28,000
•      Sheffield United Community Foundation have delivered the Kinder +Sport move and learn project to almost 2,000 children over 41 schools across the city

Shaun Harvey, EFL Chief Executive, said: “EFL clubs play a pivotal role in their communities and what our inaugural Day of Action makes abundantly clear is how this work is having a significant impact, not just on match days but seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“The power of football continues to be used to improve people’s health and wellbeing and provide increased opportunities to develop individuals’ education and career prospects.

“Such important work should be commended and clearly illustrates how EFL clubs and their Trusts are contributing to society outside of the game, achieving tangible results and lasting change.”

To find out more about the work and impact of EFL club community trust’s search the #EFLDayOFAction hashtag on Twitter.

EFL Trust Walking Football Cup

“For the first time in years it has allowed me to play a game I love and socially interact with people who are like minded. It has improved my social circle and I feel physically and mentally invigorated”.

EFL Trust’s Walking Football Cup returns for the third year running, with a record of 1500 men and women over the age of 50 taking part.

70 EFL & National conference clubs will battle it out to try and emulate what Blackpool FC achieved last year, and be crowned EFL Trust’s Walking Football Cup champions.

To kick off the competition this week, 6 regional finals will take place across the country, with the top 2 from each reaching the grand final. The grand finalists will play at the Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, home of Aston Villa’s first team.

The slow-paced version of the beautiful game, aimed specifically at the over 50’s, has grown enormously over the last few years with proven health and social benefits of its participants. A survey completed during last year’s competition showed that 82% of participants believe their physical health has improved by playing walking football, with 79% of those competing in last year’s competition saying their level of exercise has increased.

Paul Stephens from Leyton Orient, who suffered from depression, found a new lease of life in his passion for the game saying: ”It came along at the right time for me and I’m not sure where I would be if I hadn’t discovered it. It has benefited my life enormously.

”I was a typical kid. All I wanted to do was play for Arsenal since the age of six, but I stopped around 16 or 17. After that, I had flirtations with 5-a-side when the doctor said I should try to get into sport again.

”Walking football means so much to me and whoever invented it deserves a medal. Everybody is included and we all get a game.

”Depression is a big issue, what would make my year is if somebody suffering with depression got into walking football, I’d be really happy. If there is somebody like me sitting at home come on down, there are lots of genuine guys here who are appreciative of being given a second chance.”

Nicol Meredith, from the EFL Trust commented: “Those dreams you have as a child of playing for your local team never truly go away, so the competition that teams represent in their local club and play in their colours. We want this tournament to provide the opportunity for friendly competition and to promote and help grow the game.

Nicol continues, “Walking Football Cup is a key event in the EFL Trust calendar and has so many benefits for the older demographic. We’re delighted that year on year the tournament grows with a 17% increase in teams from last year. Even better over 180 women will take part this year which is 100% more than we had competing in last years event.”

To find out more about walking football visit – www.efltrust.com/walkingfootball/

To keep up to date with the EFL Trust Walking Football Cup, follow our Twitter page @EFLTrust and use the hashtag #WalkingFootballCup

Hartlepool United and Mansfield Town were crowned champions of the girls and boys Kinder+Sport Futsal Cup last week, after an exciting grand final at Derby Arena.

Thousands of Year 10 and 11 students battled it out during the local competition part of the tournament to reach the regional finals stage, this took place over eight venues with the winners of the boys and girls tournaments qualifying for a place at the grand final.

Here’s some highlights of the day:

Futsal, the world’s fastest growing indoor sport, showcases close ball skills, increased touches, quick decision making, creativity and tactical nous. Some of the world’s leading football stars, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, honed their ball skills with futsal. The free flowing game has witnessed significant growth throughout England and Wales over recent years, as a sport in its own right, and as a fundamental part of football development.

The aim of Ferrero’s global Kinder + Sport project is to increase levels of physical activity among young generations around the world. The Kinder + Sport Futsal Cup builds on the success of last year’s Kinder + Sport Kids Cup for under 11s and Kinder + Sport Girls Cup for under 13s, also delivered by Ferrero and the EFL Trust.

National Citizen Service (NCS) graduate Luke Dallen, who completed the programme with MK Dons in September 2015, returns to the programme this year as a team leader to help guide even more young people.

Luke, now aged 17, initially played for the MK Dons Sports and Education Trust’s Disability team and was encouraged by his parents to sign up for NCS in an attempt to combat his issues with confidence and communication.

Luke is the first to admit he was dubious to start the programme he said: ”I was nervous about taking part, but my parents and I gel that it would benefit me massively in the future.”

His attitude and commitment to MK Dons and the NCS programme lead the team to offer him a position as a team leader for their delivery of NCS this summer.

Thrilled Luke commented: ”I chose to do it again because I wanted the chance to be as supportive as my team leader was, and create a fun environment for the participants. I also wanted to improve my confidence, communication and leadership skills even further.”

To date, more than 300,000 teens have taken part in NCS across the country. For any young people taking part, Luke said: ”It’s a great opportunity to develop loads of new skills that will benefit you moving forward. You will also make loads of new friends from different towns and villages which brings you so much confidence. It really takes your life to the next level.”

 

MK Dons are one of 32 clubs across the EFL who are involved in an NCS Match Day this season. Last weekend’s fixture against Coventry saw The Dons host theirs. The club’s first team players played an important role during the occasion, warming up in NCS branded t-shirts and meeting programme graduates. Stephen Greene, Executive Chairman of the independent management body of the National Citizen Service and CEO of international pro-social media company Rockcorps was also present.

There are still places available for 15-17 year olds to get involved this summer. To find out more visit – www.ncsefltrust.co.uk

The EFL Trust Futsal and Education programme offers 16-18 year olds (male and female) the chance to play futsal representing their local football club and at the same time, study towards a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport.

The unique scheme offers young people a different way to learn, aimed at those with a passion for football and a desire to progress to university or work in sport.

Programme Overview

BTEC Level 1 Overview:

The Level 1 Futsal and Education Programme is a specialist work related course built around the BTEC First Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure covering the foundations of sport such as team work and leadership. This course particularly suits those wanting to enter employment in the sport and active leisure sector as you will gain valuable work experience whilst completing the BTEC Certificate  in Workskills. To top it all off you can gain valuable English and Maths qualification and the Beginners Guide to Futsal coaching award.

Alongside the academic aspect of the course, you will also become a player and a scholar within a professional football club and complete within the EFL Trust Futsal League competing at the best arenas across the country.

Upon successful completion of the course you will have the opportunity to progress on to the Level 2 Futsal and Education Programme.

BTEC Level 2 Overview:

The Level 2 Futsal and Education Programme is a specialist work related course built around the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Sport and builds knowledge of practical sports performance, training and personal fitness, running sports events and sport community volunteering. This course particularly suits those wanting to enter employment and/or further study in the sport and active leisure sector as you will gain valuable work experience, continue to study English and Maths and complete a Level 1 award in Football Coaching.

Alongside the academic aspect of the course, you will also become a player and a scholar within a professional football club and compete within the EFL Trust’s Futsal League competing at the best arenas across the country. Upon successful completion of the course you will have the opportunity to progress on to the prestigious Level 3 Futsal and Education Programme. The Level 3 Programme provides an excellent platform for you to access higher education with the most common exit route being university study. Level 3 scholars also have the chance to progress in to England futsal squads.

BTEC Level 3 Overview:

The BTEC National in Sport is a specialist work related course developed to cover the core elements of sporting performance and excellence such as Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Coaching, Analysis and Technical and Tactical Development.

This course particularly suits those wanting to enter employment in the sport and active leisure sector as sports coaches, instructors and leaders and for those wishing to progress to higher education to study a sport related degree such as coaching, sports development and sports science.

After the programme

After successful completion of the programme there are an array of exit routes, ranging from a university education (including EFL Trust’s Community Football Coaching and Development Foundation degree) to careers in the sports and leisure sector, both in the UK and overseas. A number of students have progressed to employment within their football club, whilst several have pursued soccer scholarships in the USA.

Register your interest in the programme here >> https://www.efltrust.com/futsal/