News Archives - Page 82 of 97

Paul’s story: “Walking football has helped cure my depression”

16th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

After being diagnosed with depression, Paul Stephens’ mental health led him to contemplate taking his own life. However, he has made an inspiring recovery which he dedicates to the discovery of walking football and work of the Leyton Orient Trust.

Walking football, as the name suggests, is a slow paced version of the game which is aimed specifically at the over 50’s. It is part of EFL Trust’s #2ndHalf campaign to encourage older adults to stay active and is run by most EFL clubs.

During his time on the walking football programme at Leyton Orient Trust, Paul has found a new lease of life in his passion for the game, and was keen to emphasise the positive impact that walking football has had on his mental health.

”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,” said Paul.
”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.”

The 50 year-old who works in the transport industry originally tried out for a veteran’s team, before being directed from East Ham to Orient’s walking football programme which was formed in October 2015.

Today the programme has around 40 people on the register with the average attendance for a Tuesday session peaking at 14, and Paul is proof that the scheme has certainly made a difference.

”Walking football means so much to me and whoever invented it deserves a medal. Everybody is included and we all get a game.
”It is not a win at all costs scenario, one of our members will work out everyone’s game time beforehand so that we all get a chance to play.”

Last month also saw the programme earn recognition within the borough as the Leyton Orient Trust received the Physical Activity and Health Project Award at the Waltham Forest Feel Good Sports Awards 2016, and having benefitted from the programme first hand, Paul ended with a message to anybody who finds themselves in a similar position to himself to get involved with walking football.

”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.” he added.
”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.”

To find out more about walking football and our #2ndHalf campaign visit – https://www.efltrust.com/walkingfootball/2ndhalf/

To find out more about Leyton Orient Trust visit – https://www.leytonorienttrust.org.uk/

EVERY PLAYER COUNTS: Down’s Syndrome football sessions

14th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

Shrewsbury Town in the Community’s Down Syndrome football sessions provide children and young people more opportunities to play sport in a comfortable and competitive environment.

Through the power of football and the Every Player Counts project, the scheme creates a multi-tier learning environment that improves the participants’ overall physical, social and emotional health.

While participants learn physical skills, they are simultaneously increasing their own social and emotional abilities.

Approximately 85 per cent of people with Down’s Syndrome attend mainstream school. Having the ability to train and play at a similar level increases their ability to reap all of the potential benefits.

One of the participants who attends the sessions every week, 5 year-old Evan White, has significantly progressed physically, technically and socially through the sessions.

His Dad Jamie said: ”We were contacted by Martin who’s one of the coaches, we knew him through the Shropshire Down Syndrome Association. He told us about the sessions and at that point Evan wasn’t really playing any football so we thought it would be good to introduce him to the game through these sessions at the football club.
”He’s really enjoyed the sessions and it’s been great for him to have the opportunity to play football with some children at the same age and ones that are older as well.”

Because of Evan’s exceptional efforts he was nominated and won the ‘Outstanding Effort in the Disability Programme’ award at Shrewsbury Town in the Community’s 21^st Celebration Event.

Evan’s Dad continued: ”This was a proud moment as I have watched Evan grow and to see him smartly dressed and come up and receive an award in front of 180 people was extremely impressive.
”The coaches have done a great job in getting him interested in football and his skills have really improved. I just hope he continues playing because he’s really enjoying it.”

The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) has been a key partner in making this project work. The DSA is the only organisation in the UK solely dedicated to living successfully with Down’s Syndrome (DS) with an aim of helping people with Down’s Syndrome live a full and rewarding life.

DSActive Sports Officer Matt Maguire said: ”Shrewsbury Town are our 32nd football team that we have set up with community trusts in the country.
”It’s a good chance for participants to not only play football but to make new friends.”

The Down’s Syndrome sessions take place at Shrewsbury Sports Village from 5.30-6.30pm every Tuesday.

This project is a part of Every Player Counts, a programme formed in September 2016 which supports the EFL Trust’s aim of increasing sports participation for all.

The landmark project was made possible thanks to a £1.1M donation from the Wembley National Stadium Trust (WNST).

To find out more about Every Player Counts visit – https://www.efltrust.com/projects/every-player-counts/

To find out more about Shrewsbury Town in the Community visit – http://www.stct.co.uk/

England manager opens £1M facility at Burton Albion Community Trust

14th February 2017/in Inclusion, News /by EFL Trust

Burton Albion Community Trust’s (BACT’s) new floodlit all-weather pitch was officially unveiled by England Senior Manager Gareth Southgate today.

The new facility was made possible thanks to a £843,510 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.

BACT worked alongside the Football Foundation and Staffordshire FA to compile a five-year Football Development Plan (FDP) – a long-term vision of how sport will be played at the new facility.

As set out in this FDP, BACT will raise multisport participation through its Health and Wellbeing, Education and Learning, School Sport, and Inclusive Sports and Football Development departments, which aim to get more people physically active through a number of different sports.

BACT’s mission statement as with all 72 EFL community trusts is to use the power of sport and the brand of the football club to make a difference in the community.

Gareth Southgate, the former England defender, who has been an Ambassador for the Football Foundation since 2005, was also given a tour of the new changing room pavilion and clubhouse, which is expected to be completed before Easter.

The new state-of-the-art football hub, which replaces a previously undeveloped area of the Brewers’ Pirelli Stadium, will house a huge range of sporting, educational and community programmes delivered by Burton Albion Community Trust.

A number of local grassroots clubs will also call the new pitch ‘home’, with Stretton Eagles FC, Outwoods FC and Burton Ladies helping to contribute to the projected 127 new teams who will be using the new pitch over five years.

England Manager and Football Foundation Ambassador, Gareth Southgate, said: “Throughout my career I’ve always been a big supporter of the grassroots game, and state-of-the-art facilities like this one are its lifeblood. Floodlit all-weather pitches allow football to be played all-year-round, irrespective of the weather. This means more people, more often, taking part in the sport.
“As a professional, I have been lucky enough to train, play and coach on some of the best facilities in the country. I believe that those who train, play or coach at the grassroots level should be afforded the same experience. That means building facilities like this one right across the country, something the Football Foundation continues to do, expertly.
“The Small Sided Game, which was helped by a £1.5m commitment delivered by the Football Foundation, was something I helped to drive when I was The FA’s Head of Elite Development. That scheme, which I’m delighted to see being catered for here, allows younger players to play on smaller pitches, with smaller goals. It is designed to develop an individual’s skills, rather than reward children based on their physical strength.
“It makes a massive difference in driving up participation in our national game. And ultimately all future England players – whether it is the women’s teams, disability teams, youth teams or indeed in the senior men’s team – all of them will start out and develop their skills in the grassroots game, and on grassroots facilities. So whether for pure enjoyment or for supporting the development of home-grown talent, the more of these fantastic sites we see built, the better.”
BACT Chief Executive, Andy Taylor, said: “This facility has only been made possible by the commitment and hard work of all our partners – starting with Burton Albion Football Club for allowing the development of this important new community facility at the Pirelli Stadium.
“As well as the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund providing the major funding we also need to thank all of our local funders who have helped make this happen.

To find out more about Burton Albion Community Trust visit – http://burtonalbioncommunitytrust.co.uk/

NCS motivates student to go to University

10th February 2017/in NCS, News /by EFL Trust

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme has impacted numerous young people’s lives in a positive way but none more than Sheffield Wednesday supporter Cara Harrison.

The bubbly teenager has transformed herself from a shy high school student who was unsure what her next steps would be to being accepted by four universities to study Biomedical Science.

Cara puts her new self-found confidence and belief down to her experiences as an NCS student with the Owls and believes NCS played a crucial role in helping her obtain a place at university.

On Friday, Sheffield Wednesday will be hosting their annual NCS match day when Birmingham City visit Hillsborough, live in front of the Sky cameras.

Cara, who still supports the NCS programme at Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme on a voluntary basis, hopes more people will follow her path and say yes to NCS.

“It is good that clubs participate in NCS match day and important that we spread the word.
“Everyone needs to be clear how much of a positive programme NCS is and how it can help young people.
“The NCS has done a lot for me so I want to carry on helping and raising awareness for the programme.
“I had to step out of my comfort zone when I joined the programme, however it was fun and perfect to do in-between finishing school and starting college.
“The NCS is something that everyone should be doing and I have so many lifetime fond memories from my time on the programme. Because of the NCS, I have met some good friends now and I wouldn’t have met them if I didn’t join.
“My confidence instantly boosted and my communication skills improved. I can now talk in front of a crowd of people I don’t know and feel good about it whereas I didn’t before NCS.
“The NCS has taught me independence and responsibility. It will be always something I look back on fondly.”

Cara will this year be an NCS mentor for Sheffield Wednesday before heading off to university in September, with her destination of study yet to be decided.

She continued: “I want to be a genetic health scientist now and the NCS swayed my decision. I knew I wanted to do that degree, but I didn’t realise how many good opportunities were at the end of it.
“I remember writing my University application and it heavily referenced the NCS and my experiences. There was so much to write about the NCS because the opportunities are endless.”

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme has a proven success rate of helping 15-17 year olds build their confidence levels and develop important life skills. It is a chance for teens to shake things up and develop new skills for whatever post-GCSE life has to throw at them. It changes how teens see the world and has a huge impact on communities across the UK with over 1.9 million hours of social action taking place across the country – the equivalent to building 74 Olympic Stadiums and 1 The Great Wall of China.

To find out how you can get involved in the NCS programme visit – https://www.ncsefltrust.co.uk/

Every Player Counts: ‘John is a role model for the whole group’

10th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

Luton Town FC Community Trust’s Every Player Counts programme has played a significant part in helping disabled people build their capacity and confidence. One participant in particular, John, is a great example of how sport can make a difference even in a short space of time.

John, who is in his late thirties and was born and raised in Luton, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from an early age which has affected his movement, co-ordination and speech.

After regularly attending Luton Town FC Community Trust’s Every Player Counts football sessions, he has grown in confidence and become an inspiration to everybody else on the team.

At first, John would be very nervous often sitting out and watching from the side-lines during sessions. He would also struggle with his speech, solely relying on his care worker to speak for him.

With the help from staff and players on the team, John now engages fully in sessions and participates in matches and external competitions. He has continued to improve his speech has become a real character within the group with a constant smile on his face.

Ian, Johns support worker said: ”John has grown in confidence as a person and I believe that the football sessions have given him a focus and something that he can look forward to every week. He is a changed person and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is really having a big impact on the group.”
”I have really enjoyed to see John progress in the sessions not only has his football improved but his speech and confidence has grown. I like working with John and he is a great help to sessions and a role model for the whole group.” Commented Disability Officer Luke Hyde.

When John first started the programme, he used to like to referee matches and would give instructions to them team and tell them where to go. This prompted Disability Officer Luke Hyde, who spoke with John’s support worker about getting him to help out on coaching the teams.

John was reluctant to coaching at first as he thought his speech would hold him back but after helping in the sessions, his speech has considerably progressed and he is now looking to begin a Level 1 disability coaching course in Spring.

”I love coming to football every week and helping out when I can. I have made some friends from the sessions and I am now helping my friends by helping the coaches take the team and laying cones out. I have improved my speech and I can’t wait to go on a coaching course.” Said John.

John delivering a coaching session

To find out more about Every Player Counts visit – https://www.efltrust.com/projects/every-player-counts/

To find out more about Luton Town FC Community Trust visit – http://www.lutontown.co.uk/club/community/

NCS Matchday takeover!

10th February 2017/in NCS, News /by EFL Trust

NCS Matchday has returned with EFL clubs from all three divisions uniting to show their support for the programme which is focused on providing opportunities for 15-17 year olds.

The NCS Matchday takeover has proven to be a huge success in recent years, with the aim to increase awareness and participation.

In the coming weeks, clubs all across the land will host their NCS Matchday. The club’s first team players will have an important role to play by warming up in NCS branded t-shirts and meeting programme graduates.

NCS graduates will be in attendance throughout the day to discuss their experiences of the programme to younger supporters.

NCS is a nationwide experience for 15-17 year olds. It is a unique opportunity for young people to learn new skills alongside having fun and creating unforgettable memories. More than 275,000 young people have already said yes to NCS.

Josh Morris, Scunthorpe United’s NCS Ambassador said: ”NCS is brilliant. It gives young people the chance to experience a variety of challenges while building new friendships and benefitting the local community.”
John’s views were echoed by Cara Harrison, an NCS graduate from Sheffield Wednesday. Talking about the NCS Matchday, she said: ”It is good that clubs participate in NCS match day and important that we spread the word.
”Everyone needs to be clear how much of a positive programme NCS is and how it can help young people. The NCS programme is something everyone should be doing and I have so many lifetime fond memories from my time on the programme. Because of the NCS, I have met some good friends now and I wouldn’t have met them if I didn’t join.”

To find out more about how to get involved in the NCS programme visit – https://www.ncsefltrust.co.uk/

Teen lands his dream job after completing NCS

9th February 2017/in NCS, News /by EFL Trust

After completing an NCS course run by Peterborough United’s community department ‘The Posh Foundation’, teenager Callum Avent landed his dream job at his boyhood club.

There are a number of different challenges for young people as they go through adolescence. One of the most common hurdles is a dip in self-confidence.

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme has a proven success rate of helping 15-17 year olds build their confidence levels and develop important life skills. It is a chance for teens to shake things up and develop new skills for whatever post-GCSE life has to throw at them. It changes how teens see the world and has a huge impact on communities across the UK with over 1.9 million hours of social action taking place across the country – the equivalent to building 74 Olympic Stadiums and 1 The Great Wall Of China.

Teenager Callum Avent turned his life around after signing up to the NCS programme four years ago at his beloved football club, Peterborough United.

Callum is first to admit that when he started the programme, he was a very shy and quiet person. Now, aged 19, Callum is a self-assured young man and is living his lifelong dream by working full time for his favourite football club Peterborough United as their Futsal Assistant.

”The NCS programme instantly appealed and it has helped me in so many ways.” admitted Callum.
”A lot of people joined who were in the same boat as me and we learned so many important life skills that have proven to be invaluable.
”The NCS programme has benefited me as a whole. I was very shy and had no confidence but by being given responsibilities and working as a team it helped me be who I am today.
“We did a few different tasks such as helping local charities and going away for a few days to Shropshire to do team activities. We also did workshops for CV and employability which opens so many doors.
“Some people at a young age don’t have that much confidence so the NCS programme helps with that and you can conquer so many fears when you are away from your family.”

Callum’s attitude and commitment to the programme was noted by the club’s NCS manager Jenna Lusk, resulting in the die-hard Posh fan gaining full time employment at the League One side.

Callum explained: “Peterborough United invited me to come back and be a volunteer for the NCS programme. It was something I immediately wanted to do, to help others.
“Alongside NCS, I was on the Futsal programme and after my scholarship finished, Jenna offered me a job and I haven’t looked back.
“I would tell any young person to say yes to NCS because it can help you achieve your ambitions that you think may not be possible.
“NCS is growing, when I was first on the course I used to talk to people about it and only a few people would recognise it. Now it is so popular and everyone knows what it is. A lot of organisations recognise NCS.
“I remember five years ago doing work experience as a year 10 student at Peterborough United and now I am here and I love it!”

Peterborough United amongst 31 other clubs across the EFL will be hosting a NCS match day. The NCS Match Day takeover has proven to be a huge success in recent years through the guidance of EFL Trust, with the aim to increase awareness and increase participation. The club’s first team players will have an important role to play by warming up in NCS branded t shirts and meeting programme graduates.

To find out how you can get involved in the NCS programme visit – https://www.ncsefltrust.co.uk/

Southend United player visits Lancaster School

7th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

Southend United first team player Jason Williams made a surprise trip to Lancaster School to give pupils a day in the life insight of what it’s like to be a professional footballer.

Lancaster School is a designated Community Special School for up to 77 students aged 14-19 with a range of complex needs: Severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), neurological impairments, complex physical and medical difficulties, alongside students with moderate learning difficulties who may need additional and emotional support before transferring to local colleges at post 19.

The striker spent the afternoon inspiring the younger generation, answering questions and giving health and fitness advice.

The students were very excited to see him and asked questions such as, ‘What sort of training do you do and do you have to eat healthy?’, ‘What is it like to score goals for the blues?’
Jason answered, ”I have to train hard and I do a lot of running and stretching to keep fit. I also try and keep healthy and watch what I eat but sometimes I slip up!”

Jason was also there to talk about Southend United’s Future Blues programme, a joint initiative run by the Club and Southend United’s Community and Education Trust, which offers youngsters the chance to be a part of the Club’s future by giving them two free tickets to come and watch live football at Roots Hall Stadium.

Jason had this to say about the program, ”I think it’s a great idea for people that wouldn’t usually come to a Southend game. It will give us a boost, walking out to packed stands. If I was their age and someone came into my school to offer me free tickets to a football match I would jump at this chance!”
Neil Thompson, PE teacher at Lancaster School said, ”It’s great for the students to hear from a professional footballer from a local club like Southend, the coaches, Joss and Joe from Southend United Community and Educational Trust are great with our students and they are really lucky to have this opportunity.
”The fact that Southend can offer 2 free tickets to every student is brilliant and it will be great for them to experience a real football match. You see professional players on TV so for the kids to be lucky enough to have a visit from one is fantastic.”

To find out more about Southend United Community and Education Trust visit – http://www.sufccommunity.co.uk/index.php

#EveryPlayerCounts

Walking Football to feature on TV

7th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

Walking football, a slow-paced version of the beautiful game which is specifically targeted at the over 50’s, will feature on ITV’s tonight show this week.

The founders of the game, Chesterfield FC Community Trust and their Ex-Spires walking football team will be shown this Thursday in The Truth About Exercise: Tonight.

ITV presenter Fiona Foster attended an Ex-Spires session at the Akademy in Dronfield and spoke to some of the players. Among them was 78-year-old Eric Bagshaw, who took up walking football six years ago after being diagnosed with diabetes.

Eric talked on camera about the marked improvement in his health since he has been playing walking football.

”I could feel myself getting stronger each week, and I just kept working at it, just loved it.” He said.
Taking up the story of when he faced a medical examination, Eric adds: ”The doctor came down and he said, ‘Now then Eric, what have you been doing for the last six months’?
”So I said, ‘I’ve joined an exercise club, football’. He says, ‘Brilliant, because what that’s done for you is fantastic. Your diabetes has gone, your blood pressure’s normal, your kidneys, liver and your heart is perfect. You’ve got the body of a 40-year-old man’. Those were his exact words.”

Chesterfield Community Trust’s chief John Croot developed the idea of walking football after the Trust received funding from the Football Foundation for a project called ‘Extra Time’.

He explained: ”It was around 2010/2011 when I went to a presentation before we put the bid in and one of the things said was to look for unusual activities which would be ideal for older people.
”The requirement was for something which would have low injury risk, cardio vascular benefits and help develop friendship groups.
”Coming back I was going through what had been talked about and I thought, ‘Why don’t we play football, but walk it’?
”I’m proud that walking football started here in Chesterfield and it’s great to see that it’s really taken off. As a measure of the interest in it world-wide, I’ve been interviewed about walking football by TV crews from Japan, Holland, Germany and France.”

The Truth About Exercise: Tonight is on this Thursday, February 9, from 7.30pm to 8pm on ITV.

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

Walking football is also a part of our #2ndHalf campaign. To find out more visit – https://www.efltrust.com/walkingfootball/2ndhalf/

World Cancer Day: We Can. I Can.

4th February 2017/in News /by EFL Trust

World Cancer Day (WCD), a global event that unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer on the 4th February every year, provides a perfect opportunity to recognise the work of Notts County FC Football in the Community’s life changing CARE Programme.

CARE (Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise) is a physical activity programme for people living with cancer across Nottinghamshire.

The programme is run in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and is designed for patients at any stage of their treatment or recovery with sessions involving fun, graduated strengthening exercises and a chance to meet and socialise with others who have been through similar experiences.

Kathryn Houghton, a participant of the programme living with breast cancer (triple positive, grade 3) with previous thyroid and skin cancer, joined the scheme in June 2016 having just been through surgery.

At the time of joining the programme, Kathryn was very anxious as she had been through radiotherapy and chemotherapy and had a number of further treatments planned, including surgery. She felt lonely after spending many months ill at home.

After regularly participating in an exercise routine designed by the CARE programme, both her physical and psychological health has been positively impacted.

She said: ”I had to retire and sell my business, so together with changes to my body I felt I had lost my identity and purpose. My body felt unfit and old before its time. I needed something to focus on and goals to set myself with.
”Mentally, living with cancer treatment is extremely hard and I am still up and down emotionally but I can’t sing praises high enough for what the programme has done for me. The sessions release endorphins which help with my pain and neuropathy and I have seen a huge change in what I can achieve.
”Exercise is now an integral part of my life and I can do more than I ever thought I could do. Psychologically I imagine at the end of this long tunnel all my surgery over, being able to cope with the drugs and loading a healthy lifestyle with so many different sports to try out.”

CARE sessions take place at Portland Centre with women’s sessions running on Monday and Saturday 10:00am-11:30am and men’s sessions Tuesday 5:30pm-7pm.

Emma Trent, Health Manager at Notts County FC Football in the Community said: ”The benefit that participants receive from taking part in CARE are life changing.
”Members always leave the programme with a new lease of life and a renewed interest in fitness. We’re dedicated to making sure each individual is successful in reaching their personal goals.”

For more information about Notts County FC Football in the Community and CARE visit – www. nottscountyfitc.org.uk

EFL Trust

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