Archive for category: News

A local group of young people known as Team Welly Wagners from Rotherham United Community Sports Trust are hoping to be crowned NCS Social Action Stars of the year after being named regional finalists in the prestigious award presented by Santander.

The 17-strong team of young people from Rotherham beat hundreds of NCS youth social action projects from across England and Northern Ireland to be shortlisted as regional finalists for their social action project aimed at raising money and awareness of homelessness. Shocked to find out 100,000 young people run away from home each year, Team Welly Wagners wrote, produced and recorded their own song, ‘Teary Skies’. Proceeds for the song, available on iTunes, go to Sheffield based teen homeless charity Safe@Last.

The Social Action Star Awards is a unique chance to celebrate young people’s incredible achievements on NCS, the country’s flagship youth empowerment programme and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open to 15-17 year olds across England. In 2016 alone, NCS participants dedicated more than 2.3 million hours to social action.

Rotherham’s Team Welly Wagners now face four other regional finalists in a public vote closing at midnight on Tuesday 24 January 2017. The team, comprising Poppy, Rhiannon, Sam, Bethany, Janel, Niamh, Elizabeth, Ellie, Kaleb, Dave, Georgia, Charlotte, Owen, Holly, Maria, Anika and Gabi, are hoping to secure the most votes to be crowned national champions.

The regional finalists were judged by a high-profile panel of judges including YouTube star, entrepreneur and NCS Patron, Jamal Edwards MBE; NCS CEO, Michael Lynas; Craig Baines, Divisional Change Manager, Santander, and last year’s Social Action Star winners, Team Brah.

Jamal Edwards, YouTube star, entrepreneur and NCS Patron, said: “I’m always amazed and inspired when I hear about the social action projects that NCS grads have been delivering in their communities. They’ve clocked up millions of hours doing incredible work, making a difference to the lives of others right across the country. Teenagers today are more socially aware than ever and they also know that helping and caring about others makes them feel great too! For me, all of the young people nominated this year are stars.”

Dominic Stigas-Packzo, NCS Manager for EFL Trust said, “We are delighted that Team Welly Wagners have been shortlisted for the Social Action Star Awards. The Social Action Star Awards are an opportunity to shine a light on them and inspire other teenagers to get involved. I would urge anyone to take look at the video they have written and produced, it really is fantastic and testament to both Rotherham United Community Sports Trust and each member of the group for going well beyond expectations”.

Poppy, Team Welly Wagners member, said: “People should vote for us because we have worked so hard over the course of the project. It has brought a group of 15 young people together from different walks of life to produce something amazing and taught us to think creatively, work as a team and thrive under pressure.”

To vote for Team Welly Wagners to be crowned winners of the NCS Social Action Star Award, visit www.ncsyes.co.uk/social-action-star-awards.

The EFL Trust’s aspirations of using the ‘Power of Football’ to change lives and create a legacy, has been represented through a fantastic project run by Bradford’s Disability Football Club (BDFC).

The disability club formed in 2002, provides access to football for anyone of any age, both male and female, with any disability whether it is learning or physical. Since the club began it consisted of just eight players and now there are over a hundred registered players at the club.

The club has a wealth of provisions available to its members and their families, from training to short breaks, and there is something to ensure all needs are catered for within all age groups and disabilities.

The club provides opportunities for the disabled community to develop:

• Social skills and build new friendships/relationships
• Personal responsibility and self-awareness
• Physical skills
• Communication skills
• Self-confidence and aspirations for the future
• Independence

Short Breaks Project

BDFC’s ‘Short Breaks’ project offers carers and disabled people respite and opportunities to develop independence. A short break can be as simple as a two hour trip to the local cinema, a short break holiday or an international tournament, as well as stadium visits to Premiership teams, a weekly provision of tickets to watch Bradford City, day/weekend outings to Flamingo Land, Cadbury’s World and Wembley.

Ryan Siddal receiving his Player of The Year Award

Ryan Siddal, a participant of the project, needed a kidney transplant at 5 years old and spent a lot of his early life in hospital. On July 21st 2006, his Dad donated a kidney to him and last year he approached his 10 year anniversary.

Ryan, now aged 16, is still closely monitored and suffers with anxiety, foot pain and asthma. After attending a BDFC session one Friday, it has changed his life and gave him confidence.

His mum said: ”Ryan was a very shy boy who found it hard mixing with other children and speaking to adults and due to being poorly he had a lot of time off school. After a few weeks on the Short Breaks project he gained confidence and has made friends with boys and girls at the training sessions.

”He talks to his team mates and adults now and that was one thing he would never do. He’s also taken part in tournaments and won medals and trophies with his team mates, and last year won a Player Of The Year award. We are so proud of him.

”Short Breaks and BDFC is a great way to help disability children make friends, gain confidence and have lots of fun. It’s also great for parents and carers to meet new friends. It has changed our life seeing Ryan smile and seeing him happy playing football and making friends.”

Katy Greenwood (wearing green) representing Bradford Disability Club

Katy Greenwood, a young person who has been on the Short Breaks programme for over 5 years, was a shy girl that hardly spoke to anyone when she first attended the club; she is now really confident, outgoing and a popular member.

She plays for Bradford City’s disability team and has won lots of junior tournaments as well as ‘Goalkeeper Of The Year’ at BDFC’s annual presentation night. As she grows in confidence she is hoping to get the chance to play for Bradford City’s women’s team, who play in the National Women’s League.

Her Mum Angie said: ”She has come on leaps and bounds since joining the football club and looks forward to the sessions from one week to the next!”

Visit www.bradforddfc.co.uk to find out more about Bradford City FC Community Foundation’s partners Bradford Disability Football Club.

#EveryPlayerCounts

Pompey fans are being asked to celebrate the history and heritage of the club and raise awareness of dementia, ahead of kick off during Portsmouth v Leyton Orient on Saturday, by recalling their memories of Pompey using #PompeyVoices.

Saturday’s fixture at Fratton Park is, in partnership with Portsmouth in the Community, The Sporting Memories Foundation, and ‘stranded-up-north’ Pompey fan Andy Tysoe aka @dementiaboy.

Recalling personal memories of following Pompey, be it a triumphant journey to Wembley, or an away trip to watch a ball stick in the mud on a waterlogged pitch on a wet Wednesday night can actually prove beneficial in our later years. These memories can play an active part in tackling dementia, depression and loneliness. Following the beautiful game is after all, about making memories, some of them great, but for most of us, memories of what might have been too. Some of the strangest details can remain with us as crystal clear as if they were yesterday. A particular incident in a game, a new chant that sprang up out of nowhere, a great half time pie or a horrendous journey up a snowy M6 to find the game abandoned can stick in the mind as clear as a Guy Whittingham volley. But sometimes those memories can fade due to ill health.

As a Dementia Nurse working in a busy general hospital in Cheshire, Andy aka @dementiaboy has created and delivered awareness sessions to over 6000 hospital staff, members of the public and people affected by dementia. These sessions are provided free in the North West through his #DementiaDo campaign, to anyone who wants to attend and learn more. They also challenge the misperception and stigma around the disease too.

Dementia Facts

• Dementia is a brain disease, not a mental illness or a natural part of growing old.
• There are many different types of Dementia; Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia are the most common forms.
• An estimated 850,000 people live with Dementia in the UK.
• Dementia is not just about memory loss, it can affect all sorts of things including reasoning, communication, movement and how we perceive our world .
• People with dementia can continue to enjoy playing or watching sports, try out new activities and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
• If you are concerned about your own memory, talk to your doctor about it sooner rather than later

 Pompey in the Community

The Sporting Memories Foundation works with clubs, communities, volunteers and across generations to help support older fans and helps them to continue enjoying sharing memories of their lives as fans or indeed players at weekly groups.

Find out more about the wide ranging work of Portsmouth in the Community at www.pompeyitc.co.uk

Tell us your greatest Pompey memory using #PompeyVoices

Fitter Fans, aimed at getting those aged 50+ more active and healthy as well as enjoying the additional benefits of taking part in sport has proven very popular with the older generation of Bolton.

The programme, run by Bolton Wanderers Community Trust takes place at the Macron Stadium weekly and offers a variety of light physical activities to take part in including walking football, circuit training, cricket and table tennis as well as the opportunity to have a chat over a cup of tea after the sessions.

Participant responses:

‘’I very much enjoyed the whole experience, made some friends and have started to do more exercise away from the course.’’

‘’Just loved it. I look forward to Wednesdays. As well as the activities it was great to meet such great people who made the group what it was. Great staff.’’

‘’My wife and I joined a Fitter Fans group in January 2016 and again in October 2016. The impact it has had on our lives, is that it is a healthy, enjoyable social event and we look forward to each week. Since first joining we have both lost weight and become a lot fitter.

‘’We have also made a number of new friends which is probably in the region of 40 people. We have also encouraged our relatives to join, who did. Although we all live locally it could be months or even years before we saw each other at events such as weddings or special birthday celebrations. Now we see each other each week.’’

For more information on the programme contact Bolton Wanderers Community Trust here.

#2ndHalf