Women Over 30’s Festival at Wembley’s Powerleague: Preview

Ladies around the country are preparing for the Women over 30’s Festival as Wembley’s Powerleague this weekend!

This will be the first ever football tournament for women over 30, hosted by the EFL Trust, and funded through the Female Football Development (FFD) programme.

With a 346% increase in women’s participation in the first year of the FFD Programme, 500 women over the age of 30 are now playing football with EFL clubs. The boom in participation has meant the demand for competitive football has increased and this festival, taking place outside of Wembley Stadium  has presented a fantastic opportunity to do so.

There will be 8 teams taking part, representing 6 clubs;

AFC Wimbledon, Coventry City, Swindon Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Crawley COGS, and Brentford.

All of the women taking part are over 30 years old, many of which missed the female football revolution, many of these women have never had the opportunity to play at this level before, with the oldest participant being 56! This programme has had countless benefits for the ladies, allowing them to socialise with other women similar to themselves, as well as get fit in a fun, and non-discriminatory environment.

Nicol Meredith, Project Manager of the FFD Programme comments:

“The FFD programme has come on leaps and bounds since it begun and has brought the benefits of sport to women and to girls who previously might not have considered playing football. The relaxed, social atmosphere has encouraged thousands of players back to the sport who previously left the game. The ladies find it extremely the sessions liberating so to now play in the first Over 30’s women’s festival at Wembley has presented them with an opportunity not to be missed!”

Former Millwall player, and FFD ambassador, Dionne Lennon is delighted to be making an appearance at Powerleague on the day and is looking forward to seeing the skills on display. She commented:

“The Female Football Development programme is brilliant and has really made an impact. The EFL Trust has done a fantastic job getting women back into playing football and attracting those who have never had the chance to play this great game. It’s a pleasure for me to have been asked by Millwall Community Trust to be their  FFD Ambassador and I am really looking forward to be attending the tournament on Sunday and any future inovlement to support and grow the women’s game even further.”

We would like to thank Sport England and the FA for funding this programme, as well as Lucozade Powerleague for providing their pitches on the day and working along side us to further enhance female football participation.

Mindful Gifts CIC celebrates donation with Wolfie

This week saw Wolfie pop into one of Wolves Aid supported charities, Mindful Gifts CIC to celebrate their recent donation.

Mindful Gifts CIC, a shop, located in Darlaston Town Centre, helps those suffering from forms of dementia and their families and carers by bringing back memories from their childhood and early adult life. The shop, which includes a purpose built dining room, a sweet and toy department and gifts suitable for those who have been diagnosed with dementia, aims to provide advice and guidance for carers as well as it being a welcoming space to break social isolation.

The Wolves Aid donation, £11,100 over 2 years, will help Mindful Gifts CIC, to provide meaningful placements for volunteers which include people looking to get back into employment.

Wolfie was able to pop into for a cup of tea and to help out with a crocheting class, one of several low-cost activities that Mindful Gifts CIC offers for the local community.

Vicki Phipps, Founder, said

“We are really grateful to Wolves Aid for supporting us. Our 1950s shop is the first of its kind in the country and its amazing how people’s faces light up when they come in and see all the old items they haven’t seen for a long time. They can also enjoy a cuppa out of our best china and buy some carbolic soap out of grocery stores! ”

For further information about Mindful Gifts CIC please contact 01922 495994 and to see whether you are eligible for a Wolves Aid grant please visit www.wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk/wolves-aid/

Girls Only Section to be Added to RUCST Future Stars Development Centre

RUCST’s Successful Future Stars Development Centre is to expand by incorporating a girl’s only section to the programme.

The Development Centre, which started up in September 2015, has had a wonderful first year, seeing over 70 children come and receive high quality coaching with us, and our development squads have had some great experiences playing games against various grassroots clubs from around the area, and private academies. The development squads have also embraced the use of Futsal in our training and games programmes, and have even competed in tournaments at Leeds International Futsal Arena. All this has been topped off by seeing one of our players go on to earn a place in Rotherham United’s Academy.

Now, in an effort to grow participation levels in girls football throughout the area, Future Stars will have sessions for U7’s (Y1+2), U9’s (Y3+4), U11’s (Y5+6), U13’s (Y7+8) where they will receive top quality coaching from our FA/UEFA qualified staff.

Adam Pilgrim, Football Development Coordinator & Head Coach of the programme said “Our aim is to provide somewhere for girls in Rotherham at various age groups to go and receive coaching in an environment where they can enjoy learning how to play the game. For girls that wish to develop further, I am confident that we can help show young girls different pathways, whether that is into a local team or into the elite side of the game.”

The Future Stars Girls Player Development Centre will be starting on Monday 25th July at the Phoenix Sports & Social Club in Brinsworth. Due to us receiving funding, the sessions will be FREE until September. If you would like to book your daughter’s place in the development centre, please send the following details to [email protected]:

  • Parent/Players Name
  • Age & School Year
  • Contact e-mail and phone number

Club Website: www.themillers.co.uk
Trust Website: www.rucst.co.uk
Facebook: Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
Twitter: @RU_CST

Free Exciting New Women’s Activity Programme Launched by Derby County Community

Derby County Community Trust have launched a free physical activity programme to help females across Derbyshire get fit and active.

Kicking off with a free coffee morning at the iPro Stadium on 21st and 22nd July, ‘Active Ewe’ will give the women of Derbyshire an outlet to socialize and improve their physical fitness through weekly sessions.

The programme will look to empower Derbyshire females aged 18+ who currently do less than 60 minutes physical activity per week. All activities are accessible and will take place on a weekly basis across the city, from the iPro Stadium to leisure centres and other community venues.

It will all kick off on the week commencing 25th July, offering sessions including DanceFit, Body Combat, Circiuits, ParkFit, Women’s boxing, Spinning and free swim at selected leisure centres. There will be a mix of women’s only sessions and activities mixed with the already successful men’s Active Supporters programme.

A full timetable can be found below, as the programme grows additional sessions will continue to be added:

Monday

DanceFit at Derby Arena – 9:30am-10:30am (Women’s Only)

Tuesday

Parkfit at Alveston Park – 10:30am – 11:30am (Mixed Gender)

Wednesday

Women’s Boxing at Abbey Studios – 6pm-7pm (Women’s Only)

Thursday

Spinning at Queens leisure Centre – 12:15pm-12:45pm (Mixed Gender)

Stadium Circuits at the iPro Stadium – 6pm-7pm (Mixed Gender)

Friday

DanceFit at Derby Arena – 10.45am-11.45am (Women’s Only)

Free information sessions will be held on the 21st and 22nd July. The Community Trust staff will be on hand to give out all the information attendees need as part of the programme.

Please pre-book your place by calling 01332 416140.

Dates & times below:

21st July – 10am-10:30am at Starbucks at the iPro Stadium (Free coffee included)

21st July – 6pm-7pm at the iPro Stadium (Report to Main Reception)

22nd July – 10:00am-10:30am at Starbucks at the iPro Stadium (Free coffee included)

For more information please call 01332 416140 or email [email protected]. Read more here

Summer Soccer Schools: Places Still Available!

EFL Community Trusts around the country are running a range of exciting summer holiday camps for kids and young people between the ages of 8 & 19 with varying abilities.

soccer schools sky blue in com

The camps will take place throughout July and August at a number of locations across the UK, and will provide high quality football coaching with outstanding value for money for all young players, with a great mix of football matches, games and competitions for kids to enjoy

Last year, thousands kids from across the UK got active and had loads of fun as a result of the the summer camps.

Many camps enjoy visits from professional players. One instance of this during an Easter camp, saw Aston Villa player Tommy Elphick stop by to help out and see the skills that were on display. Elphick was impressed with the standard of coaching that was on offer for the children.

soccer schools tommy elphick

The camps have been a great catalyst for getting kids active throughout the summer months when they would previously have been stuck in the house, as well as allowing them to socialise, therefore improving their confidence outside of the classroom!

soccerschools sheff weds

Mike Evans from the EFL Trust commented: “I think the summer camps run by our various community trust are brilliant for parents and carers as they provide them with the confidence that their children are keeping active and associating themselves with children of their own age, in a safe and enriching environment”.

To see if there is a camp running in your local area, to view the details or book onto a course, please select a location from the list below:

York, Yeoville, Wigan, Swindon, Southend, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Rotherham United,  Northampton Town, Newport County,  MK Dons, Middlesborough,  Derby County, Coventry, Colchester, CheltenhamCarlisle United, Burton Albion, AFC Bournemouth

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

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.

ncs pana

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.”

ncs blue sky

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

Ten Thousand Boxes Of Free Cereal Hit Ewood!

Ten thousand boxes of cereal were given away to local good causes on an eventful morning at Ewood Park!

A lorry load of breakfast goodies arrived at the stadium thanks to His Church charity, who teamed up with Blackburn Rovers Community Trust to make the donation to 50 schools and community organisations from the local area.His Church 640x360

All the groups attending went home well stocked for morning provisions for weeks to come, after also getting chance to jump aboard His Church’s tour bus, meet Rover The Dog, undertake a stadium tour and play football at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre.

The event was the first to take place as part of His Church’s brand new project for 2016 – ‘Team Up to Be Champions, Schools Breakfasts For Winners’.

In conjunction with football club community foundations and local councils, the project aims to improve educational attainment and social inclusion through the provision of healthy, good quality breakfast cereal to school breakfast clubs and families.

This project has been whole-heartedly embraced by football clubs who are themselves fully committed to investing in and connecting with their local communities, through their foundations and community trusts.

His Church Charity specialise in providing robustly secure, ethical, sustainable solutions for food, clothes and supplies companies and in doing so are able to meet the needs of underprivileged and vulnerable people in the UK and abroad.

David Dunwell from Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, who coordinated the event, explained:

“We always want to undertake good work for our local community, and this huge donation fitted the bill perfectly.

“It was our pleasure to welcome the enthusiastic team from His Church and also to see how much the children, teachers and volunteers enjoyed the whole event.

“I don’t think any of us have ever seen so many boxes of Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes in one place before. If any store managers from local supermarkets were passing, I’m sure that they’d have been envious at the value of the stock that came the way of all the worthy recipients at the event.”

Pan Ability Champions Meet Their First Team Manager

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

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

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”.

kat turner
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”.