Archive for month: March, 2017

Leeds United Foundation’s football programme specifically tailored to support those living with blindness and visual impairment (VI), has proven to have that much of an impact, participants are travelling the distance to take part in the frequent sessions.

The programme, funded by the Football Foundation’s ”Grow the Game” and Wembley National Stadium Trust’s ”Every Player Counts” allows participants to boost their confidence, improve their health and fitness, encourage and promote social inclusion, and achieve their personal goals in life.

Specially trained coaches deliver weekly sessions in a safe and friendly environment at the John Charles Centre for Sport in South Leeds, providing the ideal opportunity to meet new friends in a comfortable and caring environment.

One attendee, Rhys Swift, aged 12, even travelled over two hours with his dad David from Leyburn in Lancashire for the opening session.

Anthony Hall, Leeds United Foundation Disability Sport Officer said: ”I’m overwhelmed by how far parents are willing to travel to take their children to attend a football session. We’ve had players from Scarborough, our good neighbours, Huddersfield and now Leyburn.

”I’m really proud that Leeds United Foundation provides a service for young people that are blind and visually impaired. We’d love to welcome as many people as possible.”

Rhys has an eye condition called aniridia which is the absence of the iris, he is blind in one eye and short sighted in the other.

Through the sessions, Rhys finds playing with other visually impaired kids better as they share similar experiences and he has even been selected to go on the disability talent identification programme, a 6 week scheme which works with players aged 11 to 16, who show potential to progress along the England Disability Talent pathway and enhance their development.

 

Rhys’ Dad, David, commented: “As a parent I have seen how much these sessions have meant to Rhys, it’s like he has found his element. Playing football is so important to him and the sessions have given him hope for the future.

”Rhys feels that all of the coaches have been incredibly helpful and they are positive role models. They really understand what he needs.”

Jacob West, an 8 year-old participant who also suffers with aniridia, is new to football and has never really played before. Through the sessions, he has improved his football skills and is more confident.

He said: ”Leeds United Foundation has introduced me to VI Football for the first time, I have really enjoyed all of the football sessions and I got to attend my first ever Leeds United football match at Elland Road and I loved it!”

With over 24,000 blind and partially sighted young people in the UK, access to sport and football has historically proven a difficult challenge for many. With a subsequent lack of activity and interaction with others, the results can often be devastating.

Anthony concluded: ”It’s vital that we offer the right support for those with blindness and visual impairment.

”Research tells us that lack of sporting activity often leads to exclusion and young people becoming withdrawn and more vulnerable to bullying. Coupled with feelings of isolation and depression, it is evident that as the official club charity we are in a position to help those most in need.”

For more information on the VI/blind football sessions, call Anthony Hall on 0113 367 6118 or email him at [email protected]

Every Player Counts

The Every Player Counts programme formed in September 2016, 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).

25 EFL Club trusts deliver activity covering a wide range of disability programmes including wheelchair football, football for visual impairment, learning difficulties, amputees and autism, giving many disabled people access to football for the first time.

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

Exeter City Football in the Community are launching a new Girls Football Development Centre in partnership with Exeter City Ladies Football Club.

The Development Centre aims to provide an additional provision for talented individuals, in Exeter and across the South West, to pursue in conjunction with their local teams and break through the female player pathway.

Working in partnership with Exeter City Ladies Football Club, who currently play in the FA Women’s Premier League South West Division, the centre aims to provide an exciting opportunity locally and bridge the gap between grassroots football.

The initial Open Trial Session will take place on Thursday, March 30 2017, at the new 3G development at Cliff Hill Training Ground (EX5 1DP) from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The session will be open to U12’s, U14’s and U16’s (Under-12s are school years six and seven, Under-14s are school years eight and nine and Under-16s are school years 10 and 11).

Donna Langdon, Women and Girls Development Coordinator at Exeter City Football in Community said: “We recognise the outstanding work of local youth clubs, and aim for the centre to support and expand upon their hard work. The centre provides an excellent opportunity to further develop players, and aid the number of girls progressing through to regular engagement within women’s football.”

For more information, please contact Women and Girls Development Coordinator, Donna Langdon at [email protected]

More than 30,000 children will be taught about the importance of parliament and democracy by eight EFL clubs based in Yorkshire, thanks to an innovative partnership between the EFL Trust and Parliament Education Service.

For the second year running, the eight clubs, including promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Sheffield United, from the Championship and League One, will use the power of football to engage primary and secondary students in the work that Parliament do and why it’s relevant to them.

The Club’s Community Trusts will visit over 100 schools in the next three months to talk about parliament, politics and democracy through the themes of gamesmanship, rule-making and active citizenship.

Mike Evans, Director of Operations at the EFL Trust, said: “It’s not immediately obvious why football is teaching children about the democratic process. Football clubs are based at the heart of their communities and the power of the club badge within that community means children are often prepared to listen when coaches and players visit schools.

“In the current political environment it is vitally important that children understand the importance of a democratic process, parliament, and why it is relevant to them. This is why we are delighted to once again to be working with Parliament Education Service to deliver these key messages to young people.”

David Clark, Senior Manager from the Parliament Education Service, commented: “Supporting young people to discover, consider, and engage with the work of their Parliament is at the heart of what Parliament’s Education Service do. We are committed to reaching new audiences so teaming up with the EFL Trust, whose clubs have such great community links, helps us do just that.”

The participating clubs are:

• Barnsley
• Doncaster Rovers
• Huddersfield Town
• Leeds United
• Grimsby Town
• Rotherham United
• Sheffield United
• Scunthorpe United

From teacher training, to school visits, find out more about the great range of free resources, support and school trips Parliament’s Education Service offer: http://www.parliament.uk/education/

The EFL Kids Cup comprises of a six-a-side competition for U11 school children and culminates in three finals which take place at Wembley before the Championship, League 1 and League 2 Sky Bet Play-Off finals in May.

The competition which inspires children to be active, healthy, and develop a strong sense of teamwork, involves over 16,000 children and is one of the country’s largest national football competitions, giving the chance for school children to compete for the chance to live out their dream of playing at Wembley Stadium in front of thousands.

The road to the finals

The pathway to the finals start when the new school term begins. Each of the 72 EFL clubs organise a local Kids Cup competition for all local schools wishing to take part.

Many clubs play their local school competitions at their home stadium before a first team game. The winning school of the local competition then gets to represent their EFL club in the area and regional phases of the competition, where they will face other schools representing their EFL clubs.

The 72 clubs are first split into 3 divisions, in line with club’s divisional status, before being split into two groups, north and south. The winners of the divisional northern and southern finals will then qualify for the chance to play before the Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Final of the relevant division.

Confirmed 2017 finalists and dates

Last week, the last of our north and south regional finals took place. Here are our confirmed Wembley finalists and the play-off final fixture dates:

EFL Kids Cup Championship Final –

Derby County (Etwall Primary) v Ipswich Town (Cedarwood CP)

Date: Before the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final – 29th May 2017

EFL Kids Cup League 1 Final –

 Oxford Utd (Our Ladies CPS) v Sheffield Utd (Norton Free Primary)

Date: Before the Sky Bet League 1 Play-Off Final – 20th May 2017

EFL Kids Cup League 2 Final –

   Carlisle Utd (Newlaithes JS) v Wycombe Wanderers  (Trevelyan Middle School)

Date: Before the Sky Bet League 2 Play-Off Final – 28th May 2017

The EFL (English Football League) Trust celebrates its participation of females of the National Citizen Service (NCS) during International Women’s Day.

In 2016, the EFL Trust had 2405 female teens taking part in NCS, empowering them to build confidence, learn new skills, and meet new people. The 3-4 week programme gives young people and females a chance to speak about what matters to them and make a difference to themselves and their community.

NCS has made an impact on a number of girls, including Cara and Angel, both from Sheffield.

Cara puts her new self-found confidence and belief down to her experiences as an NCS participant with Sheffield Wednesday and believes NCS played a crucial role in helping her obtain a place at university, “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.”

Angel Orola, 16 from Sheffield, graduated from NCS with Groundwork. Angel and her group VIBE’s Girl Power Project will be working with SheFest, a fringe festival as part of International Women’s Day that celebrates women’s achievements in Sheffield, highlighting key social issues and working to create plausible solutions in an inclusive and thought-provoking way

Angel said “I’m so excited to be taking part and can’t wait to see how the ways in which we can engage in important gender issues within their local community!”

She continues “I love getting involved with International Women’s day as it’s such an important opportunity for raising awareness, and engaging with gender issues within our local, national and global community”

Evie Muir, NCS team leader for Groundwork “As part of this event, VIBE’s Girl Power project will provides young women with contemporary skills in how to create and publicise successful gender-centred campaigns by using mediums such as; blogs, vlogs, video diaries and social media”

NCS is a unique opportunity where you can develop life and employability skills, make new friends and gives young people a voice. NCS takes place during Spring Summer & Autumn with limited spaces available. For further information visit www.ncsefltrust.co.uk.