Club helping to demonstrate power of football within local communities
More than one million people are now participating in football-led community programmes and activities every season.
On Tuesday 25 April, all 72 EFL clubs came 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 presented 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.
Northampton Town spent the EFL's Community Day of Action visiting St James Primary School in Northampton, where the club's coaches spent time coaching the children some football skills, while some of the first team players popped along after training for a question and answer session with the pupils.
The Northampton Town Community Trust comes into contact with more than 50,000 people each year. Their work covers social inclusion and disability programmes, coaching for players with Downs Syndrome, coaching for players to improve their mental health, the Extra Time group which allows members to meet and take part in a regular activity each Monday, Women's and Girls football, school holiday camps, sports provisions for schools to cover teaching staff during their 10% PPA non-contact time as well as pre school, in school and post school clubs.
"We are immensely proud of our work in the community," said Chairman Kelvin Thomas.
"One of the commitments we made when we took over was to expand the club's community work and we now have a vibrant, diverse, extensive community programme.
"From the very young, through our school work, to the not so young, through our Extra Time programme, we are proud of the work we do, the fun and happiness we bring and the way we use the power of football to educate and entertain."
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.
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.“