From April 4-8, the English Football League (EFL) will kick off its first-ever week of action.
All 72 clubs and club community organizations will feature activities with EFL players and managers joining participants across England and Wales, including:
- Athletic Wigan organization of a football session for Afghan refugees
- Wanderers of Bolton support local young adults at risk of delinquency
- cardiff city project that supports Armed Forces veterans who are at high risk of social isolation and loneliness
- Blackpool conduct garden gate visits to isolated members of the community
- Sheffield Wednesday program for families in refuge
- Portsmouth organize an amputee football session
- City of Coventry helping older people with dementia or cognitive impairment become active
- Town of Luton will host four one-on-one Fit Fans sessions throughout the EFL Action Week
Using the power of football, EFL clubs and Club Community Organizations (CCOs) collectively invest over £59million in their communities each year, engaging with some of the most vulnerable members of society.
In 2021, EFL clubs and CCOs were recognized at the Leaders Sports Awards and Sports Business Awards for the important and unique role they have played in supporting their local communities during the pandemic.
Rick Parry, Chairman of the EFL, said: “EFL clubs are embedded in the towns from which they take their name and that bond is strengthened by the life-changing initiatives they lead every day in England and the Country of Wales. The EFL Action Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate this invaluable work and demonstrate the remarkable difference clubs are making to their communities off the pitch.
Liam Scully, Chairman of the EFL Trust, said: “The work of clubs in their communities happens at scale day in and day out and directly aligns with the priorities of people in our communities, both locally and across national scale.
“The hours put in by the teams and volunteers of our clubs and community organizations demonstrate an unwavering commitment to improving lives across the country and building stronger, healthier and more active communities. »
