The EFL’s ‘Community Day of Action’ saw all 72 EFL Clubs come together on Tuesday 25 April to showcase the excellent work that they do in their local communities. Every day, clubs use the power of football to have a positive effect on thousands of people’s live across the UK.
The Community Day of Action presents an opportunity for all EFL clubs to simultaneously deliver their best initiatives and highlight the difference they have made to over one million people this season in communities nationwide.
The EFL Trust is a national charity that uses the power of football to tackle society’s greater goals by investing over £44million in projects each year.
The EFL Club Trusts are based in the heart of their communities, inspiring people through impactful projects built upon a foundation of four key themes; sport, education, health and community engagement.
The community trust’s network has a combined annual turnover of approximately £50million, employing 2,500 members of staff, including teachers, coaches and professional health workers. Based in the heart of their communities the Trusts use their magnetism combined with their club badge and heritage to connect with people many other organisations struggle to engage.
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.“
To support this initiative Bristol Rovers Community Trust linked together our Extra Time Club for over 60’s with the first team players and management.
The Extra Time Club has been running at Bristol Rovers for over 8 years. It is a weekly social and activity group for anybody aged over 60 and the group pride themselves on being a diverse group of people. Every Tuesday, between 10-12 the group come together at the Memorial Stadium where they take part in light physical activities, social opportunities and sightseeing trips around the area.
On Tuesday 25th April Bristol Rovers Community Trust invited the Extra Time Club to join the first team players and management for a physical activity session and quiz before watching the first team training session.
The first part of the morning involved members of the group being joined by first team players to take part in armchair aerobics. This is a light physical activity session designed to increase mobility and slightly raise the heart rate to improve overall general health for all involved.
After an active session that saw Captain Tom Lockyer demonstrate the exercises to members of the group and other first team players give encouragement whilst themselves undertaking the exercises the group then sat down for the quiz.
First team players joined the Over 60’s in a closely fought quiz that is designed to stimulate memories and thoughts as well as act as an opportunity for social interaction between the group.
Following this, the group made their way to the outside pitches where they were met by Darrell Clarke the first team manager. Darrell chatted with the group before running through the drills in preparation for our final home game of the season.
Adam Tutton, Bristol Rovers Community Trust Chief Executive, said “Bristol Rovers Community Trust works with a wide spectrum of the community offering social inclusion, health, education and sports participation projects to give people the opportunity of enhancing and improving their life choices. We aim to engage and inspire people of all ages as well as unite the communities in which they live. Our Extra Time Programme has a significantly positive impact on the lives of those involved by increasing their opportunities for social interaction and access to physical exercise and mental stimulation. It is a programme that we are very proud of being able to facilitate”.