Albion in the Community News Issue 3 - Autumn/Winter 2022

Using the power of football to help people get active, learn new skills and live well.

Premier League Trophy visits AITC

The famous trophy was brought to the Amex as part of a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Premier League.

Participants in our disability football programme (which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary) were given the chance to see the trophy in person and pose for a photo.

Former Albion stars Guy Butters, Andrew Crofts, and Gary Dicker also gave the participants an exclusive tour of the stadium.

Dozens of children at Dorothy Stringer got the chance to see the trophy up close, and also had a question and answer section where they learned facts about the trophy.

Paul Brackley, Disability Manager at AITC, said: “We’re very excited to have the Premier League trophy here.

“It’s great for our participants to have such a unique and special opportunity.”

During the trophy visit, AITC coach Dan Coppard was recognised with a Premier League Community Captain award.

Ryan from our disability football programme poses with the trophy.

Dan Coppard is presented with his Community Captain award (see page 2). From left to right: Martin Perry, Andrew Crofts, Dan Coppard, Gary Dicker, Paul Brackley.

Title Partner

The trophy was also taken to an AITC summer camp at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton.

Millions of people who tuned in to watch Match of the Day in November were treated to a special film featuring one of the amazing programmes we run in schools across Sussex – Gully’s Health Squad.

Gully’s Health Squad, funded by the Premier League, is a programme designed to get kids eating healthy food, and learning about the benefits of healthy living and proper nutrition.

To help spread the word, Albion first team stars Poppy Pattinson and Joel Veltman visited St Bartholomew’s Church of England School in Brighton to meet the pupils.

Joel and Poppy joined in with fruit and veg workshops, before sitting down with the kids to hold a Q&A session about healthy eating.

The Match of the Day cameras visited St Bartholomew’s to capture the whole day, before broadcasting the film live on BBC One.

Both Poppy and Joel were full of praise for Gully’s Health Squad.

“It’s nice to come in and work with the community, to give back to the kids,” Poppy said.

“I think these interactive sessions are big, it really promotes this balanced lifestyle.”

Gully’s Heath Squad helps to reinforce healthy eating messages that pupils will remember for life.

Through Gully’s Health Squad, we will be able to make a positive impact on the health of thousands of children all over Sussex.

Brighter Outlook launches in West Sussex

People in West Sussex with a cancer diagnosis are now able to take advantage of our Brighter Outlook programme.

Brighter Outlook, a health and wellbeing programme for people with a cancer diagnosis, provides people with free, personalised fitness sessions and advice for ten weeks.

The programme runs in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, and West Sussex –the latest Brighton and Hove cohort has just successfully completed their course.

Every year we support around 300 people with cancer diagnoses, delivering more

than 400 classes along the way.

Rosie Sadler, Health Manager at AITC, said: “We’re really pleased to now offer Brighter Outlook in West Sussex. This will mean we can reach even more people with a cancer diagnosis.”

To find out more about the Brighter Outlook programme, visit our website.

Thanks to the Lionesses’ heroics at the Euros last summer, women’s football has been in the spotlight more than ever.

Everyone was hoping that England’s success in the tournament would lead to more girls being inspired to take up football, and so far that’s exactly what we’ve seen.

We saw a 100% increase in

girls’ football bookings this summer compared to 2021.

On top of this we’ve seen a 73% boost in girls joining our Talent Pathway and Advanced Centres – in other words, girls who are taking a serious interest in football and want to play at the highest level.

Visit our website to view all of our upcoming girls’ football sessions.

information on any of our activities, please email: info@albioninthecommunity.org.uk or visit: albioninthecommunity.org.uk

Gully’s Health Squad featured on Match of the Day

Lionesses inspire girls’ football boom

Five years of Premier League Primary Stars

Albion in the Community is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Premier League Primary Stars programme, which uses football to engage children and support them in the classroom, the playground, and on the sports field.

Albion in the Community began its Premier League Primary Stars delivery in 2016 and since then has supported over 9,000

young people through 4,674 lessons across 49 local schools.

“Primary Stars encourages the children we work with so much; seeing our tutors come into their classroom wearing the Albion badge really captures their imagination and gets them engaged,” AITC Schools Manager Rob Josephs told us.

Albion stars sign baubles for AITC Christmas appeal

Albion in the Community was raising money this winter by auctioning one-of-a-kind baubles signed by Albion first team stars.

38 players from Albion’s men’s and women’s first teams each signed a blue Albion in the Community Christmas bauble, which were auctioned on eBay to raise money for the charity.

The auction began on 1 December with the reveal of the first three baubles. New baubles were unveiled every day until 12 December, when a special final bauble was announced.

Tom

visit soccer school

Albion goalkeepers Kjell Scherpen and Tom McGill visited a soccer school to share their best tips about healthy eating.

The Premier League stars joined more than 60 kids in a Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools session at Brighton’s Dorothy Stringer school.

The kids took part in a day of fun football activities and tournaments, before ending the day with a visit from two very special guests.

McGill and Scherpen arrived at the end of

the session to deliver a talk about healthy eating, alongside AITC nutritionist Mari Clark.

The goalkeepers shared their best nutrition tips and answered questions from the kids about

Fans had three days to bid on each bauble after their reveal, with the winning bidder taking home the prize.

Each bauble is completely unique – the Albion players only signed one bauble each, making this auction truly one-

All money raised from the auction went towards supporting Albion in the Community’s life-changing work in Sussex this winter.

The final bauble auction ended on 14 December, meaning all the baubles arrived at the winners’ homes in time for Christmas (for UKbased bidders).

Matt Dorn, CEO at Albion in the Community, called the auction a “special opportunity” for Albion fans.

“It’s not every day you have the chance to get a signed Albion memorabilia item. This was a special opportunity that I hope fans took advantage of.

“All the money raised from the auction will help us support people in communities all over Sussex this winter.”

For more information on any of our activities, please email: info@albioninthecommunity.org.uk or: visit albioninthecommunity.org.uk

and Kjell

Albion stars support their community

Victoria Williams and Joel Veltman have been named as Albion in the Community’s ambassadors for the 2022/23 season.

The two defenders were unveiled as ambassadors in their first official appearance of the season; a Premier League Kicks session in Moulsecoomb.

Victoria takes up the role of ambassador for the third season in a row, while Joel celebrates his first season representing AITC.

Victoria told us: “It’s brilliant, these programmes are so important just to give everyone a chance to have a kick-about and make new friends.

“I always say that’s one of the best things to come out of football, the connections that you make. These kids are getting skills for life here.”

Joel is very excited to be starting his new role, and he told us how important he thinks programmes like Premier League Kicks can be for kids in the local community.

“It’s my first event and I love it, I think it’s really important for kids after school,” Joel said, “instead of being on the streets or somewhere else, they’re playing on the pitch.

“I remember when I was this age football was the only thing I wanted to do. A football was the only thing we had, and the most important thing we had.”

These programmes are so important just to give everyone a chance.”

Myron finds his confidence with AITC

For young Myron from Worthing, ADHD has a big impact on his life every day.

Myron is a bubbly character, full of energy and enthusiasm. He loves to crack a joke and, like so many 10-year-olds, he is absolutely football-mad.

There was a time, however, when it looked like he might fall out of love with the game.

“Myron loves playing football, but when he was playing in his previous school there were times when nobody passed to him because of his ADHD,” Myron’s mum Rebecca told us.

“He would get the ball and panic a little and the other kids would take it a bit too seriously, and Myron would get shunned. I remember once he left a match in tears after the other kids were saying ‘don’t let Myron on your team’, and he was devastated.”

Despite Myron’s best efforts to fit in, he was struggling in an environment that simply wasn’t right for him.

That all changed when his mum was introduced to Albion in the Community’s inclusive sessions – he now takes part in our inclusive sessions in Worthing every Saturday.

There Myron can play among other kids who can relate to him, under the supervision of trained coaches creating tailored sessions for children with extra needs.

“Him being able to go to an inclusive session, where kids are on the same level and it doesn’t matter about your ability, it boosts his confidence so much,” mum Rebecca told us.

We spoke to Myron about how much he loves playing football at AITC sessions,

and he couldn’t wait to tell us that he’d scored a hat-trick the week before.

“Me and my friend Arthur did one-twos up the pitch, I shot and hit the crossbar and then scored the rebound to get the hat-trick. It was amazing!” Myron said.

Myron is a massive Albion fan and, as a centre-back, his favourite player is Adam Webster.

As a thank you for his dedication and enthusiasm on the football pitch, we took Myron on a tour of the Amex and gave him a match-issued Adam Webster shirt. Naturally, when Myron saw the shirt he was absolutely bouncing off the walls.

“I have no words, this is so cool, I’m so happy,” Myron said (more than once).

Find out more about all of our disability sessions on our website.

I have no words, this is so cool, I’m so happy,”

“There were times when nobody passed to him because of his ADHD.”

Solly March presents Premier League Kicks awards

2022 marks 15 years since the launch of the Premier League Kicks programme.

Albion in the Community has been working with the Premier League to deliver the national Premier League Kicks programme in local communities throughout Sussex over the past 15 years.

Joining with football clubs up and down the country, the programme inspires children and young people to achieve their potential and improve their wellbeing, working together to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.

It’s a programme that reaches some of our most at-need participants, and it changes lives on a daily basis.

Two participants in the Premier League Kicks programme finally graduated after many years with Albion in the Community.

Paddy and Jensen, both of whom attended our Kicks sessions in Worthing, were commended by their coaches for their years of dedication to the programme.

With Paddy and Jensen reaching the upper age limit for Kicks, it was time for them to graduate and move on from the programme.

To thank them for their amazing commitment they were nominated for Kicks Lifetime Achievement awards.

As big Albion fans it was only fitting that Seagulls star Solly March (Paddy’s favourite player) was there to present them with their certificates.

AITC began its Premier League Kicks delivery in 2007 and since then has hosted 10,000 Kicks sessions and engaged a total of 15,500 participants.

Sessions take place every week in highneed areas in Bognor Regis, Brighton, Burgess Hill, Eastbourne, Hastings, Hailsham, Haywards Heath and Worthing.

Visit our website to find out more.

1,402

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44%

young players attend Premier League Kicks sessions female participants of participants are from deprived areas

Since 2007 AITC has hosted 10,000 Premier League Kicks sessions and engaged a total of 15,500 participants.

Young Ukrainians meet Albion heroes

A group of young Sussex-based Ukrainian children were given the chance to meet some Brighton & Hove Albion stars in Lancing.

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, we have noticed a growing number of Ukrainian participants joining our football sessions across Sussex.

With many of these children having limited opportunities during school holidays, 15 young participants were invited to the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing for a very special half-term treat.

The Italian spent more than a year in Ukraine as manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, where he led his side to the top of the Ukrainian Premier League before conflict broke out in February.

When the invasion began, De Zerbi and his Shakhtar squad were taken to a bomb shelter in a Kyiv hotel. Roberto and his coaching staff remained in the country until all of their international players and their families had been safely evacuated.

He said, “It was wonderful to have the chance to meet this amazing group of children.

Roberto and his coaches were delighted to meet the young Ukrainians; they spoke together in Ukrainian and talked about his former club.

Coaches have been particularly taken with one bubbly participant – Valentine, aged 8. Valentine, who now lives in Hove, moved from Ukraine with his father Sergiy.

Valentine is a huge Brighton fan – his bedroom is covered with Albion posters and memorabilia – and he has a special place in his heart for his favourite player Leandro Trossard.

After taking part in some fun football drills on the Community Pitch in a session delivered by our qualified coaches, the group were given a surprise invitation to watch the Albion men’s first team in training.

Many of the first team stars including Pascal Gross, Solly March, Adam Lallana, and Robert Sanchez came to meet the young Ukrainians after training.

The group was also introduced to Men’s Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi and members of his coaching staff. Their meeting was especially poignant because of De Zerbi’s close personal ties with Ukraine.

“I am so glad that they are happy and safe here in Sussex and enjoying themselves playing football with Albion in the Community.”

“It was very, very magical (to meet Trossard), he is my favourite player. I have lived here for four months and this was a special day for me.”

Sergiy spoke about how his family were forced to leave Ukraine with almost nothing because of the war.

“We left Ukraine because of the war, we only had two or three suitcases. We had to forget almost everything. We had to quickly, quickly get a train to Budapest, and we were lucky to come to the UK. Now we live in Brighton – it is the best city in the world!”

“I have lived here for four months and this was a special day for me.”

Left: Valentine meets his favourite player, Leandro Trossard.

Football festival in partnership with American Express

More than 120 people attended a festival of football in Lancing celebrating inclusion and fair play.

Girls and boys from across Sussex arrived at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre for a day of fun football tournaments, run by

AITC coaches and American Express volunteers.

Funded by and in partnership with American Express, the Play Together tournament is designed to bring people together from under-represented groups. Six Albion stars came along and

surprised the young players: Joel Veltman, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Katie Robinson and Emma Kullberg, and captains Lewis Dunk and Victoria Williams.

The Premier League and WSL stars made the football festival even more special for the kids attending. They met and posed for photos with the participants, signed shirts, and stayed to help mediate games afterwards.

Dozens of women also joined us to take part in a walking football showcase festival.

The day consisted of three mini-festivals in a “Football3” format. Football3 has three halves, no referee, and points are awarded for fair play.

These open rules give ownership of the game to the players, allowing them to develop skills related to decision making, negotiation and compromise, with an emphasis on fair play.

Above: Victoria Williams and Lewis Dunk encouraging some young players.

Below: Albion players and coaches pose with young players and American Express volunteers.

25 years of disability football at AITC

This year marks the 25th anniversary of our fantastic disability football programme.

To celebrate the occasion, we’ve been holding special events to highlight how amazing the programme is.

The summer began with triumph for Brighton & Hove Albion Blind FC, who were runners-up in the FA Cup final at St George’s Park, with the game broadcast to thousands live on BT Sport.

Cyril, a star of the team, later shared his inspiring story at an AITC event at the Amex.

Later in summer, four members of our national disability teams were part of the official Albion kit launch.

In August, we held a celebration event at the club’s training ground in Lancing.

Albion stars Jeremy Sarmiento, Moises Caicedo, and Joel Veltman visited participants at a disability football holiday camp to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

The Premier League stars met and

greeted participants, signing shirts and posing for photos with the group.

As part of the celebrations each participant was given an authentic match-issued

Find out more about all of our disability sessions on our website.

“They’ve all gone home with massive smiles on their faces.”

Albion shirt from a recent Premier League season.

More Than Football

We’re committed to helping people all over Sussex to improve their mental health.

As part of this mission we run the More Than Football programme.

More Than Football, which is supported by Heads On, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Charity and NHS Charities Together, is playing its part in helping local men get together and talk.

M RE THAN FOOTBALL

FREE SESSIONS PROMOTING MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL GAME.

In our More Than Football groups across Sussex, we invite men aged 30-50 to come and play football with like-minded people, before supporting each other’s mental health with group discussion sessions.

In the UK, men aged 40-49 have higher suicide rates than any other group.

Despite this, only 36% of NHS talking therapy referrals are for men, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Football is an excellent way to break down the barriers between strangers,

particularly men, and it gets everyone talking. Everyone get talking on a football pitch, and those bonds can last a lifetime.

If you want to find out more, email: info@albioninthecommunity.org.uk

How AITC promotes football through PE

We believe that engaging kids in school is one of the best ways to get them interested in football for life.

Albion in the Community runs multisport PE lessons in schools all over Sussex to help get kids active and healthy.

Whether in an after-school club, during break time, or in a PE lesson, getting kids playing sport regularly at school is key in igniting their interest in the beautiful game.

This is especially true of girls, who often have fewer opportunities to join a football club outside of school.

Our values-based PE supports the development of pupils’ physical literacy (agility, balance and coordination) as well

worksAITCwith

9,040 pupils

as their life skills (confidence, teamwork and resilience).

As part of our mission to support schools with physical education, we can bring the Albion badge into your school and deliver bespoke PE lessons.

If you want Albion in the Community to help deliver PE at your school, email schools@albioninthecommunity.org.uk

“Football can help you massively to feel like you belong.”

BRIGHTON | EASTBOURNE LANCING | BILLINGSHURST | BURGESS HILL | PEACEHAVEN

Fundraising events Adults improve numeracy

Brighton Half Marathon: 26 Feb

One of the first half marathons in the running calendar – kick off your season in style.

Brighton Marathon / BM10K: 2 Apr

We have places for the Brighton Marathon / BM10K. Gather donations and get your trainers on!

1983 FA Cup Final Anniversary Dinner: 19 May

Join us for a special celebration dinner celebrating forty years since our famous 1983 FA Cup Final.

Brighton Breezy Cycle Ride: 2 Jul

A one-day cycle ride across the beautiful Sussex countryside with three routes to choose from.

To book your place or to contact our fundraising team, email: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.

As part of our work to help people develop skills and meet their potential, we’re helping dozens of people with free courses and qualifications.

This winter our team launched two free new courses in West Sussex for adults with low numeracy skills; giving them the tools and confidence to help their young children with their homework.

We are helping adults improve their numeracy skills through the Multiply programme, funded by West Sussex County Council.

Find out more email: study@albioninthecommunity.org.uk or visit our website.

Robert Sanchez talks anti-racism with Brighton kids

Albion first team stars met with a group of local children in October.

Spanish ‘keeper Robert Sanchez, defender Joel Veltman, and WSL star Danielle Carter joined the group at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.

The kids, from St Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School in Brighton, had a Q&A with Sanchez about his football career.

As part of Albion in the Community’s work to combat discrimination, and because October is Black History Month, the children were invited to ask Sanchez about his experience of racism within football.

Danielle Carter also spoke to the group

about the importance of the No Room For Racism campaign.

Throughout October, Albion in the Community held a series of workshops

and lessons designed to teach young people about the realities of racism and how they can help combat discrimination.

Become a Community Champion

Community Champions are a special team of loyal fans and supporters who commit to support the charity regularly with just £5 a month.

In doing so they become part of a family of supporters who will receive some very exciting benefits.

For just £5 a month, you will:

• Join a special team of Albion fans, local people and players supporting the charity’s work in the Sussex community.

• Receive invites to unique stadium events and other activities.

• Receive an exclusive Community Champions pin badge, regular updates, and an end-of-season review.

• Feel pride in changing the lives of those in your local community.

By providing a regular gift, Community Champions enable Albion in the Community to support those most in need by providing funds the charity can rely on in the long term.

A regular donation of just £5 per month helps AITC to change lives by delivering inclusive football sessions for thousands of children every year, helping children learn in the classroom, and supporting families to live healthier lives.

To become a Community Champion you can sign up on the AITC website or by scanning the QR code below.

If you would like to contact us, please email: info@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.