Changing Horizons

Contents

Introductions

Ian

Lee

Programme delivery

Strategic

Engagement in west London

Stats and impact

The Campus Concept

Covid-19 response

How we responded to the pandemic

Key achievements of the #BeeatHome campaign

#BeeatHome activity packs

Online youth clubs provide a lifeline for young carers Players to be proud of The buzz around Gunnersbury Park

Thanking our NHS heroes

Stories from our community

Stephanie’s National Citizen Service (NCS) journey

Shaun Preddie: Meet one of our Youth Workers

A Brighter Future

Supporting

Meet Tom

The growth of female football

Club and Trust

How the play-off trophy is

of

Trust participants visit the sensory room

school pupils on

The importance of cardiac health Brentford and Worley partnership to advance career prospects of

young people

The foundation of our Trust has always been based on hard work, inclusivity, innovation, partnerships and collaboration and we look forward to delivering more programmes, to more people, in more communities, as we move forward into our next stage of growth.

Ian Dobie Chair, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust

When we first discussed establishing a Sports Trust, I don’t think any of us present could have foreseen the journey we would go on and where we are now. As you read this report you will see how lives can be positively impacted using the Power of Sport and the positive influence of our Football Club.

In the past year alone, the team have delivered 15,000 community sessions and engaged with over 12,000 local people, aged 16 months to 65 years. This ranges from Babee Bee sessions through to adults and children with disabilities and, following the incredible success of the Lionesses at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Championship, we have seen a surge of interest from local girls to participate.

It is now three years since we launched our last impact report at the University of West London. I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the challenges that the past three years would bring, with the Covid Pandemic, the War in Ukraine and the current cost of living crisis.

March 2020 saw all of our programmes grind to a shuddering halt, however, with a culture of innovation embedded throughout our organisation, our workforce moved swiftly to ensure that thousands of adults and children continued to have access to our services.

Amongst notable achievements, our #BeeatHome packs helped hundreds of parents homeschool with physical and educational resources. There is no doubt that the team have moved forward from the pandemic as a stronger, experienced and mobile organisation.

Despite Covid, the Trust and Club have continued to develop. During this period we have occupied fantastic new offices and sports facilities in Gunnersbury Park and we now have a resident team at the Sports Dome in Uxbridge. More recently we moved into our brilliant new offices next to the Gtech Community Stadium. The new Hub provides unlimited opportunities to grow and evolve, whilst also providing space for the NHS Recovery Unit.

As you will all be aware, on 29th May 2021, Brentford FC were promoted to the Premier League for the very first time and I congratulate the Club Board, Thomas Frank and everyone involved on that outstanding achievement. Importantly for the Trust, this has opened up an abundance of new opportunities for us, which will allow the future organic growth of this organisation.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the staff, the Trustees, the Club and all our Partners and participants. The foundation of our Trust has always been based on hard work, inclusivity, innovation, partnerships and collaboration and we look forward to delivering more programmes, to more people, in more communities, as we move forward into our next stage of growth.

Pictured: Street Sports session at the new Cruyff Court at Brentford Towers

Pictured: Inspiring a generation - former England striker Ellen White meets our Premier League Primary Stars participants at Gunnersbury Park

Lee Doyle

CEO, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust

In football it is often said that you ‘earn the right to play’ - that you have to work hard as a team to develop the space to express yourself creatively. At Brentford FC this is happening both on and off the pitch.

Everyone is enjoying the challenge that the Premier League offers. Each game is a celebration of progress. Walking through the Gtech Community Stadium on matchdays there are numerous people that you meet as a part of the Brentford extended family who were there when times were not so rosy. There is a sense of pride in the part they played in developing and holding on to a long-term plan to create a sustainable and exciting model for a Football Club.

The Trust is part of that model and has a unique challenge to deliver increasing social value outputs as part of the agreement to build a new stadium. In 2005 we converted from an unincorporated association to a Charitable Trust with the aim of fully exploring how a Sport for Development model could positively affect our local communities. At the same time we commissioned the first feasibility study to regenerate the sports facilities at Gunnersbury Park. We held on to the vision for the hub and eventually became a strategic partner in the project which opened in 2021. The stadium project was also the result of a long-term vision and collaboration. The timing of all our new facilities opening and promotion to the Premier League was the realisation of a vision that dreams are made of.

Changing Horizons is the title of our latest Impact Report. The aerial shot on the front cover shows the proximity of the stadium to our other hubs. The new facilities create a fantastic environment for work and play and this is coupled with our strongest asset, our people.

From a single individual worker in the mid 1980’s to over 100 staff now, plus a large volunteer base we have developed from a solo artist to the size of a philharmonic orchestra. Donald Kerr, the Trust’s Vice Chairman recently quipped, “forget about managing adversity, it is how you manage success”. Reading through this report you will see that we now operate under a range of themes and have increased resources. The task is to enable our orchestra to play in harmony with our local communities. To this end the Trust aims to change horizons for the thousands of participants of all ages and abilities. This report aims to explain how we deliver sustainable social outcomes. It also is designed to be a springboard for further developing relationships and building new ideas and partnerships.

We have come a long way, but this is a new beginning. Now we are in a position to take our development model to a new depth, linking opportunities, developing participants and staff and connecting communities. We look forward to continuing the journey with you.

The task is to enable our orchestra to play in harmony with our local communities. To this end the Trust aims to change horizons for the thousands of participants of all ages and abilities.

Development and Sports Participation

I love coming to the sessions as it helps me de-stress after work; to meet-up with a great group of women from all walks of life, and to learn to play football together, something I never had a chance to do before. Even when I arrive feeling exhausted I always leave feeling exhilarated and wanting to learn more.

Lisa Women’s recreational football participant

Realising potential through

To anyone else considering getting involved, I would recommend it to them regardless of their background, confidence, ability and stability. The whole project would be more than glad to have them on board and every member is useful to them. I’ve met so many different kinds of people during my time and I’d assure any potential recruits that they’d feel more than welcome.

I first got chair-based 11 years ago a very enjoyable benefitted The balance great and instructor.

Providing opportunities for the whole community to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in sport.

Youth and Community Health and Wellbeing

Ollie National Citizen Service Graduate and Volunteer

Bringing the local community together through positive activity. By championing youth voice and social action we aim to empower young people to be active citizens, community leaders, and game changers.

inequalities wellbeing through sessions

Our work spans 35 years and during this time The Trust has

We now deliver a wide range of programmes,

Include, Innovate,

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through investing in people

got involved with the chair-based exercise class over ago at Griffin Park. It’s enjoyable class and has benefitted me a great deal. balance work we do is Eszter is a very good instructor. I look forward to the class each week.

I first got involved in the mentoring with The Trust whilst working with Youth Offending Service It helped me through a tough period in my life and kept me away from others who were a bad influence on me. I now really enjoy coming to the football session at Gunnersbury Park on Friday’s which I have done for at least two years. I have made new friends here and improved my football skills.

Addressing health inequalities and promoting through accessible sessions and support.

Specialist Support

Creating tailored programmes to support groups or individuals users with specific needs.

Education, Employability and Training

I have become more confident when meeting new people and needing to start a conversation. I have learnt how important it is to smile and get eye contact with people. I find the social parts hard and the course has helped me with my skills on meeting new people in new social situations.

Designing programmes to help develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in education and beyond.

has evolved to provide greater support to our communities. programmes, each aligning to a strategic pillar.

Innovate, Inspire

Marie Chair-based exercise participant

TS

Premier League Kicks targeted participant

Tom Traineeship programme participant

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The Campus Concept

We are now realising a long-term ambition to create hub sites.

We are strategic partners in the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub maintaining an office on-site and coaching base. This is complemented by a two floor Community Stadium Hub adjacent to the Gtech Community Stadium with a large education and social area downstairs and offices upstairs. Alongside these

sites, we also operate evening and weekend activities at the former Academy Dome at Uxbridge High School. Together they form the Trust’s Campus spanning four London Boroughs.

Moving forward, we are involved in plans for community engagement as part of the training ground development.

Gunnersbury Park

Community Stadium Hub

Gtech Community Stadium

The council is delighted to support this excellent initiative at Brentford Towers. We have a long-standing relationship with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and it has delivered a number of activities on our estates, all of which have been a great success, and we have no doubt this one will be too. Finally, I would like to personally thank the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust for all the great work that they do in the community particularly during these difficult times.

2021

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Cllr Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Housing Services at Hounslow Council

Pictured: Participants receiving their #BeeatHome activity packs| Covid-19 response

How we responded to the pandemic

With thousands of children, young people and adults relying on our projects every week, the pandemic proved a difficult challenge for the Trust. Whether it was a young carer who was forced to shield at home for months, or a young person deprived of his/her weekly football session, staff worked hard to ensure contact

Key achievements of the #BeeatHome campaign

• Within first two months of launching we had engaged with over 1,000 adults and children online through educational and physical activity content.

• Key projects included online fitness sessions for adults who were shielding, and footballrelated maths and literacy resources for parents homeschooling.

remained. After the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, the Trust worked swiftly to create its #BeeatHome campaign, which moved all our educational and physical activity online.

• Our response was recognised by media outlets such as ITV London News, Evening Standard and BBC Radio London. The Mayor of London – Sadiq Khan – also wrote a letter of thanks for our support during the pandemic.

• Over 50 young carers (who were shielding with loved ones) benefitted from tailored 1-1 support and online Zoom youth clubs with other young carers.

It has been a wonderful, educational experience which was arranged really well. The gift bag was a very good idea too, which my son has been using.

Mrs Osmani, mum of Ibraheem from West Ealing

#BeeatHome activity packs

Having grown up on an estate, Lee Doyle – CEO of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust – knew more than most, the impact of the lockdown on young people’s wellbeing. Working with local stakeholders and staff, Lee devised an innovative mechanism to keep young people on estates active during the lockdown.

The #BeeatHome packs – which benefitted young people who for the most part lived on housing estates in west London - included a foam ball, skipping rope, cones and a range of physical and educational resources. Many of the young people who benefitted were shielding, due

to family members being vulnerable, and were able to stay active at home.

Due to the success of the packs, one of London’s biggest housing associations – A2Dominion – worked in partnership with the Trust to help an additional 500 children receive packs across west London, Oxford and the South East.

This initiative not only improved the participants physical and mental wellbeing, it also championed the values of diversity and inclusion; demonstrating that regardless of where you live you can still benefit from sport and physical activity.

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Online youth clubs provide a lifeline for young carers

The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns caused anxiety and distress for many people, none more so than those who were forced to shield at home.

15-year-old Eshaal Khan admits she struggled to cope while caring for her sister who has complex special needs.

“Life was quite difficult and overwhelming for me. I did not have a chance to stop and relax as I was constantly on my feet. I couldn’t make friends as I felt they wouldn’t understand my situation. I thought I

was on my own and not able to have a break”, Eshaal said.

Our online youth projects provided an escape and support network to Eshaal and other young people in a similar situation.

“My confidence grew and I realised that there are lots of other young carers like me. I relaxed and enjoyed myself in the workshops and youth groups. It made me forget my responsibilities, even just for an hour or so. It was respite for me to unwind and have some time to myself.”

Eshaal benefitted hugely from attending sessions with the young carers project during the pandemic. It gave her the opportunity to have time away from her role and the chance to meet other young people who were in similar situations. She gained confidence taking part in a variety of online and in person sessions when permitted.

During the pandemic young carers struggled facing the increased isolation due to their caring responsibilities. Families were shielding which meant they were unable to see anybody for longer periods of time. This had a massive impact on many young carers’ mental health and we hope that our online activities during this time helped to alleviate these stresses and provided some much-needed respite.

Kathryn Sobczak Project Manager, and a former carer herself

particularly vulnerable young carers received enhanced support and 1-1 emotional guidance during the pandemic

young carers have benefitted from the programme

Marcella Phelan MBE

Marcella has a distinguished career in social services; she worked as a social worker for more than thirty years and, before her retirement in 2019, was Assistant Director of Children and Families at Ealing Council. Her commitment to young people in the borough was formally recognised when she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2018. She joined as a Trustee in 2019 and leads on safeguarding and intervention programmes.

Players to be proud of

“Who is your favourite Disney princess?” is not the usual question a professional footballer gets asked.

Yet former Brentford goalkeeper Luke Daniels was asked just that when he took part in an online quiz for the Trust’s Short Breaks project during the pandemic.

The project, which supports children with additional needs, was part of a number of online activities that Brentford players got involved with throughout the various lockdowns during the pandemic.

Josh Dasilva joining young people and the BBC for an evening on Zoom celebrating what music meant to them

Involvement from players included:

Former Brentford player Emiliano Marcondes leading on a mental health webinar for aspiring footballers from our Football Development programme

Tariq Fosu helped run a football session for children from Brentford’s Football Development Centre within his own home

Christian Norgaard offered invaluable insight through the Trust’s “maximising performance” webinar

Ethan Pinnock shared his knowledge and experiences with budding young footballers on the Trust’s post-16 football education programme through an online Q&A

Chris Gammon

Emiliano Marcondes info, mental health, health and fitness, diversity and inclusion

Following an early career in financial services Chris worked for a social enterprise providing consultancy services. More recently, he was an executive Director of Lionel Road Developments, the football club’s subsidiary responsible for the land acquisition, planning consent and development of the new Brentford Community Stadium at Lionel Road. He joined the Trust in 2018 and is Chair of the Finance sub-Committee.

The buzz around Gunnersbury Park

For most teenagers, boredom characterised much of the pandemic.

With summer 2020 approaching, many youngsters who lived around Gunnersbury Park began playing on the newly laid 3G pitches to alleviate the monotony of being at home. Fast forward to the present and the same youngsters who were using the pitches – without Ealing or Hounslow Council’s consent – are taking part in the Trust’s weekly football sessions at Gunnersbury Park.

Security was certainly the driving force in both Council’s granting the Trust access to these pitches as the country emerged from the first lockdown. However, the Trust saw an opportunity to entice these very same youngsters to its weekly football sessions.

The facility, which includes two toplevel floodlit 3G artificial pitches, as well as grass pitches, was visited by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in June 2021. During this visit he took part in a girls’ football tournament at the venue.

The exciting venue was opened officially by the Mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Bishnu Gurung, and Councillor Munir Ahmed, Mayor of Ealing in September 2021.

Scan here to watch the full video

Now, these sessions have had more than 2,700 participants over the past year.

With the indoor sports hall opening, the Trust has now been able to expand on its existing sports programme - offering fun football sessions for children as young as 16 months. Primarily, the focus in the indoor hall is on early learning, and the Trust now boasts a number of specialist football and gymnastic coaches who develop fundamental movement skills such as walking, running, jumping, kicking and balancing.

2,700 young people took part in sessions at Gunnersbury Park

An average of 36 hours per participant

Nearly 500 girls have taken part in our activities at the hub

90 teams and more than 800 players from our local community attended the Gunnersbury Cup 2021

Pictured: Rishi Sunak attends a girls schools football event at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Discusses the importance of community sport with Trust CEO Lee Doyle

It is important for us to engage with our communities and we are so proud of the work of the Trust. Over the years, they have grown, adapted and built partnerships to support and benefit the people of west London. Our values are togetherness, respectful and progressive - the Trust live and breath these values and, with their new facilities, will take their service to the community to an even higher level.

Pictured: Club ambassador Marcus Gayle coaches local the Brentford FC NHS team

| Covid-19 response

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Jon Varney, Brentford FC CEO

Thanking our NHS heroes

With NHS staff hailed as heroes during the pandemic, the Trust teamed up with London-based football clubs to host a unique football tournament for NHS staff.

Held at Gunnersbury Park’s state-ofthe-art sports facility, the event was an expression of gratitude by the football community, for the tireless work of NHS workers as they dealt with the biggest challenge the NHS has ever faced since it was founded in 1948.

Home advantage proved an asset for Brentford’s team. After storming to

the top of the table with three wins in a row, one of which came against Queens Park Rangers, our NHS team went on to win the tournament, lifting the trophy at the end of the day.

The players, who work at West Middlesex Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, were led to victory by Brentford legend Marcus Gayle.

With the NHS and Trust sharing similar aims of helping local people keep active and healthy, the Londonwide collaboration proved a natural fit for both organisations

It was an absolute pleasure to represent Brentford FC in the NHS London football tournament. It was exactly what was needed after the past 18 months and it was brilliant to see so many NHS workers with smiles on their faces playing the game we love. Being led by the legend that is Marcus Gayle was amazing and then to go on and win the whole tournament even better!

Max Warren one of the NHS staff players for Brentford FC

NHS staff took part in the tournament

professional clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal joined Brentford for the London-wide football tournament

John Cudmore

John Cudmore has been a Trustee of the Trust since it’s formation. He brings relevant professional experience to the work of the Trust as a former Human Resources Director at a large local college. As a long standing local resident John served for many years as a Councillor for the London Borough of Ealing and this included ten years as leader of the council. He has supported Brentford FC since the age of 5.

Before completing the National Citizen Service (NCS) course I was just going day to day without any meaning. After participating in the activities I was able to find a passion for myself and the ability to apply it to what I was doing. The pathway enabled me to develop and gave me a place to be expressive and embrace my skills and interests. I was able to partake in roles that were tailored for me and I was able to thrive where I felt most comfortable.

Pictured: Stephanie Adutuwmwaa at an NCS Changemakers session

Stories from our community

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Stephanie Adutuwmwaa, National Citizen Service participant

Stephanie’s National Citizen Service (NCS) journey

The National Citizen Service (NCS) project was launched at the Trust in 2020. Delivered in partnership with the EFL Trust and NCS Trust, the programme enables young people aged 16 and 17 to develop the skills, confidence and attitude required to become more engaged with their communities.

Stephanie joined the programme in summer 2020 and was then given the opportunity to participate a second time – joining a special programme to support the rebuilding of her local community.

Graduating from the NCS course, Stephanie progressed to a programme now known as Changemakers. Sustaining her commitment to the programme throughout various lockdowns,

Stephanie and 15 others met virtually for six months to develop a sports day for participants from the disability and young carers project which was successfully held once the lockdown restrictions had been eased.

Following this Stephanie joined the youth social action connectors programme as part of our partnership with Clarion and the National Youth Agency. Stephanie was given a contract to take on part time work with us as well as support to complete a Youth Work Level 2 qualification alongside her studies in health and social care.

Stephanie completed her Youth Work level 2 course in 2022 and is now studying Adult Nursing BSc (Hons) at Kings College London.

As the NCS team and project were newly developed in 2020 Stephanie was one of the first young people to pass through our doors and take part. Through the commitment of the NCS team with regular phone calls and check ins, text messages, emails and one-to-one sessions we have seen Stephanie develop into an amazing role model and inspiration to other young people on the programme. She now works across our youth work programmes delivering sessions at Hanworth and has also supported the development of a female empowerment youth group, as well as her regular commitment to Changemakers. Stephanie is a credit to herself and shining example of the success of the programme.

Reena Silva

National Citizen Service Senior Manager at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust

Brian Burgess BEM

Brian has diverse experience working in project management with a business career spanning more than 30 years. Specifically, he has worked in the engineering, construction and energy industries - holding significant roles as an executive and non-executive director. He then enjoyed many years as a business advisor specialising in the development of social enterprise activities and multi-purpose community hubs. Brian was previously Chair of Brentford’s Supporters’ Trust, Bees United. and was one of the founding Trustees of the Trust in 2005. In 2020, he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his charity work.

Shaun Preddie: Meet one of our Youth Workers

When Shaun Preddie realised he was too old to attend the Trust’s Premier League Kicks programme, he concluded that he wasn’t ready to end his relationship with Brentford FC just yet.

Growing up in Feltham, he had benefitted from the free football sessions for three years and he credits these with sparking his passion for community football. So, it was no surprise that when the opportunity came up to become a volunteer he grasped it.

Trust’s Brighter Futures programme, which supports children with special educational needs and is commissioned by Hounslow Council.

“Working on this project is undoubtedly my proudest achievement. However, I think the diversity of the work I do nowwhether that be in a school or estate - is something I am also really proud of. Sometimes I forget the impact I am making every day on young people and the local community.”

young people took part

“When I was still attending the sessions I began to add input and support the younger participants; becoming a volunteer pretty much formalised the role”, Shaun said.

And being a former participant, Shaun believes he provided invaluable insight to the communities where the Trust operates.

The success of his current projects led to him working on one of the Trust’s flagship projects: the Hounslow Youth Service Provision. The scheme, which was commissioned to the Trust by Hounslow Council in 2018, offers holiday youth provision, detached youth work activity and universal youth service activity.

Trust

young

“From growing up in Feltham, I knew lots of people and wanted to make sure some youngsters didn’t deviate along the wrong path. I think the fact that I gained my coaching badges and started working for Brentford was an example of a positive pathway - with football being the mechanism that made this happen.”

Being a mentor and role model to so many young people has reaped considerable benefits for the local community and Shaun has encouraged many young people to become coaches themselves. Since becoming a volunteer, Shaun has seen a meteoric rise in his football coaching career. In his current role he coordinates and runs the

“What I love about this project is that you’re engaging with young people who might not be interested in football and you’re providing them with a safe space to enjoy a range of activities.”

Shaun added, “In the past, we have struggled to engage with girls through our more ‘traditional’ football sessions. This project has given female youngsters in the borough the scope and space to express themselves.”

Shaun is reluctant to define himself as a role model; however, you have to question whether the engagement levels in his projects would have been as prevalent if he wasn’t a Hounslow resident born and bred.

Key info about the Trust’s Hounslow Youth Service programme

Key info about the Trust’s Hounslow Youth Service programme

families benefitted from 1-1 support during the pandemic

40 young people attend our 2020 summer football programme at Gunnersbury Park

159 children benefit from the Trust’s Summer Boost programme - for children in receipt of free school meals

Pictured: Shaun Preddie coaching at Crane Park Primary School in Feltham

Pictured: Football session at Gunnersbury Park - note, this is not Ethan for confidentiality reasons

Stories from our community

A Brighter Future

This participant will be referred to as Ethan for confidentiality reasons.

Ethan was struggling in many aspects of life. Having been excluded from school and facing continual bullying incidents culminating in a knife being flashed at him in the summer of 2021, understandably his parents were growing increasingly concerned about his behaviour.

self esteem despite appearing confident. Struggling to adhere to boundaries and understanding the consequences of his actions, it was clear that something had to change.

young people either in care or on the edge of care supported through our Brighter Futures programme

Ethan was described by his parents as confrontational and he had an increasing desire for street credibility which included posing online with knifes. Known to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) tier3, Ethan held suicidal thoughts and his mother also noticed that he was obsessed with cleanliness, however hadn’t been diagnosed with OCD.

It was apparent that Ethan was insecure about his appearance and height, he had very low

Following a referral from a social worker at the London Borough of Ealing Safe West team, the Trust intervened and worked with Ethan through a series of activities and workshops. This included Match Day trips, one-to-one football and boxercise sessions and then broader socialisation topics covering interaction with family, peers and school teachers.

Working closely with positive role models like Shaun Preddie started to have a positive influence on Ethan’s behaviour as recognised by his parents:

The sessions really helped his confidence, self-esteem and anxiety around other young people. He has now joined a local football team which he also loves and wouldn’t have been able to do previously.

Ethan’s Parents

Once the Trust had worked with Ethan there was a notable change in his confidence and self-belief, which was highlighted when he joined his local football team. By participating

in positive activities there was also a reduction in Ethan’s negative behaviour and his outlook on gang related activity.

Ethan engaged well throughout the intervention and built a strong, positive rapport with his mentor. He improved his understanding and use of the strategies taught and this helped him to a better place to be able to deal with emotional situations - which led to a reduction in his outbursts. He is now able to interact appropriately in group environments.

Shaun Preddie Senior Mentoring Coordinator at Brentford

Community Sports Trust

Pictured: Tom, a participant from our Traineeship programme with the manager of Novotel

| Stories from our community

Supporting our future leaders

Our partnership with the Mercer’s Company, has enabled us to develop and establish our work ready programmes. These have a focus on supporting disadvantaged young people to help transition and better prepare for their next steps, whether that be in education, employment or training.

During this time 14 young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) completed work

ready programmes, gaining work experience, qualifications and confidence.

The Trust has developed a Traineeship programme with the support of Mercer’s. Aimed at 16 to 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds, the course helps to develop skills which support the transition from education into employment or further training.

8 Kickstart roles provided as part of the government scheme to get local young people who are not in education employment or training (NEET) into work

Meet Tom

600 work experience hours completed across our employment ready programmes

Tom had been NEET since leaving Sixth form during the second year of his A-levels due to struggles with his dyslexia and (undiagnosed) ADHD. These were a barrier to academic achievements at school and hampered his everyday life as well.

Tom is now working in full-time employment within the Construction Industry. He is focused on developing a specialism in steel work.

Tom shares his experiences below.

Why did you want to complete the Traineeship programme?

I really wanted to do the Traineeship because I had heard good things about the programme and was particularly interested by the placement element. I saw it as a good icebreaker for what the real working world would be like.

What has been the impact of completing the Traineeship programme?

My communication and interpersonal skills have improved massively. I also feel more confident in the workplace and communicating with colleagues.

I now feel a lot more confident and motivated. I was suffering in both those areas after leaving Sixth form, I wasn’t getting anywhere with work experience and was facing continuous rejections.

2000 hours of employability content was delivered

Over 300 qualifications awarded (including, Sports Leaders Qualification, AQA certificates and money management course)

The growth of female football

Our commitment to providing opportunities for women and girls is long standing and something we look forward to progressing.

The success of the Lionesses at Euro 2022 has seen participation in football for women and girls increase across the country. It was also a huge boost to our local community to have some of the matches hosted at the Gtech Community Stadium.

On the back of this, our weekly Adult Female Recreation Football session at Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub has seen a huge uptake. Open to females of all abilities aged 16 and above, the sessions focus on improving

football skills, health and fitness, and creating a friendly environment to make new friends.

The Trust is one of 60 organisations to be allocated a Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) licence and one of only seven based in London. The license will see the number of young female players engaged in FA programmes across the country rise from 1722 to over 4200 by the end of the 2023-24 season. The national network of girls’ ETCs will be aimed at girls aged eight to 16 and the new centres will operate for at least 30 weeks per season and will commence from November 2022.

It’s been a really positive addition to my week and I look forward to the sessions to the point where I hate it when I (unavoidably) have to miss one! The hour of running around and being out in the fresh air is a natural mood booster and I always feel energised after. My interest in football as a spectator has also changed - whereas before I had only been to matches played by men, I’ve since attended Women’s Euro 2022 fixtures and seen Brentford women’s team down at Bedfont.

I’m a regular at these sessions because the social side of the game is special. A real community has formed here at Gunnersbury and it’s lovely to see everyone each week. After the last few years of lockdowns and social distancing, it’s also refreshing to have something like this bringing people together through physical activity. It’s free, good for you and guaranteed fun!

Eileen De Souza

Eileen was appointed as a Trustee in 2007, bringing an expertise in law and a passion for people and the power of Community Sport. Eileen served on a number of sub-groups until stepping down in 2021 and was particularly helpful with Trust contracts and our development of The Brentford Boating Arches with local partners.

Zahra Ali,

Recreational Football participant

Pictured: Participants at our Women’s Recreational Football Session

Five key areas for our Emerging Talent Centre

More focused investmentBetter accessibility

More inclusivity Reducing the impact of early selection

Providing more appropriate challenges

2022

Pictured: Brentford striker Ivan Toney visited Rabbsfarm Primary School in West Drayton to take part in a No Room For Racism session to talk about his career and dealing with discrimination.

How the playoff trophy is educating local school pupils on the importance of diversity

Since 2019, Brentford FC has adopted a Bee Together campaign that aims to epitomise the values of diversity and inclusion. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Trust utilised the success of winning the play-offs to promote this campaign in local schools.

Throughout the year former Brentford player and club ambassador Marcus Gayle, and ex-Brentford Women’s footballer Salma Mahamud, took part in a series of Racism in Football Workshops as part of the Premier League Primary Stars Programme. Players from the Club, including Ivan Toney, joined the initiative.

The workshops aimed to educate primary school pupils on why footballers are taking a knee before games, and is one of many initiatives the club are engaging with as part of the Bee Together Campaign during Black History Month.

During the workshops, Marcus and Salma discussed the importance of diversity and inclusion, as well sharing their own personal experiences surrounding racism in football, and how they overcame them. The workshops culminated in pupils designing posters that illustrated Brentford’s Bee Together campaign.

The children really enjoyed hearing about how gender and colour isn’t a barrier to reaching their goals and that any form of racism isn’t acceptable.

Teacher at The Cedars Primary School

primary school students engaged with

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workshops delivered across primary schools in Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond

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Donald Kerr

Donald has a wealth of experience in advertising; working for the prestigious advertising agency J Walter Thompson for 30 years. Since moving to London in 1977, he has been a Brentford fan and joined Bees United Supporters Trust in 2009. He joined Brentford FC Community Sports Trust in 2010 and leads on communications and marketing for the charity.

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Vice-Chair of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust

2021

Trust participants visit the sensory room

There were some special guests in attendance when Brentford faced Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League in January 2022.

A group of participants from our disability programme attended the match in the Sensory Room, at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Sensory Room is located at the top of the South Stand. It offers a full view of the pitch with special glass to protect against the noise, allowing Trust participants and their families

who might not otherwise be able to come and cheer on The Bees.

The group that made the trip all attend sessions from the “On the Ball” disability programme, which supports young people with social and communication difficulties through parent workshops and regular sports sessions. Despite a disappointing 2-1 loss on the day for Brentford, the young people in attendance were eager to return again soon.

It was a real privilege to be able to invite a group of participants from our “On the Ball” programme to the new sensory room at the new Stadium. It’s a fantastic facility for people with sensory difficulties, as it provides them with a safe environment to watch the match, whilst still being able to get a flavour of the atmosphere within the stadium. The young people and their parents really enjoyed the experience and kept asking me when they would be able to come again!

Chris Tribe Disability Projects Manager

Anita Ralli

Anita has an impressive career in public affairs and health policy. Along with working in Parliament, she has worked for cancer charities before her most recent post in the pharmaceutical industry. She became involved with the Trust through one of its adult health programmes, which encourages local people to get active. She joined as a Trustee in 2017 and leads on equality, diversity and inclusion for the Trust.

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Pictured: Participants from our On the Ball session visiting the Gtech Community Stadium sensory room

Pictured: Thomas Frank with Suzanne Rowan at the Cardiac Risk in the Young heart screenings

| Club and Trust

The importance of cardiac health

Brentford fans attending Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub to have their heart screened in April 2022 received a surprise visit from Thomas Frank and former Bees midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The heart screenings, organised by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in association with the Trust, took place in memory of the Club’s former Technical Director Robert Rowan. Around 200 fans and members of staff from Brentford FC

were screened across the weekend, financed by Robert’s memorial fund. A range of fundraising activity has been taking place in recent years for the fund including the charity challenge A-K-A-Day which is designed to encourage and support health and wellbeing. It aims to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get out and move for at least 1km each day throughout the month of May.

I think it’s very healthy thing to do. And obviously, it’s something that even in my case, something happened like you wouldn’t know was going to happen. So, to get that cleared out the way from a doctor’s perspective is only a positive. To do a test for a few minutes and get everything sorted out and be safe for your family and for everyone else then it is a very positive thing. It’s not only for you, it is for everyone around you.

Nity Raj

Nity joined the Trust’s board in 2022 and is the lead Trustee for legal matters. After training in the city to become a solicitor, Nity moved in-house to AOL in 2000. He was ultimately General Counsel for AOL International and left in 2010 to join Smartodds, a sports research company owned by Matthew Benham. Matthew asked Nity to join the board of his football club, Brentford FC in 2014 and when Matthew acquired FC Midtjylland in 2014, Nity also joined the board of the Danish club. Away from Brentford, Nity is a Trustee of FiSH Neighbourhood Care, a charity based in Barnes that provides friendship support and help to older people, and is co-Event Director of Old Deer Park parkrun.

Christian Eriksen, former Brentford FC player

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Brentford and Worley partnership to advance career prospects of local young people

In March 2022, the Trust partnered with Worley, the global engineering company, to promote and deliver a brand new educational programme combining science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

The programme aimed at participants aged eight to 18-yearsold, included school-based STEAM projects, events at our new social, education and health hub, career workshops, primary school workshops with 350 students taking part and a STEAM summer school. Staff from both Worley and the Trust worked collaboratively to deliver the programme to local young people with the aim of increasing awareness of the job opportunities which exist in the industry and to inspire more people to get involved in STEAMrelated fields.

The Trust worked also alongside professionals from across the sector to showcase positive and relatable role models who could tell their stories to young people. For example, the apprenticeship webinar series gave insight from current and past apprentices to educate young people on the process and benefits of an apprenticeship pathway.

The women in STEAM work visit day was another standout success. Hosted by female professionals at the Worley offices, the day included an office tour and introduction to the organisation, an interactive challenge and a panel Q&A for the girls attending to ask their own questions and get a better insight of the industry.

In the future, the STEAM sector is expected to be one of the largest employments sectors in the world. Innovation and the development of technologies are growing to create more and more career prospects and it is in that context that we are hugely excited to be working alongside Worley as our official STEAM partner.

This partnership will establish a unique programme at our new hub facility, helping to expand our offering to the young people across west London.

Lee Doyle, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust CEO

Karl Reynolds

With notable roles at Comic Relief and the British Paralympic Association, Karl’s experience in the fundraising sector spans more than 20 years. Karl is a passionate believer in the positive impact that sport can have on society. He initially supported the Trust with its fundraising strategy and became a Trustee in 2015. Karl is currently Chair of the Business Development Committee and oversees the Trust’s fundraising activity.

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Pictured: A participant engaging in our Worley workshop at the Community Stadium Hub

The partnership between Worley and The Trust has been a great success; giving Worley staff the opportunity to engage with local students inspiring them into STEAM subjects and careers.

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Thomas Eastgate Principal Consultant, Worley

2022

Paving the way for a new era: The Community Stadium Hub

Providing a safe space to support, inspire, and create opportunities for young people and local community groups to realise their potential, the Community Stadium Hub opened its doors in July 2022.

The Hub is a centre for training and development, providing a space to deliver school workshops, mental health programmes, National Citizen Service, social action, careers and industry days and healthy eating programmes. In addition to delivering Trust programmes, the Hub has enabled us to open the doors to local community groups to benefit from this space.

Adjacent to the Gtech Community Stadium, this new facility has enabled the Trust to continue growing and we can now deliver even more programmes. The Hub also supports new partnerships covering a broader range of issues such as mental health and employability.

The proximity of the new Hub to our Gunnersbury Park site, provides a unique opportunity to combine class-based learning with physical activity, supporting both physical and mental health. This has enabled us to think more holistically about the programmes we deliver which is to the benefit of our participants.

From the early days of the new stadium project, we were very clear as to the importance of community involvement. Our stadium was designed to be an asset for the local area. We have a venue suitable for hosting matches in the Premier League, Premiership Rugby and international matches. But over the coming years our stadium and the surrounding development will be a brilliant new hub for our awardwinning Community Sports Trust.

The important work done by our Trust was demonstrated very clearly when we were first affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. With their new facility at Gunnersbury Park and this hub next to our stadium, their work can only develop and prosper by delivering even more services to the local community.

The space will be perfect to enable the Trust to grow. They work with so many partners across a range of sectors and there is now an exciting venue to bring everyone together. This will particularly benefit their work in education and health. Community groups will also be able to use the space and there will be a wider benefit for local people.

It will make me very proud to see this open and in use. We consider ourselves to be an important part of our community and this demonstrates this very fact as the new facility comes to fruition.

Crown, Chairman of Brentford FC

Key outcomes of the Hub

Partnership with The Wellbeing and Recovery College

In partnership with West London NHS Trust, we are delighted to be collaborating with the Wellbeing and Recovery College, providing an innovative approach to community focused mental health and wellbeing.

The Wellbeing and Recovery College works to an educational rather than a clinical model, offering tools and strategies to support mental (and physical) health and wellbeing. Courses and workshops are developed and delivered using a model of coproduction, incorporating lived and trained expertise in all aspects of their work.

By positioning the service within a football club trust setting (and

with open and free access to courses for all adults living, working and studying in the boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham) they will deliver an accessible programme of training that allows students to take charge of their own mental health and wellbeing.

With NHS expertise on site, we aim to grow an exciting and sustainable partnership. With options for joint events and training, we can foster a dynamic sharing of knowledge, opportunities and inclusion. We believe this has huge potential for both organisations and the health and wellbeing of our local communities.

Education and lifelong learning

Employability and increased qualifications for the community

Positive community engagement

Collaboration with local organisations and groups

Better understanding of local need Health and lifestyle support

Delivering social impact

Pictured: Amarjit Verdi, our new Front of House host welcomes a visitor to the Community Stadium Hub

Thank you partners Project Partners

Thank you to our funders, who make our community projects possible.

Corporate and Fundraising Partners Strategic Partners