On Tuesday 18th February, members of Accrington Stanley Football Club’s first team made a profound impact on the local community by engaging directly with some of our Champions clients at the Stanley Sports Hub. In a bid to beat the half-term boredom, our Champions mentors invited Shaun Whalley, Farrend Rawson and Jake Batty to attend a games morning with young people from across Hyndburn who access support from our Champions programme. The morning saw clients engaging and interacting with the players over a variety of games, including darts, table tennis and snooker. The players were also on hand to offer informal advice and answered a variety of questions put to them by clients on the programme.
Participants were enthusiastic about the experience, with many enjoying socialising with footballers they usually see on the pitch. “It’s amazing to meet the players in person,” said one client who attended the morning. “They were really funny and just normal people. I especially enjoyed beating Farrend at dominos”. The players also commented on the success of the morning. Speaking about the event, Shaun Whalley emphasized the importance of developing ties between the football club and the local community. “It’s great to connect with the kids. We want to inspire them, not just in football, but in their everyday lives. If we can be positive role models and help them build confidence then we’ve done our job,”.
The partnership between Accrington Stanley’s first team players and our Champions programme is set to continue with plans for more events in the coming months. For many of the young people involved, the experience of meeting and learning from their heroes is one they won’t forget in a hurry and will stay with them as they continue to grow and pursue their dreams.
Champions is a positive mentoring scheme, with a focus on behaviour change. It uses what is important to each individual to inspire them to make the positive changes they need to achieve their goals. The programme’s primary aim is to tackle youth offending and provide preventive strategies to inspire and motivate 10-25 year olds in Hyndburn. The games morning at the Stanley Sports Hub was just one of the events our Champions mentors hosted this week, with clients also being invited to Jumpworks later in the week alongside the continuation of their scheduled mentor meetings.
To find out more about the Champions programme or to make a referral for a young person, please contact our Champions mentors.
