Local heroes from EFL Clubs will be recognised and celebrated for the impact they make in their communities as part of the EFL’s Community Weekends, taking place from Saturday 22nd February to Sunday 3rd March.
Across the period, Clubs, managers and players will acknowledge the vital work that community staff and volunteers deliver 365 days per year and Community Heroes will be honoured by special visits from players and through matchday activities.
As part of matchday activations, fans will get the chance to hear from participants that have had their lives changed or even saved by their Club’s community work and find out more details about the range of projects available to them and ways they can get involved.
Derby County’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Millwall will celebrate the efforts of Derby County Community Trust, which improves lives and communities through sport, physical activity, health, and education. The Community Trust supports over 30,000 people annually, offering life-changing opportunities, and their work will be highlighted at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday against the Lions (12:30pm kick-off).
Derby’s players will warm up in Derby County Community Trust branded t-shirts, which will be signed and raffled off, with all proceeds going directly to the Community Trust for investment in local programmes. Keep an eye on social media for details on how to enter the draw for a chance to win one of the signed t-shirts!
The Community Trust will also welcome the Female Talent Pathway Under-10s and Under-12s to Pride Park Stadium as Saturday’s flag bearers and ball retrieval team. The Community Trust’s Female Talent Pathway helps develop local talent, aiming to provide players for the Derby County Women’s First Team.
Outside Harrison’s Hub at Community Corner, the Community Trust’s Schools, Coaching, and Health teams will be running activities. At half-time, some of the Community Trust’s inclusion participants will take the pitch for a 5v5 match.
This year, the EFL’s Community Weekend campaign is shining a light on the everyday heroes working/volunteering/participating in the community. Community Heroes show how the power of football makes a real difference to people in their communities through innovative programmes and initiatives that are inspiring and impacting communities across England and Wales.
Derby County Community Trust would like to introduce their Community Heroes:
Estelle Leckie is a dedicated and passionate volunteer who consistently gives up her time to support others. She supports throughout the week at our Knit and Natter, Breakfast Club and allotment sessions and has completed over 400 volunteer hours over the last 12 months.
Karen Chamberlain supports many of the Community Trust’s disability programmes, which includes Ability Counts, DS Active, Disability Wildcats and the sensory room as one of their casual coaches. She takes time to understand the complex needs of individuals she works with and tailors her approach to make it an inclusive experience.
Isaac Goodman was a student on the Community Trust’s BTEC Level 3 course until July 2024. He excelled in his studies and flourished into a learner who was engaged, positive, proactive and a great role model to his peers. He was one of the most organised and conscientious students the Community Trust have had on the programme.
Mark Woodhouse is PE and School Sport Coordinator at a local primary school. Mark and his school are involved in multiple Community Trust programmes, and he consistently shows that he believes in giving his students the best opportunities to take part in physical activity and sport.
Sara Adcock and Emma Pilgrim were both awarded with the Employee of the Year award at the Community Trust’s most recent Awards Evening. Both embody the organisation’s values and go above and beyond to provide meaningful experiences and events.
They will be presented with pennants pitchside prior to kick off and they will also walk the matchball out to the centre circle.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive Officer of the EFL, said: “Community is a fundamental part of the EFL and its 72 Clubs’ identity. The work undertaken by Clubs has a hugely positive impact on the participants of the various programmes and in the towns and cities where people live.
“Football Clubs are trusted in their communities, and this can help to remove barriers for accessing support. Clubs are successfully addressing challenges linked to health, wellbeing, education and employment as well as helping to keep communities connected. We look forward to celebrating and recognising this incredible work in front of match-going fans during the Community Weekends.”
Debbie Cook, Director of Community at the EFL,said: “EFL Club Charities engage more than 1 million people in our communities all year round. To be able to showcase the Club community work as a collective and acknowledge the work of participants and programme leaders -many of whom are volunteers – really shows the scope and impact this vital work plays in supporting local fans and residents.”
The EFL Community Weekends build on the success of the recent EFL Week of Action in November – where the League and its Clubs shone a light on the significant social impact Club community work has on towns and cities in England and Wales. This was valued at over £1.24 billion a season in the latest community impact report found here.
During the 2023/24 season, EFL Football Club charities delivered 438,033 sessions across 801,661 hours with an average of 6,084 sessions and 11,134 hours of support per Club.
For more information on the EFL Community Weekends and the impact of EFL Club community work please visit efl.com.
