The FFC Community Sports Trust (CST) was renamed the Fulham Football Club Foundation at the start of the 2009-10 season, following a re-alignment of a number of its strategic objectives to best reflect its charitable status, and the work it carries out within the nine London and Surrey boroughs it covers.
The Club has been operating a community division for nearly 20 years and was awarded charitable status in 2005 which was officially launched at the House of Commons in 2006. Fulham Football Club Foundation, which employs more than 30 permanent and 100 sessional staff at its Motspur Park office, achieved over 220,000 participation opportunities working with over 25,000 young people during the last year.
The primary goal of the Foundation is to increase participation in sport and physical activity through a number of projects, resulting in an improvement in health and well-being, which in turn, contributes to a reduction in youth crime and anti-social behaviour. The Fulham Football Club Foundation delivers inspirational initiatives and projects which have a positive influence on the communities in whichthey operate. With the support of various members of Roy Hodgson’s squad, the impact of the Foundation’s work cannot be underestimated.
In the last year alone the roll-call of players who have played their part in initiatives include John Pantsil, Brede Hangeland, Clint Dempsey and Erik Nevland. In 2009 the Foundation’s hard work has thrived through a variety ofworthwhile projects and initiatives, including the Thames River cleanup. FFC joined forces with Thames 21, the charity committed to environmental work to clean up London’s rivers, and more than 100 local volunteers helped clean up a section of the foreshore on the banks of the Thames.
Earlier on in the year FFC and Surrey County Cricket continued their excellent joint work in supporting the ECHO (Equality Coaching, Healthy Options), which encourages children to lead a healthier lifestyle by using football and cricket stars as sporting role models. Fulham defender Brede Hangeland was on hand to lend his support and his ringing endorsement of the project spoke volumes for the Foundation’s work.
“These types of projects weren’t really around when I was growing up and I am sure they make a big difference in young people’s attitudes. It’s great to see so many of them motivated, showing a keen interest and they are clearly benefitting from these types of projects.”
Brede Hangeland
FFC made history in November 2008 by hosting a first ever joint Down’s Syndrome football training session between two professional clubs, with Fulham’s Down’s Syndrome football team, the Fulham Badgers, being joined by QPR’s Down’s Syndrome team, QPR Tigers. The FFC Foundation also organises School Holiday Courses for Special Needs children as well as working closely on a regular basis with impairment groups. Fulham Football Club Foundation coaches, who receive special training to ensure that they can provide the best possible experience, provide year round football and sports training for young people with Down’s Syndrome.
The Fulham Football Club Foundation is committed to engaging, motivating and inspiring communities through positive, high quality experiences and will endeavour to continue ensuring excellence in all their work over the coming season.
Read the 2008/09 Annual Report|