Pitching In Southern League Division One Central outfit, Biggleswade FC, have joined forces with their local coeducational school for SEN pupils, Ivel Valley, in an exciting community partnership.
Through a series of ongoing events and activities, the club hopes to strengthen its links with the school to give its SEN pupils opportunities that are not always routinely available to them and are potentially life-changing.
The project, entitled 'Pitching In Together', which has received funding via a Trident Community Foundation grant, will have an event on Saturday, March 23rd with a Family Fun Day at Biggleswade’s home game against Thame United, which also coincides with Non-League Day 2024.
It will take on a Fun for all of the Family theme with Ivel Valley pupils getting free admission, the opportunity to lead the teams out as mascots, a ground tour plus hat and scarf as well as the chance to meet the players, learn about the club and take part in various pre-match activities.
“Our club ethos is based on being a friendly, welcoming and local community club,” said Biggleswade FC Chairman, Jeremy Reynolds (pictured). “We put an emphasis on youth development and progression and in recent years have developed a strong local fan base with close ties to the local community, where a large number of our players are from.
“This project is particularly important to us. One of our supporters is a Governor at the school and he has seen at first-hand the way in which his son, who attends the school, has hugely enjoyed and benefitted from the experience of coming along to matches.
“This is where the original idea for the project came from as we aim to play our part in improving the mental and physical health of children, parents and carers, reach out to those youngsters who feel isolated and excluded to help them make new friends, assist in building self-confidence and social skills, provide respite for parents and carers and also support the school in its sporting provision with coaching sessions, whilst at the same time engendering a love of football and a sense of belonging and pride in their local club.”
Future plans include a football tournament at the club’s ground for SEN schools within the local area and the establishment of a Values Cup to tie in with Ivel Valley’s ‘Golden Rules’.
“Going forward, we want to see pupils as well as their parents and carers become part of the Biggleswade FC Family,” continued Mr. Reynolds. “We want to be able to make a difference to the lives of local people by using the power of the football club.
“We are really excited to see how this project develops and grows.”
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