EFL Day of Action

April 14th saw Bradford City AFC participate in EFL’s fifth annual Day of Action. Up and down the country managers and players across the EFL network pledged support to a wide range of community-based projects including food bank deliveries, initiatives to tackle loneliness and mental health, support programmes for refugees and asylum seekers, helping children living in poverty along with tailored sports sessions for people with additional needs.

Using the power of football, the EFL is able to engage some of the most vulnerable members of society to address important issues in the areas such as equality, diversity and inclusion, education, employment and health and wellbeing. Every season, EFL Clubs and CCOs provide more than half a million hours of group activity and over 40 million hours of participation to their local communities.

This year Bradford City’s main focus was ‘Health and Wellbeing’ recognising the impact the global pandemic is having on Bradfordians with a spotlight on projects and provisions in place locally to help maintain positive mental and physical wellbeing as we continue on the roadmap out of lockdown.

The Bantams kicked off the day with the Bantams Active Club followed by a player appearance at one of our Bradford City Community Foundations half term football camps.

In addition, there was a special ‘Reading Bears’ class delivered by Gareth Evans – Lead for health and wellbeing. Players from City’s first team also discussed what steps they take to stay physically and mentally well. The day was rounded off with introductions to the various other programmes offered through the Community Foundation.

Since March 2020, EFL Clubs have collectively distributed over 1.4 million food parcels, more than 179,000 items of PPE, 22,000 prescriptions and donated over 2,100 laptops and tablets to people facing technology poverty. Club staff and their players have had in excess of 527,000 outgoing and incoming conversations with fans and vulnerable people, and over 600 job opportunities are being delivered for young unemployed people.

EFL reporter Ben Turner spoke with Bradford City Community Foundation CEO Ian Ormondroyd and Bradford City woman’s first team player Maisie Norde about the importance of Day of Action and it’s benefit to the local community.

Ian Ormondroyd said: ‘This year, more than ever, we recognise the importance for the Bantams and the Community Foundation to have an impactful community presence and we look forward to strengthening our work for this season and beyond.’

To keep up to date with all things Community Foundation follow us @bcafc_cf on Instagram and Twitter and Bradford City FC Community Foundation on Facebook.