Bolton Wanderers’ club vice-captain joined young and old as he helped kick off the English Football League (EFL) Week of Action.
Gethin Jones supported an event at St Saviour C E Primary School in Radcliffe which brought two separate projects into focus, both run by the club’s community department and charitable arm, Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWitC).
The defender joined in with the intergenerational activity which saw pupils who are part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme, which is an online learning platform, join together with older adults who attend ‘Extra Time Hub’ sessions.
The youngsters planned physical activities and team games which they then enjoyed alongside the older adults, with Jones joining one of the mixed teams.
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“I really enjoyed it,” said Gethin. “It’s good to come down and see the interaction between the kids and the older supporters.
“They come and support us on match days, so it’s good for us to come down, join in some activities and answer their questions.
“It also shows some of the fantastic work the community department does at Wanderers and across all clubs in the EFL.
“I know helping and reaching out to all sections of the community is really important to both the club and the community department at Wanderers and it’s something we want to support wherever we can.”
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Community departments from all clubs in the EFL are showcasing the work they do during the dedicated week of activities designed to highlight some of the most impactful community projects taking place across the country.
A report launched at a roundtable in Parliament last week by the EFL highlighted the impact and importance of club community organisations such as BWitC.
Produced by research experts Substance using data from 2019 to 2022, the report shows that EFL clubs and their community organisations generated more than £865m of social value to towns and cities across the country through ground-breaking community programmes during the 2021/22 season.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers in the Community reaches thousands across the borough
It also showed that they generated more that £101m for community investment.
Sports minister, Stuart Andrew MP said: “The EFL’s Week of Action is a great way to highlight the significant contribution football clubs make to local communities.
“Football is a way of life across England and this research shows just how vital clubs are in bringing people together and fostering a strong sense of pride.
“We are determined to protect these vital community assets, so clubs are placed on a sustainable footing now and into the future and continue to play a central role for generations to come.”
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.
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