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Martene Carroll

Cultural Cohesion Community Day at JRF

Community residents enjoying dance and music and sunshine

Sunday 11th May 2025

On a bright, sunny Sunday the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) team welcomed over five hundred local residents of all ages to Bridgestone Arena for the first Cultural Cohesion Community Day, in partnership with Brent Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

The intergenerational Family Day offered a wide range of inclusive sport, fitness activities, and games, an array of cuisines from around the world, music and dancing, and a live steel drum band.

This first of two Community days was an opportunity to showcase Brent’s diversity by highlighting and celebrating the rich variety of cultures that make up the community.

From massages to reflexology, face painting and bouncy castles in the Kids Zone, Steel bands to youth football, and the FA and QPR running sessions for girls’ development, everyone from age five to elders, the community spirit shone through as participants basked in the May sunshine.

The large crowd enjoyed the Brazilian churros, and açai and Jamaican Patties were sensational as was the contribution from local independent businesses from different nationalities who set up stalls and offered services on the day.

On the court there was basketball, tennis, and athletics taster sessions, whilst on the pitch the youth ran their own football tournament, and the men came together for Walking Football. Meanwhile the women and girls engaged themselves in movement, culture, and sport and the children fully immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the day of celebration.

Otis Roberts, CEO of the Jason Roberts Foundation said; “These events aim to strengthen bonds between diverse groups, encourage mutual respect, and promote cohesion. The aim for Brent Council and JRF is to create a vibrant, supportive atmosphere for all families in Brent. Judging by the smiles and laughter of the people here today we hope this event has helped to achieve that.”

NOTE: The second Cultural Cohesion Community Day is scheduled for Sunday 15th June. Look out for further information via www.jasonrobertsfoundation.com and social media #JasonRobertsFdn

Photo credit: Buky Taiwo Photography buky.taiwo@btinternet.com 07956847324

No May Half Term at JRF

Flyer to say no May Half Term

Tuesday 27th May. 

Unfortunately, due to ongoing works at the centre there will be no May Half Term programme.

Bridgestone Arena

Tuesday 27th – Friday 30th May

However, our evening sessions on Monday & Wednesday 5 – 7pm and Friday 5 – 8pm will continue as usual. 

Thank you for your understanding.

JRF Events & Activities in March 2025

What a great month it has been with talk, sport, and dance for the entire Brent community.

  • First up JRF celebrated International Women’s Day with a Brent inter-school Girls’ Football Tournament. Warm up exercises were demonstrated by four-time Olympian Triple Jumper Yamilé Aldama. Three of the other ‘Empower to Achieve’ women of Heritage and Sport – Celeste Stevens, Connie Henry MBE, and Lorna Falconer joined Yamilé on the stage for a Memory Café Q&A to a packed hall of girls.
  • Another ‘Empower to Achieve’ Event saw Jawahir ‘JJ’ Roble, MBE return to her former place of study, Westminster College where she met with past tutors and spoke with the audience about her time at the college, and what led her to her current profession as a professional football referee.
  • It was a month for women as Lorna Falconer returned to Bridgestone for a very special Memory Café to celebrate Mother’s Day for the elders in the Brent community. Refreshments were laid on and resident Dance & Fitness Coach, Cherrelle Amo from Hillside Performing Arts got everyone to their feet with a musical exercise session.
  • The month closed with a Walking Football Tournament between the over 50s Caribbean Team and Peru. It was an afternoon of competition and camaraderie – just as sport should be.

All of this has been captured in another great video montage from JRF’s young Media Man, Marley.

Enjoy!

PHOTO CREDIT @eyeSam – https://www.eyesam.co.uk/

E2A travels to Reading Football Club

Group of young people touring Reading FC

Saturday 5th April 2025

On a sunny Saturday afternoon eight young people were treated to a special day at Reading Football Club as part of JRF’s ‘Empower to Achieve’ Heritage project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Pupils from Lyon Park Primary School had been doing some research on one of the Women of Heritage & Sport the project is focused on – Celeste Stevens, Head of Academy Operations at Reading Football Club, who incidentally hails from the same estate in Stonebridge as former Reading player and founder of JRF – Jason Roberts, MBE.

Accompanied by JRF staff and the senior leadership team at Lyon Park school, the young people thoroughly enjoyed a behind the scenes tour led by Celeste where they visited all the club’s departments ahead of the local derby versus Wycombe Wanderers FC.

From meeting the media, the customer service team, and safeguarding team as well as the first team players, the highlight of the day for the lucky group was to have the opportunity to be flag bearers leading the teams out in a live televised game on Sky Sports.

A quick-fire Heritage Q&A with their host Celeste, followed a trip to the Club shop where the young people were given Reading shirts to wear as they immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the game as Reading ran out 1.0 winners. An enjoyable day all round!

For more information on the ‘Empower to Achieve’ project please contact info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org

JRF Easter Half Term Holiday Programme begins

Children lining up to try tennis serves

The JRF Team are EGGcited to announce they will be opening their doors on Monday 7th April for children and young people of Brent to take part in the Easter Holiday Programme.

There are lots of great activities for everyone to enjoy – multi-sports, games, dance, and trips – for 5 – 16-year-olds.

Doors open from 12:00 – 4:00pm Monday to Thursday both weeks – parents & carers please come along and register your children when they attend.

On Monday 7th some of the team will be heading over to St Raphael’s Family Wellbeing Centre to support the launch of Brent’s Youth Strategy 2025 – 2028. From 12:00 – 4:00pm there will be basketball, football, video games, board games and refreshments. All young people are welcome.

The JRF Team look forward to welcoming you for an Easter Holiday of Fun!

Sport & Social Value Day for the FA

Group of staff from the Football Association on football pitch

Thursday 4th April 2025

Yesterday some of the Football Association (FA) staff team enjoyed an awayday of sport and social value at JRF’s community venue, Bridgestone Arena.

Over twenty staff members took part in a range of sports activities and played a mixture of games, as the April sunshine shone down on the neighbouring Wembley arch, one of the most iconic stadiums in the World.

As part of their social value offering the team got involved in refreshing the community centre hallways and changing rooms with a coat of paint as well as clearing up the surrounding area.

Otis Roberts, CEO of JRF said; “It’s the second time the FA has chosen the Jason Roberts Foundation as a venue for their active awayday, where they have also spent time freshening up the community centre. We are grateful for their support across the board, from providing tickets to sporting events for young people, coaching at some of our sessions, and hosting some of the Foundations Heritage events.”

Activities & Events in February 2025

Group of girls playing tag rugby

After a flying start to the New Year, February has certainly not slowed down for the JRF Team!

From Walking Football with our over 50’s Caribbean Team, to the Healthy Hub – for JRF’s Community Health Co Production Programme to undertake base rate health assessments for local residents with support from Brent Council’s Brent Health Matters (BHM) Team.

JRF’s latest Empower to Achieve Woman of Heritage & Sport, Yamilé Aldama was busy encouraging young people in healthy competition in various sporting challenges. She paid a visit to students at Salvatorian College for a Memory Cafe which gave the young people an opportunity to ask questions about life growing up and her experience competing in the Olympics.

Two of JRF’s Youth Ambassadors had a Q&A with Yamilé in the onsite Cultural Media Centre over a game of chess.

February Half Term gave the JRF team the opportunity to get local young people outside to take part in sports, fitness activities, and games at their HQ at Bridgestone Arena, and at Alperton Community School as part of the Collaboration Project with Us Charity, funded by John Lyons Charity.

Coach Wilbert put a group of girls through their paces playing tag rugby as part of the EmpowerHer Girls’ Rugby Project funded by England Rugby and the Mayor of London.

Resident referee Jawahir ‘JJ’ Roble returned to JRF HQ to officiate a youth football match and afterwards the players heard from the inspiring young woman as part of the ongoing Empower to Achieve Heritage programme.

All of these activities have been captured in this short video from our young Media Man, Marley https://vimeo.com/1065465847?share=copy

We hope you enjoy.

January Recap – Events & Activities

Yamile Aldama surprise visit to Lyon Park School

What a start to the new year! 

Activities and events have focussed on sport, health, heritage, and happiness with music and dancing! There has certainly been something for everyone.

From inspiring players and developing grassroots coaches with Peter Augustine from The FA’s Coach Development Team to the Caribbean Walking Football Team winning their first game this year.

Pupils at John Lyon’s School were treated with a visit from our latest ‘Empower to Achieve’ Women of Sport & Heritage, Yamilé Aldama for a Q&A and an impromptu long jump competition.

We launched our new Healthy Hub for adults and the first participants warmed up with some training exercises before receiving health checks and nutrition advice.

The month finished off on a high with our elderly neighbours and those living with Dementia enjoying a social get-together with a ‘name that tune’ quiz before taking to the dance floor to relive dance moves from their youth.

Our youth Media man Marley has captured it all here on this short video: https://vimeo.com/1054466071

Olympian Yamilé Aldama joins Empower to Achieve

Children being shown triple jump by Yamile Aldama

24th January 2024

Last Friday saw the return of the Memory café element of the popular ‘Empower to Achieve’ Heritage programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.

The new addition to the existing quartet of Heritage women central to the project is Yamilé Aldama, a Cuban-born triple jumper, four-time Olympian and gold medallist at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.

Yamilé was back in Brent visiting Lyon Park School, having previously lived in the borough some time ago.

Following research, the students who make up the school’s Sports Council, fielded interesting questions to their Olympian guest including asking about her childhood in Cuba, and why she chose to represent three different Nations in the World Championships.

Following the Memory Café the students enjoyed some outdoor activities and were treated to a firsthand masterclass in the triple jump.

After an hour of warm-ups and training, the school hosted an Olympic style competition and three competitors took to the podium to receive their gold, silver, and bronze medals.

The students received signed photographs of Yamilé but were disappointed not to have their school shirts signed!

Nevertheless, everyone agreed it was a fantastic day where sports heritage and education met.

JRF Activities, Events, & Celebrations in December 2024

Boy in JRF Kit next to JRF Logo

The JRF Team are delighted to share this Video montage from our Youth Media Man – Marley, of the exciting activities, events, and celebrations we enjoyed with our local community, partners, staff, and volunteers throughout December.

What a month, and what a year it has been!

We’re looking ahead to what’s in store over the next twelve months as we head into our eighteenth year since launching in 2007.

There’s lots to look forward to and we hope you will all be a part of it.

In the meantime, from the JRF Family to yours, we wish you a very happy, healthy, and hopeful New Year.

With all good wishes and many thanks for your continued support.

We couldn’t do it without you.

The JRF Team

Follow us #JasonRobertsFdn