Martene Carroll

On Sunday 14^th August Bakkavor Meals London, a local food Company returned to Bridgestone Arena for their third annual community day of Sports, Games, Activities, and Refreshments, to raise funds for the Jason Roberts Foundation.

The Fundraising Event organised by Bakkavor’s HR Team, followed the success of the T10 Cricket Event last year that raised over £2600 for JRF, and saw staff, teams, families, and volunteers come together, in a day that included a Cricket and Football Tournament, with teams from across the Bakkavor Meals organisation, as well as a range of activities for the children including face painting, and a fundraising Raffle with some amazing donated prizes.

With some unbelievable performances in the Cricket that kept the crowd captivated, and brilliant displays of teamwork and camaraderie, the weather held out until the end despite an early threat of rain stopping play. The winning team Cumberland, who managed to dethrone Bakkavor’s  Abbeydale site walked away with the trophy and shield, with other teams and individual performances awarded with medals.

Local former Heritage footballers Richard Langley and Mark Stein were on hand to referee and take part in the activities on the day, that was ably managed by a team of JRF Youth Volunteers.

With donations from across the Bakkavor Meals family along with the fundraising initiatives on the day, this year’s donation to JRF topped the previous 2-years with nearly £5000 being raised.

Martene Carroll, Business Development Manager for JRF said; “We are so grateful for our partnership with Bakkavor Meals London. Their annual events hosted at Bridgestone Arena go from strength to strength, and the family ethos of the business shows in the unity and teamwork that was so apparent on the day. The amazing amount they raised will go a long way in enabling us to continue supporting the local community to access sports provision.”

Luke Burgham, SHRBP said of the day.

“Every year this event goes from strength to strength. From what started as a small event 3 years ago, continues to evolve into a more key catching event every year. With over 400 people attending this year all helping raise money for a great local charity.

We are extremely proud to continue working with the Jason Roberts Foundation and putting on a spectacular cricket event every year. We’ve made some great foundations to partner together in making this event a success and we look forward to the joint participation every year.”

For more information regarding Bakkavor Meals London visit https://www.bakkavor.com/en/home/default.aspx

Sunday 30^th July 2023

Despite a rainy July day, JRF’s Summer Sports Jam at Bridgestone Arena NW10 went ahead, and was well attended by a large number of Brent residents.

The Summer Sports Jam event marked the end of JRF’s popular 9-month ‘Our Time Zone’ project – an Adults Sport, Social, and Health Club, funded by You Decide Brent Health Matters.

As well as a range of activities including Dance, Salsa, Walking Football, Dominos and Table Tennis, trial matches for the over 50s and 60s Caribbean team were held for the forthcoming  2023 Walking Football World Cup of Nations.

With many of the activities being held inside due to the unseasonal weather, the crowd had a chance to speak with some of the Health professionals in attendance, as well as seeking tips and advice from some of the qualified fitness coaches who have worked on the ‘Our Time Zone’ project, including Nines who delivers the Run Club each Tuesday.

A musical performance from award winning artist, Junior Giscombe, perhaps best known for his 1982 hit single, “Mama Used to Say” got the audience on their feet dancing and singing along to his well-loved hit songs well into the evening.

Feedback from those who have taken part in JRF’s ‘Our Time Zone’ project and who enjoyed the Summer Sports Jam Event included;

“A great event, good company, and community vibe.”

“It’s nice to have a place where adults feel valued.”

“Love coming to Brent. It’s such a beautiful moment seeing the older community so happy.”

“It may be raining outside but in my heart it’s spring.”

“We keep fit every Tuesday. It’s great for our mental health.”

Nines who runs the weekly Run Club added, “We set out to create a safe space for the local community to come to and have access to health checks and services they wouldn’t normally be able to reach. A lot of people need a push or don’t have the time. It’s great that the service meets the needs of the community and offers them a place where they can gather and socialise while keeping healthy. It’s a fantastic approach.”

Otis Roberts, CEO of JRF said of the Brent Health Matters funded project; “It has been and wonderful and eye opening nine months. From the engagement of the post-covid elders, to the female empowerment sessions, to the health workshops, and ‘Meet your GP’ sessions, this is just the beginning of something special in our Borough and we are particularly pleased that the local community have co-designed the project with us.” 

On Sunday 3rd July the Jason Roberts Foundation hosted the GDK Cup, a summer Football Tournament at Bridgestone Arena, NW10.

The GDK Cup, the brainchild of popular food brand company German Doner Kebab, saw more than 110  young people compete in a tournament with a focus on positive futures and career options. 

The event was ably organised and executed by JRF Youth Ambassadors who, as part of their work experience take part in training to organise and run events for the Foundation, and in the process help them to acquire a range of skills to add to their CV.

When asked by Loren, one of JRF’s Youth Ambassadors, how he thought about linking a sporting event to the German Doner Kebab name, Eddie Duah, Director and CEO of GDK answered, “It’s something we’ve done before with other teams, and we’re super proud of it. Being able to bring opportunities to people from North, South, East, and West London for me is amazing. When we had the possibility to do it with JRF and give young people a chance to get involved – whether helping to organise the event or playing in the tournament, was a no-brainer for us.”

Congratulating the JRF Youth Ambassadors for their great work in organising the event, Eddie went on to say, “I remember when I was younger being told that you need experience to do something, but if you’re not given the chance you’ll never get the experience. The more opportunities young people get, the better their job and career prospects will be.”

After an exciting final, the winning team hopped on the JRF minibus with their trophy to enjoy food at the nearby GDK in Willesden Green, where Eddie and the GDK staff met with the team and JRF Youth Ambassadors.

JRF plan to host similar events throughout the summer, promoting the benefits of sport, teamwork, diversity and inclusion as well as positive futures for young people.

Sunday 25^th June 2023

On Sunday afternoon over 750 people descended on Bridgestone Arena to enjoy a JRF Exhibition Football Match played by a host of footballing legends under the blazing June sun, to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival in Britain.

The free-to-attend event kicked off at midday when the match got underway celebrating the rich footballing heritage of Brent.

Other activities on offer included Salsa, Street dance, and dominoes to a backdrop of music, and refreshments with a Caribbean influence, and attendees had the opportunity to speak to a range of Health Professionals on everything from Eye Care, and Oral Health, with Blood Pressure and Diabetes checks provided by Brent Health Matters (BHM) and the NHS Clinical Team, as well as information for Carers, and a Will writing service.

Leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt and local Councillor Promise Knight were on hand to walk the teams out, and the new Mayor of Brent, Cllr Orleen Hylton was in attendance to enjoy some of the activities on offer and to meet local residents.

The all-day event was part of JRF’s ‘Our Time Zone’ project – a Sports, Social, and Health Club for Adults funded by You Decide Brent Health Matters.

On the day over 140 people managed to get their health checks completed thanks to the hard work of the Clinical Team, which was a really positive outcome to an enjoyable and productive day where sport, heritage, culture, health, and community came together.

On Sunday 25^th June the JRF Team are opening the gates at Bridgestone Arena, NW10 for the local community to join them for a Windrush Exhibition Football Match and Health & Wellbeing Festival.

The free-to-attend Event will kick-off at 12 noon when the Football Match gets underway, to celebrate the rich footballing heritage of Brent, and to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival in Britain.

To a backdrop of Music and Multi-sports including Walking Football, Tennis, Golf, Dance, Table Tennis, and Chair Aerobics for the elders, attendees will have the opportunity to speak to a range of Health Professionals on everything from Eye Care, Oral Health, Blood Pressure, and Diabetes checks, as well as information for Carers, and a Will writing service.

The all day event is part of JRF’s ‘Our Time Zone’ project – a Sports, Social, and Health Club for Adults funded by You Decide Brent Health Matters.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day and everyone is encouraged to come suitably dressed to take part In some of the activities on offer.

There will be something for everyone at the Festival of Health, Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage. Come and meet your neighbours, socialize, get fit, get active, and stay healthy.

For more information on Brent Health Matters visit https://www.brent.gov.uk/adult-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/brent-health-matters#whatisbrenthealthmatters