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Martene Carroll

Martene Carroll
In Events

JRF Commemorate 75th Anniversary of Windrush

Windrush Legacy Footballers bearing Flags of their countries

Sunday 25th 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 75th 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.

Martene Carroll
In Awards & Grants

JRF Receive Back to Movement Funding

Young People being taught Golf

JRF are delighted to announce a second year of funding from Back to Movement by Track Academy, to deliver the ‘Golf in the Community’ and ‘Youth Zone’ projects for the benefit of children and young people in Brent.

Due to the success and popularity of both projects that were launched in early 2022, JRF have been awarded the grant funding to continue the initiatives.

Back to Movement continues in 2023, with an extended programme designed for the local Brent community and surrounding boroughs to contribute to, not only recover from Covid-19, but to also help bring back the bond in communities across London.

Track Academy in collaboration with Sport England (Together Fund) and National Lottery (Community Fund) continues to go back to basics by, getting people and communities back into movement. The aim with this programme is to continue encouraging the community to come together and work together, to get active again by rebuilding hope, reconnect and looking forward to the future.

JRF’s ‘Golf in the Community’ project will provide urban golf for local children and young people – helping them to keep active and healthy, and offering a new sport for them to try. Sessions will be delivered twice weekly – one from Bridgestone Arena, NW10, the other through community outreach in local schools, parks and green spaces.

Young participants will also have the opportunity to take part in trips to a professional Golf Club, with the support of JRF’s Golf Partners.

The ‘Youth Zone’ is an inclusive and accessible club held each week on a Friday evening for young people to connect socially. In addition to multi-sports, games, and exercise, the club provides creative activities including music and media, as well as mentoring and careers workshops for older participants considering progression pathways.

Martene Carroll, Business Development Manager for JRF said; “We are so grateful to Track Academy, Sport England, and the National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support through these grants. Enabling us to deliver a second year of ‘Golf in the Community’ and the ‘Youth Zone’ will not only help us to engage more young people, but it will allow us to have a deeper and more sustainable impact on those who have previously taken part in the activities.”

Back to Movement project coordinator Grace Veys says: “The programme has helped many organisations expand their services and reach more people over the course of 2022. We are glad that we are able to continue the project for another year. The project motivates thousands of Brent residents and other boroughs to leave the house again after Covid-19, meet new people, learn new skills and have a brighter look at the future. We are glad to be stripping away financial and accessibility barriers, creating safe spaces for participants, improving quality of life, increasing self-esteem and confidence, and most importantly healing after grief.”

If you would like more information regarding these projects please contact info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org with the subject header either ‘Golf in the Community’ or ‘Youth Zone’.

Martene Carroll
In Events

JRF set to celebrate Health & Heritage

Cropped Flyer for Health and Wellbeing Festival

On Sunday 25th 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

Martene Carroll
In News

Football Fitness for over-50’s

Winning Football Team receive Trophy

Sunday 4th June 2023

On a sundrenched afternoon at Bridgestone Arena, JRF hosted a Football Tournament for the over-50’s as part of ‘Our Time Zone’ a Sports, Social, and Health Club for Adults funded by You Decide Brent Health Matters.

Six teams took part in the action packed day including Spurs, Luton, Bounds Green, JRF, QPR, and Watford. In a spirited final game Spurs defeated JRF to receive the winning Trophy.

Andre Nolan and the Clinical Team from Brent Health Matters were on hand throughout the day to offer the teams health checks including blood pressure checks.

Otis Roberts, CEO of the JRF said; “Big thanks to Andre and the team for supporting these young men in their quest to keep healthy and active.”

To learn more about Brent Health Matters visit https://www.brent.gov.uk/adult-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/brent-health-matters#whatisbrenthealthmatters

Martene Carroll
In News

Girls Allowed!

Group of girls sitting on a wall

During the recent May Half Term, a group of girls from JRF were invited by Inspire to Achieve Heritage legend, Eartha Pond, to attend a Girls Allowed event at Church Street Leisure Centre.

The small group who are participants of JRF’s ‘This Girl Can’ project funded by the Hyde Charitable Trust, were accompanied by two female mentors to the school holiday activity programme.

Girls Allowed is a game-changing initiative of the ESP Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Eartha Pond, which aims to embed necessary change and opportunities, to support the next generation thrive!

The girls had a fantastic day enjoying a range of activities inspiring them to stay fit, active, and healthy, including roller skating, fitness, table tennis, basketball, street dance, and football all to the latest tunes from a live DJ.

They all look forward to more Girls Allowed events during the summer holidays.

For more information on the ESP Foundation visit https://www.espfoundation.co.uk/about

If you would like to join JRF’s This Girl Can project please email info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org with the subject header; This Girl Can

Martene Carroll
In News

Groundwork London Inspire Green Fingers

Children gardening in raised planters

On the sunny afternoon of Tuesday 30th May, the JRF Team were joined by 40 young people and their parents to take part in a Community Gardening Day, which saw members of the Groundwork London Team donate gardening equipment, and deliver gardening tips and training to the budding young Monty Don’s and Sarah Raven’s, eager to get digging.

In the open green space around Bridgestone Arena, NW!0 large wooden planters have been built by Segro as part of JRF’s ongoing commitment to take action on climate change, by cleaning up and greening up local areas. The planters form part of the Bridgestone Community Gardens with the intention of attracting butterflies, bees, and other insects by planting pollinators and flowers in the raised beds. 

The young gardeners took great delight in planting sage and lavender plants, as well as other flowers, and understand their responsibility for watering the flowers and watching them grow when they come to the centre to take part in the sports activities delivered by the Foundation.

After the Community Clean-up day last week the Gardening Day is the latest in the Foundation’s Climate Action programme in association with Brent’s CO2Go, a project that uses sport as a backdrop to tackle climate issues in our community. 

The Mayoress of Brent Cllr Orleen Hylton was on hand to help and assist the project that was led by Sara Milne from Groundwork London and the JRF Green Squad.

Everyone got enthusiastically involved and one parent commented afterwards; “My boy slept so well last night! We are definitely going to have to keep this up!”

Look out for future Community Clean-up Days and Community Gardening Days and come down and get involved. Everyone is welcome.

Martene Carroll
In News

Real Talk Tackles Trades

Panel of skilled tradesmen sitting at table

On the evening of Friday 26th May over 30 young people gathered at Bridgestone Arena, NW10 to hear from a panel of Tradesmen working in a range of skilled industries, as part of the ongoing series of Real Talk Events, hosted by the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF).

It was evident that the speakers had more than one string to their bow with Rui a local building site Manager also a Tennis Coach for JRF, Shaquille, or Shaq as he is known to JRF as their resident Dance Teacher, is a Carpenter by trade, Deon a former footballer and Coach is a Plumber, and Alvin another former professional footballer now an Electrician.

The audience heard about the values of having a trade, and that good money can be earned as there is always a demand for skilled workers. In fact, according to figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, wages have risen about 6% as a result of a shortage of skilled tradespeople, including carpenters, groundworkers, bricklayers, plasterers and plant operators in the wake of Brexit and exacerbated by the pandemic.

Shaq gave some good advice about the importance of financial literacy and learning about credit, and Rui spoke about being proactive in seeking and taking opportunities for career development.

The Real Talk sessions are part of JRF’s ‘Passport to Success’ project which is funded by Young Brent Foundation and One Flow One Brent, that aims to give young people an insight into a wide range of industries, and to arm them with the skills needed to compete in the world of work and business.

Shaq who is 24 told the audience, “I took a leap of faith when I left a large company to start my own business. I look after my money and save a lot which has helped me to recently get on the property ladder.”

Alvin said, “I thought football was everything. When I got released (by the Club) I had to do something, to work. I have no regrets in choosing my trade and it has allowed me to plan ahead.”

Deon added, “I wasn’t great in school and my dad was always on to me about getting a trade. Plumbers are in high demand and I’m glad I followed his advice.” 

He encouraged the young people listening to plan ahead in whatever they choose to do. 

JRF have hosted a series of Real Talk sessions as part of the project over the past 6-months, and the success and positive outcomes for the participants continues to grow.

If you are interested in attending future Real Talk sessions please email info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org with the subject header “Passport to Success”

Martene Carroll
In News

Business Talk for young entrepreneurs

Group of entrepreneurs talk business

On Friday 5th May JRF hosted a ‘Passport to Success’ evening that focused on the world of Business.

JRF partnered with Launch It Neasden a new vibrant enterprise centre in Brent for the Real Talk session that welcomed 20 budding entrepreneurs and business owners to the co-working space.

Each business owner had the opportunity to speak about their business, their ideas, the challenges they face, and any help they are seeking, in what was a fun and engaging conversation hosted by JRF’s Michael Adams, and business mentors, Mark Segalov and Angela Seeram.

After the session the group enjoyed refreshments during a follow-on networking session, as an opportunity to share ideas, and seek guidance from the mentors about next steps and top tips.

There is a follow on meeting planned at the end of May for many of the businesses hoping to work with Launch It Neasden, as an attractive and affordable space to help grow their business.

Launch It is part of the wider regeneration of Neasden town centre, that will support fifty young entrepreneurs to start or grow a business through a combination of co-working desks and individual workspaces.

For more information visit https://www.launchit.org.uk/neasden

JRF’s ‘Passport to Success’ project which is funded by Young Brent Foundation and One Flow One Brent, aims to give young people an insight into a wide range of industries, and to arm then with the skills needed to compete in the world of work and business.

JRF have hosted a series of Real Talk sessions as part of the project over the past 6-months, and the success and positive outcomes for the participants continues to grow.

Simon, one of the business owners in attendance commented after the session; “I found a lot of support and motivation from the Passport to Success event the other week! I was able to speak to people I wouldn’t usually come across and get some insight into the success and difficulties people find in starting a business.”

He continued; “I feel confident now that I’m part of a core of people all trying to go down the same path, with the guidance of successful and knowledgeable people.”

If you are interested in attending future Real Talk sessions please email info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org with the subject header “Passport to Success”

Martene Carroll
In Events

JRF Inspire to Achieve

Former Footballers at Wembley Stadium pitchside

On the afternoon of Wednesday 26th April the JRF Team were delighted to host a special invite-only Pitch side View event at Wembley Stadium to showcase their Inspire to Achieve Heritage Exhibition.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, the Inspire to Achieve Heritage Project uncovered the Histories of the Footballers who Paved the Way in the borough of Brent. The impressive Heritage Exhibition situated at the Olympic Terrace at Wembley Stadium features 15 panels over 6 feet in height with graphically designed illustrations of former professional footballers including Eartha Pond, Jerome Thomas, Rachel Yankey, Paul Merson, Dave Regis and the late Cyrille Regis, celebrates the rich sporting heritage that has gone before.

The event was hosted by the Cultural Media Centre’s Michael Adams with BBC Radio and TV personality Adrian Chiles fielding interviews with the former professional footballers in attendance, including Jamal Campbell Ryce, Richard Langley, Dave Beasant, Mark Stein, Brian Stein, and Ricky Hill.

Leader of Brent Council, Councillor Muhammed Butt and Dave Palmer and Riz Rehman from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), spoke about the importance of player engagement and legacy. Colin Barnes, Head of Recruitment at Crystal Palace Football Club, a Brent man himself, spoke about inspiring future opportunities for young boys and girls to play football.

The event came in the week when Wembley celebrated 100 years at the iconic stadium with many of the heritage players present have tasted major success and remembering special moments at the National Stadium.

Amongst the guests were teachers and students from Lyon Park Primary and Salvatorian College who were both involved in the Inspire to Achieve Heritage project, as well as local organisation Track Academy and Forest United.

All joined the interactive discussion and suggested ideas around a lasting legacy from the former players and the unanimous hope that these striking panels will become a permanent Exhibition at Wembley Stadium.

Watch an overview of the Inspire to Achieve Heritage Project here https://vimeo.com/821643785?share=copy

Photo Credits @AmandaRosePhotography

Martene Carroll
In Events

  In Memory of Shaun Antoine

22nd March 2023

On the evening of Wednesday 22nd March, the Jason Roberts Foundation Table Tennis Club hosted a Lemsip Table Tennis Tournament in memory of local community stalwart Shaun Antoine aka ‘Lemsip’.

The tournament was hosted at Bridgestone Arena and 16 players came together to pit their wits against each other in a bid to win the coveted trophy.

After a thrlling competition the trophy was awarded to Peter by Shaun’s sister Sharon.

Despite being an emotional day, everyone agreed the event was a fitting tribute to a man who was such an integral figure in the community.

Rest in Peace Shaun Antione.