Martene Carroll

29^th January 2023

On Sunday 29th January the JRF Team hosted a community Health & Wellbeing Day to celebrate and promote the launch of their ‘Our Time Zone’ project, a multi-sport, social, and health club for adults, funded by You Decide Brent Health Matters.

The free to attend event was held at Bridgestone Arena, and gave  attendees the opportunity to speak with a range of professionals and experts in their field about health-related issues that can affect our everyday lives.

Over 100 people of all ages attended with a large number of women due to the event coinciding with a women’s football tournament taking place.

The Brent Health Matters Team were present throughout the day, and a Clinical Team led by Andre Nolan provided attendees with health MOTs which encompassed weight and BMI, and blood pressure checks.

There were health talks and advice on a range of issues covering mental wellbeing, nutrition, diabetes, general wellbeing, and foot care.

Thanks to Andre and the Team for making it such an informative and constructive event.

We look forward to the next one in April.

About the ‘Our Time Zone’ Club

The ‘Our Time Zone’ Club offers adults a range of sports, games, and activities to suit all ages and abilities on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings including a Walking Club, Walking Football, Table Tennis, Boxing/Sparring, Badminton, Golf, Pool, Chair exercises, Yoga, Book Club, board games, and refreshments.

On Sundays there are ‘Let’s Talk Health’ information sessions through local health and support services including Diabetes, Prostrate & Breast Cancer Awareness, Heart Health, NHS Cessation services, Mental Health & Bereavement, Vaccination (including Covid-19) and Screening Services, Nutrition Advice, and signposting to other local services. Throughout the project there will also be community events and Walking Football Tournaments held on Sundays.

‘Meet your Local GP’ sessions will give participants not already registered with a GP surgery the opportunity to do so as well as benefit from On-Site Health Checks including Blood Pressure, cholesterol, weight/BMI, and skin checks.

The ‘Our Time Zone’ club gives adults the opportunity to come together socially in a community setting and enjoy a range of activities.

For more information regarding this and other JRF projects please contact info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org

What is Brent Health Matters?

The goal of the Brent Health Matters Programme is to reduce health inequalities in Brent.

Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people.

Our shared programme will be looking to engage with the community on a number of wide-ranging issues to reduce the health inequalities experienced in Brent.

https://www.brent.gov.uk/adult-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/brent-health-matters#whatisbrenthealthmatters

27^th January 2023

In January former QPR star Richard Langley and Norman Mullings, the Chairman of Learie Constantine Centre got together to share stories with the audience and look at how the culture of football helped to define individuals and communities.

The evening, which was an event linked to JRF’s Inspire to Achieve Heritage project, gave insight into Richards inspirational father Mike Langley who, with his brother Alfred Langley and friends Murray Armoury and Paul Kidson, founded Learie Constantine FC in 1976, to give opportunities for black players to play football. The club was named after famous Trinidadian-British cricketeer and activist Baron Learie Constantine, Britain’s first black peer, who died in 1971.

Norman Mullings, a well-respected community figure, was at the forefront of that initiative as he and his business partner Phil Cellie gave permission for the club to train at the Learie Constantine Community centre they had established in Willesden, north-west London – a safe space where local black residents would congregate.

The Intergenerational Memory Café was part of the Foundation’s Inspire to Achieve project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, and the audience had lots of questions especially from the aspiring footballers in the room who wanted  to tap into Richards knowledge and experience, firstly as a footballer and more recently as an agent looking after some of the next generation of talent in the game.

Radio presenter, DJ and comedian Geoff Schumann was on hand to lead on the interviews and also in attendance was Watford FC legend Luther Blissett’s sister Dinah, who spoke fondly of her memories of the social club that is having a new community centre built with occupancy expected in late 2023. 

Learie Constantine FC grew from one team to three due to the demand and eventually closed in 2015.

The Intergeneration Memory Café highlighted to the audience how former semi-professional and professional footballers as well as community figures, paved the way in the borough of Brent, and the challenges they faced and overcame, to inspire futures generations.

A Huffington Post Article ‘These All-Black Football Clubs Fought Against Racism. What Happened To Them?’ gives more insight into the history behind the Learie Constantine Football Club

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/all-black-football-clubs_uk_

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20^th January 2023

On the evening of Friday 20^th January a crowd gathered at Bridgestone Arena, the home of JRF, to remember the late, great, Cyrille Regis, as part of the Foundation’s Inspire to Achieve Heritage Project.

BBC Radio presenter and former One Show Host Adrian Chiles opened the evening and West Brom fans who remember Cyrille’s debut season in 1978, joined the 150 strong audience.

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, and the evening’s event focused on one of the true trailblazers who overcame racism and bigotry to inspire a generation.

JRF’s Media Manager Michael Adams hosted the evening, showing a video highlighting the great achievements of Cyrille during his professional career, as well as his charity work off the pitch. A Q&A discussion followed with many touching tributes shared by the audience about the impact Cyrille had on them, from how he tackled the racial abuse he endured, and why so many Brent residents are West Brom supporters.

Children with physical and learning disabilities who were involved in the Inspire to Achieve Heritage project, presented their research projects on the history of Cyrille’s professional career as well as his cultural heritage.

Patricia Lichst and Alex White from The National Lottery Heritage Fund were invited to attend, and they engaged with the community and took part in the creative workshop ran by Simon from ‘Blingwear’ for local children and young people to express how they wanted to remember Cyrille, later taking to the stage to share their thoughts on the JRF project.

The audience learned more about Cyrille’s connection to Maripasoula, French Guiana where he was born. He followed his father to England at a young age, and was playing football with non-league Hayes when he was spotted by West Bromwich Albion chief scout (and former centre-forward) Ronnie Allen. A film is currently in production about Cyrille’s family.

One clear message from the night was that although Cyrille has sadly passed away, his legacy lives on in the memories of past, present, and future generations.