Events

Sunday 15^th June 2025

On the back of the success of the first Cultural Cohesion Community Day hosted by the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) in partnership with Brent Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government the second event on Father’s Day didn’t disappoint as the community came together in good spirits to share outdoor spaces, laughter and movement.

Over three hundred local residents of all ages joined together at Bridgestone Arena on a sunny June afternoon celebrating integration of different cultures and ethnicities.

Once again there was a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy including multi-sports such as tennis, teqball, football with the FA, and cricket, Bollywood style dance performances and dance workshops with Hillside Performing Arts, self-defence interactive demonstrations, face painting, trampolining, and a gladiator style inflatable challenge.

For those wanting a more relaxed afternoon there were head massages and reflexology on offer, as well as community health checks supported by Brent Health Matters.

Music was provided by Phoenix Rising a steel pan band, and resident DJ Jamo Beatz entertained the crowds, and again there were a wide range of cuisines on offer.

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

As one attendee said, “There’s a real diversity of cultures here today. It’s a good opportunity to interact and learn from each other.”

Another agreed saying, “It’s not often that you get so many communities, even those living in the same area, together all at once. Events like this are really important to build community cohesion.”

Seeing the smiles and hearing the conversation and laughter during the day, it’s clear that Brent Council’s initiative to bring communities closer together through events like this is a recipe for success.

The May sun has shone on all the events and activities that have taken place over the last month.

Funfair trip

Our children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities had an exciting trip to the funfair and enjoyed rides on the cup & saucers, dodgem cars, flying planes on the merry-go-round, and on the inflatable slide, amongst others.

It was clear from the big smiles on their faces they loved every moment.

First Cultural Cohesion Community Day

The first Cultural Cohesion Community Day, in partnership with Brent Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government took place on Sunday 11^th May.

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.

There certainly was something for everyone. It really was a day of community, togetherness, and harmony.

Theatre trip & half term fun

The ongoing collaboration project with JRF, Us Charity, and Alperton Community School supported by John Lyon’s Charity saw the girls travel to the West End in London and enjoy a theatre performance of Michael Jackson, the Musical. This was the first time many of the girls had been to the theatre, and they clearly enjoyed this new experience.

During the May half term, the girls were put through their paces with an action-packed day of sports and fitness activities including bike riding lessons, cricket, self-defence, and dance classes – which included a few of Michael Jacksons moves!

Launch of the Players’ Project Pilot

JRF Founder Jason Roberts, MBE made a special visit to Bridgestone Arena for the launch of a new initiative – the Players’ Project Pilot supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballer’s Association.

Fellow former professional players DJ Campbell, Jamie Lawrence, and Mark Stein joined Jason, and they all answered questions and gave sound advice to the young audience who attended the event.

All of these events have been captured in this video montage by our young Media Man – Marley https://vimeo.com/1092087811

Enjoy!

Sunday 11^th 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 15^th June. Look out for further information via www.jasonrobertsfoundation.com and social media #JasonRobertsFdn

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

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

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.

Wednesday 13^th November 2024

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon over forty girls aged 12 – 14 years old took part in an inter-school Tag Rugby Tournament hosted by the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) in collaboration with the Serge Betsen Academy.

The London EmpowerHer event was a brilliant example of how rugby joins communities.

The girls’ Rugby project delivered by JRF and funded by England Rugby and the Mayor of London merges participation in local schools and community centres and incorporates Tag Rugby coaching and personal development through the Skills builder programme.

The London EmpowerHer project is going from strength to strength as the interest and participation in tag rugby grows.

The schools which included Twyford School and Alperton Community School competed in a three-way tournament incorporating a master class and Q&A with former French and Wasps legend Serge Betsen. The girls asked some inspired questions, and the session could have gone on well into the evening.

Serge and his coaches from the Academy assisted JRF’s rugby coach Wilbert, who all provided the competitors with tips and encouragement on how to make an impact in a match situation.

Each school received a trophy for participating in the tournament and returned home empowered by the news skills they learnt by competing in a sport that is in great need of a boost.

If you’d like to know more about the London EmpowerHer Rugby project, contact info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org

For more information about the Serge Betsen Academy visit https://www.sergebetsenacademy.org/

Sunday 20th October 2024

The Arthur Wharton statue made its first appearance in Brent on Sunday when local youths played for the Arthur Wharton trophy at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF).

Over ninety players and spectators took part in a tournament of football, cricket, and athletics to commemorate a sporting pioneer.

Arthur Wharton was born in Ghana in 1865. In 1883, he moved to Darlington, England where he began his amazing sporting career.

Arthur became the first Black professional footballer, the first official fastest man, a professional cricketer, and a rugby player.

Specially made bibs were worn by each team which marked the club and the heritage to which Arthur was associated with Rotherham, Darlington, Ghana his place of birth and Grenada where is father was born.

Founder Shaun Campbell of the Arthur Wharton Foundation travelled from the northeast and was on hand to inspire, educate, and connect with the local players and community. A short film and Q&A session followed after the main presentation to the winning team of the football tournament and an award for the fastest youth on the day was over.

To add to the impressive list of local players displayed at the Bridgestone Arena, the Hyde owned community centre a stone’s throw away from the iconic Wembley Stadium, JRF unveiled a large panel featuring Arthur Wharton for current and future generations to remember his contribution to sport.

Otis Roberts, CEO said “I’ve known Shaun for a number of years and haven’t seen him for a while but now I’ve met with him twice in a week. It’s an honour to have him in Brent educating the youth about Arthur and it’s only fitting that JRF recognise the great work that is being done by Shaun and his organisation to raise awareness of Arthur’s feats.”

Shaun Campbell said “It was a real honour and a privilege to see Arthur Wharton remembered and commemorated at the Bridgestone Arena, by the Jason Roberts Foundation. The occasion also marked the 10th Anniversary of the unveiling of the now iconic statue of Arthur Wharton at the National Football Centre, St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, home of the FA.

The JRF were exceptional hosts who marked the occasion with the unveiling of a poignant mural of Arthur, placed on their wall of honour that celebrates local heroes such as Raheem Stirling, Ricky hill, Rachel Yankey and Jason Roberts, among others.

The Arthur Wharton Foundation thanks the JRF for a truly wonderful day of celebrations that saw the local youth turn out in numbers to make the day special.

Special thanks to Otis Roberts, who has been a friend and supporter of the Arthur Wharton Foundation for some twelve years. Thanks also to the entire team at the JRF who showed exceptional kindness and commitment on the day, something that we will never forget, and will always be grateful for.”

For more information about the Arthur Wharton Foundation visit https://arthurwhartonfoundation.org/