In early June, the Regal team visited Bridgestone Arena, the home of the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) as part of their ongoing commitment to support and uplift local communities. Over the course of five days, staff and contractors worked together to transform both the exterior and interior of the centre, leaving a lasting impact on the facility and those who use it.
The team began by clearing a long-blocked fire exit and repairing and repainting the boards around the popular 5-a-side pitch. These essential safety and maintenance improvements were followed by a striking upgrade to the front of the building, giving the entrance a much more welcoming and refreshed appearance.
Inside, the transformation continued with the installation of brand-new carpet throughout the education, library, and media rooms, spaces that are regularly used by community groups, young people, and partner organisations. The new flooring has significantly improved the environment, providing a brighter, cleaner, and more inspiring space for learning and creativity.
Founder of the JRF, Jason Roberts, MBE expressed his gratitude for their work:
“Gestures like this don’t come every day from local companies. I’d like to say a big thank you to Regal and their partners and contractors, including Daniel Frett, Project Lead, and Ellie Boyle, Senior Site Manager, Regal, for thinking about supporting local community centres like ours. This will make a massive difference to the look and feel of the space, and it’s a lovely surprise as we head into the summer months.”
Ellie Boyle, Senior Site Manager, Regal said:
“We were proud to support the Jason Roberts Foundation in their work to enhance the Bridgestone Arena, helping deliver real improvements for the local community. At Regal, we take our role in the community seriously and are always looking for meaningful ways to make a positive impact in the areas where we work. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and generosity of our project partners, thank you to R Sees Flooring Company Ltd, PCE Limited, Oakwoods Skips, London MEP Group Ltd, and MadiganGill for your support.”
The Jason Roberts Foundation is proud to collaborate with organisations like Regal that recognise the value of community spaces and take meaningful action to invest in them.
A video overview of the works undertaken by Regal & their partners can be viewed here https://vimeo.com/1101154445
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.
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/
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!
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.”
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
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.
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
Sunday 22nd December 2024
Ahead of the festive break a group of fifteen local youths who frequent the Foundation’s activities and programmes at Bridgestone Arena took part in a community clean up, giving back to their community centre and neighbourhood.
This social action initiative supported by Hyde Charitable Trust as part of the ‘JRF in the Community’ three-year project, is one of many such climate schemes organised by JRF and local partners including Hyde Housing and Brent Council over the last few years, inspiring local young people and adults to take action and be responsible for the area in which they live.
Over the years JRF have been active in green and environmental activities including community clean ups, education, enhancing green spaces and creating a ‘Green squad’ Youth Board that take part in environmental taskforce conversations.
Training was conducted by Ilaria of “Start Easy” a specialist in environmental training and green programmes.
The youths who gave up their time to get involved in the initiative were rewarded with a well-earned meal at a local grill restaurant.
