News

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

Saturday 7th December 2024 

Eight young people who regularly attend JRF activities and events had the opportunity to visit Bakkavor Meals London Park Royal factory for a careers day learning about manufacturing and the food industry.

The day started with ice breakers and an introduction to the Bakkavor team, as well as a discussion about how the relationship between Bakkavor Meals London and the JRF has built up over the years, leading to an annual Cricket and sport fun day to raise funds for the Foundation.

A tour of the premises followed with an exercise looking at ingredients and the production line, and the young visitors found out about the apprenticeship schemes and Graduates’ schemes that Bakkavor offer.

The group went on to make their own JRF themed pizzas inspired by the Foundation’s logo. The results of the pizza making and branding of the pizza boxes were fabulous, and the young people came away with giveaways and food goodies, enthused and inspired by a food manufacturer that has community at their heart.

JRF has recently been awarded £16,000 by the Bakkavor Meals London team following another successful community and family fun day which included a Cricket tournament, sports, games, and activities for all the family, and raffle.

This fourth event was bigger than previous years with other Bakkavor factories and staff taking part in a wonderful day of sport, health, and community spirit.

Otis Roberts, CEO of JRF said; “We are so thankful for the great relationship that has developed over the years with Bakkavor Meals London. The funding they raise supports our work in the community, and we greatly appreciate their continued support.”

JRF initiate a return to school for twelve former students in Harlesden.

Wednesday 30^th October 2024

Last Wednesday the boys were back in town as the class of 1963 met the class of 2024 at Newman Catholic College (formerly Cardinal Hinsley) for a long-awaited visit to their former school some 55-years on.

The Cardinal Hinsley dozen who attended school in the 60s travelled from far and wide to have a tour of Harlesden and were then shown around their former school by young students. The group also revisited some of their old haunts in Roundwood Park and Harlesden high street.

Some turned up with their old schoolbooks wearing their school scarves with an enthusiastic skip in their step as though it was the first day all over again.

Amazingly they have kept in touch all this time meeting for monthly afternoon tea on more than 150 occasions, creating bond that is unbreakable.

A nostalgic afternoon was spent in previous classrooms, the woodwork room, and playground for the former students who have forged successful careers in banking, the arts, consultancy, construction and notably Oscar winning sound producer Chris Munro who hails from Church Road.

Head teacher Andy Dunne and Assistant Head Susan Grace were instrumental in ensuring that the current group of student hosts shared stories and ideas with their elders and provided great insight into the school and future plans, with the successful development going forward.

The day ended with discussion, laughter, and memories on the journey back for those who call Brent and Harlesden home.

Kenelm Robert one of the driving forces behind the groups longevity said,

“Thank you for inviting me to list the names and careers of my Cardinal Hinsley school chums who meet for monthly afternoon tea since our phased retirement since 2012. You will remember that we all met, aged 11, at the renamed Newman Academy from 5th September 1963. The school had been opened for just five years and, in the desire to create an exemplary institute of learning, many seemingly quaint and unusual practises were adopted and was the usual criteria.

For instance, the prefects wore boaters and carried short sticks to mete summarily justice to younger pupils who had transgressed. School caps were always worn and, if a teacher was not shown the respect by “capping”, (raising the headgear to acknowledge a master), punishment, usually three strikes of the cane,  could be administered at the next morning’s assembly.

Despite these challenges all my friends agree that these were amongst the happiest times of our lives and our afternoon teas are spent reminiscing and reflecting ‘a la recherché du temps perdu!

Our years at Cardinal Hinsley were, educationally and emotionally, the most significant of our lives and the friendships we shared will never be forgotten.”

Sunday 13^th October 2024

The EmpowerHer project designed to get young people, particularly girls, into rugby is making great strides as the school’s engagement continues to grow.

After the recent Female Sports Festival in September, a new appetite for young people to engage in non-traditional sports has emerged.

The girl’s rugby programme funded by England Rugby and the Mayor of London and the VRU is giving young people across London the access and skills to progress in the sport.

With an inter-schools competition in November on  the horizon and personal development workshops in place Serge Betsen the former French rugby union player who played as a flanker for London Wasps and Biarritz at club level and for France internationally. popped in to inspire at the weekend session at Bridgestone Arena last Sunday.

He was on hand to offer skills, tips and an insight in rugby and tag rugby and to offer his views on why girls participation and intervention in rugby helped him in his career.

Otis Roberts, CEO of JRF said; “We are really pleased to involve Serge and his organisation into the fabric of our programme, and we look forward to next month’s schools’ event which will provide healthy competition for our participants.”

Serge Betsen commented; “It’s funny, my first position was with a girl who taught me how to tackle. I always support women’s sport in general and I always encourage girls to play. I think they are knowledgeable, they learn quicker, and it’s easy to coach rugby with the girls, definitely.”

For more information contact otis@jasonrobertsfoundation.org

With the long school summer holidays fast approaching, the team at the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) are getting ready to welcome the children and young people of Brent to their annual ‘Summer of Play’ holiday programme at Bridgestone Arena, NW10 8LW.

This year the action-packed agenda of sports, games, activities, and excursions will kick off at midday on Monday 29^th July and will run until Thursday 29^th August 2024.

The exciting holiday programme will offer a range of sports and fitness activities to cater for everyone, including tag rugby, basketball, badminton, golf, table tennis, boxing, football, cricket, and dance with Hillside Performing Arts. JRF will be adding a new sport – Pickleball, to the menu, one of the fastest growing sports in the USA, as well as creative arts, and media training through JRF’s onsite Cultural Media Centre, and activities linked to JRF’s new ‘Empower 2 Achieve’ Heritage project.

From Thursday 1^st to Friday 9^th August there will be a Tennis Summer Camp taking place from 10:30 to 12:00 noon with Tennis coaching and fun games and activities for £5.00 per day. To book places contact Leeta on 07899995656.

Thanks to funding from the Hyde Foundation, Wembley National Stadium Trust, and Anglian Building Products (part of ASHI Group Ltd), young people will also enjoy some away-days to try their hand at other pursuits and experiences.

To keep young people active and engaged throughout their summer holidays there will be activities for different age groups and to cater for all abilities.

The ‘Summer of Play’ Holiday programme will be open from Monday to Thursday 12:00 – 4:00 pm for children and young people aged 5 – 16 years and parents and carers are asked to accompany their children to the centre to register them onto the programme.

Otis Roberts, CEO at JRF said: “We are delighted to be able to offer the young people of Brent a safe place to take part in sports, fitness, and recreational activities during the long summer holidays. Thanks to the continued support of our funders, children can enjoy fun and affordable activities to keep them active, healthy, and happy all summer long.”

JRF offer an open access programme of activities to ensure everyone can take part and no-one is excluded.

For more information regarding the summer programme email the JRF Team at info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org