News

Despite the cold, wet weather, children and young people in Brent enjoyed a Half Term Holiday Programme of activities at the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF).

In partnership with Young Brent Foundation’s One Flow One Brent (OFOB), Brent Council’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) through JRF’s Inclusive Communities Programme, and the Hyde Foundation through the JRF in the Community Programme, young Brent residents were offered a range of activities to ensure they kept active, fit, healthy, safe, and occupied in a structured environment during the week break from school.

Indoor games such as table hockey, table football, table tennis, boxing, arts and crafts were a necessity due to the weather conditions, as well as outdoor sports including football, basketball, golf, tennis. American football, and rugby, and media sessions through the Cultural Media Centre.

Some of the girls enjoyed a trip to Eartha Ponds’ Girls Allowed programme through her ESP Foundation, whilst others were treated to a Tennis trip and Dance trip with Cherrelle Amo from Hillside Performing Arts.

For some JRF Youth Ambassadors there were volunteer opportunities to support staff, sports coaches, and youth coaches with the activities to build on their personal development plans.

The JRF team worked hard to ensure there was something for everyone, and during the half term holiday the young people of Brent were kept active, engaged, and connected.

The Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) have again been approached by Alive and Kicking (https://aliveandkicking.org/) to become a Ball Library Hub in Brent.

Thanks to support from the Postcode Society Trust, Alive and Kicking secured more funding to donate sports balls across London. The last time JRF were a Ball Library Hub, they were given footballs to loan out. This time they have received a range of sports balls – 4x Footballs, 3x Basketballs, 3x Netballs for use by children and young people living in Brent who have easy access to Bridgestone Arena, NW10 8LW where the Foundation is based.

Alive and Kicking is the world’s only not-for-profit ball manufacturer. Using the lifecycle of a ball to grow happier, healthier, more empowered communities – creating access to jobs, play and vital health education. Their footballs are created to have a positive social impact in the way they are manufactured, sold, and used.

The Postcode Society Ball Library Network is creating a safe platform for play, giving young people access to ethically made sports balls, within walking distance of their home in London. This provides ball library users with complete control of when, where, and how they play, enabling them to increase the amount of time they exercise and play sport each week. Balls will be available from 96 community ball library hubs including sport NGOs, community centres, food banks, and libraries with host organisations embedding the service into their existing community offering.

Martene Carroll, Business Development Manager for JRF said; “We are very happy for JRF to again be a Ball Library Hub thanks to Alive and Kicking and the Postcode Society Ball Library Network. This is a great opportunity for children and young people who might not have access to sports equipment to be able to borrow a football, basketball, or netball and enjoy playing the sport they love.”

The Nine Run Club which is supported by the Jason Roberts Foundation and was born from the fitness and wellbeing drive from the local Brent community continues to flourish.

Every Tuesday evening at Bridgestone Arena, NW10, popular coach Nine Forbes puts families through their paces with a range of fitness activities suitable for all ages and abilities, and lately the numbers have been growing rapidly.

The group are tested with warm-ups, dance, yoga, and walks around local green spaces, with some of them advancing to running. In addition podcasts that give the group a platform to share their views on fitness issues and opportunities in the Borough, as well as Walking trips to places of interest, has injected a sense of fun, reward, and teamwork for this group.

Many newcomers have joined from further afield as the keen fitness troupe continues to support one another under the stewardship of their coach Nine.

Local resident Nine says ; “These ladies and gentlemen come out each week with the same level of passion, regardless of the weather. They show resilience and enthusiasm, and with the numbers increasing week-on-week, there is a real buzz in Stonebridge each Tuesday evening.”

For more information contact: info@jasonrobertsfoundation.org with subject header ‘Run Club’

Off the back of JRF’s successful NCIL funded projects; Reaching Communities and Building Communities the JRF Team have been very active in providing a safe space for refugees to participate in football, in the Borough.

Every Wednesday Football coach Wilbert delivers coaching sessions in Wembley for several men at King Edwards Park, providing the group with structured sports activities that support their physical health and mental wellbeing, as well as offering social interaction.

The initiative that was created by the Public Health & Community Wellbeing Team at Brent Council, has seen the group attending regular games at Bridgestone Arena, the home of JRF, and pitting their wits against other local community footballs teams, which has helped to build friendships and relationships, driving community cohesion forward.

Coach Wilbert said; “These young men are a joy to work with. Despite difficult circumstances they have massive hearts and enthusiasm and have integrated well into the local community. It’s a pleasure to be able to help.”

The partnership with the Walking Football Caribbean and the Jason Roberts Foundation continues to flourish as the over 50s and 60s team continue their preparations for the first Caribbean entry in such a tournament.

After the initial trials the selected Caribbean team have undertaken numerous training sessions, practice games, and attended health awareness events as the final preparations for the upcoming 2023 Walking Football World Cup of Nations Finals next week.

The previous weekend at Bridgestone Arena ended with a mini football tournament, some final health checks, and a photo shoot of the team.

At a recent community event Albion legend Cyrille Regis’s daughter Michelle Regis sent a good luck message to the boys. 

The Health and wellbeing benefits of participating in Walking Football – a sport for everyone, regardless of your age or ability, is apparent as the Caribbean team head to St George’s park next Wednesday.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information see: https://walkingfootballcaribbean.org/

The 2023 Walking Football World Cup of Nations Welcomes the Caribbean to its Finals

Walking Football Caribbean ready to tackle the world

There will be more updates to follow next week.

Walking Football Caribbean in collaboration with The Jason Roberts Foundation will be sending a multi-country team to the Walking Football World Cup finals that will be held at the home of the England Football Team, St George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent between 24th and 26th August 2023. The Caribbean team will be joined by 21 nations from Africa, Europe, North America and Australasia.

About The Collaborators

Walking Football Caribbean was founded by Shaun Merchant, Ken Guiste, Gregg Dalmar and George Evans, walking footballers who share a passion to develop the sport they love, both in the UK and the Caribbean.

The Jason Roberts Foundation invests in local communities to change outcomes for the most marginalised in the United Kingdom and Caribbean.

Community is the enduring centre of Jason Roberts’ story. An activist, former professional footballer, media personality, and the current Director of Development at CONCACAF, Jason Roberts, MBE, launched his Foundation in 2007.

Otis Roberts, CEO of The Jason Roberts Foundation said “This collaboration makes absolute sense to us at JRF. As a community based charity we are well aware of the inactivity that is evident in the Caribbean Community once that 40 marker is reached. Walking Football is a great way for people to stay active and be a part of something that is social and has many health benefits. Once folks get active again who knows what they’ll do next.”

JRF is fully aligned with Walking Football Caribbean’s mission is to improve, maintain and promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of older adults through walking football.

In addition, ex-professional footballer, Mike Adams, former Grenada National Head Coach, National Walking Football Coach of the Year and South-East England Regional Coach has officially joined the Walking Football Caribbean’s team in the capacity of coach. “We are delighted and very grateful to have Mike on board.” George Evans, WFC co-founder. “Mike is widely regarded as one of the best walking football coaches around.”

Mike says, “I’ve been coaching this sport for around 5 years now and have been alarmed at the lack of players of black origin that participate. It’s a great game that takes more out of you than you may think. For the elite player, it’s still competitive and fast paced as the ball is moving rather you. At the participation level it really is a great way to get and keep fit whilst minimising the potential of injury in this non-contact version of the beautiful game. The fact that we are entering a Caribbean team into this competition is an opportunity that I could not resist.”

What is Walking Football

It is exactly what it sounds like – a standard game of typically 6-a-side non-contact football where players walk instead of run. It’s designed to help people get fit, maintain an active lifestyle no matter what their age and fitness level, as well as support for people getting back into football.

This sport is entirely inclusive and is suitable for all ages,” says Walking Football Caribbean co-founder, Gregg Dalmar, “whether you want to play socially at your nearest club or competitively via local leagues and tournaments that ultimately lead to international events such as the World Cup of Nations, which includes three ex-professional footballers per team.”

The Bigger Picture

Whilst the ‘World Cup of Nations’ is the biggest stage in which to enter the sport. Walking football is played by hundreds of thousands of people in over 70 countries. The health and mental benefits for the Caribbean Community—particularly, males who are 40 plus—are numerous.

Chronic Illnesses such as Diabetes, Dementia and Parkinson’s have plagued Caribbean communities for decades and Walking football provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout.

It helps improve endurance, strength, and overall fitness. Regular participation can lead to better cardiovascular health, increased stamina, and improved muscle tone. Fantastic for mental stimulation, stress relief and social interaction. It’s designed to help people get fit, maintain an active lifestyle no matter what their age and fitness level, as well as to support people getting back into football.

Our aim is to:

To engage and work with all walking football groups/clubs, partners, participants, local authorities, health services and any other organisations interested in the development of walking football.

Increase participation by managing, supporting, developing and promoting walking football in the Caribbean.

Create and support a sustainable competition structure throughout the Caribbean at all appropriate age levels in conjunction with existing competitions that encourages full social integration.

Want to participate or get more info on the 2023 Walking Football World Cup Of Nations?

For trials, partnerships and sponsorship opportunities send an email to

walkingfootballcaribbean@gmail.com

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk

Those unable to attend can stream all games LIVE on Youtube. A community outreach program will also be running before and during the event.

Sunday 4^th 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

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