EFL Day of Action: Promoting inclusion and health and wellbeing

EFL Day of Action: Promoting inclusion and health and wellbeing

Inclusive football sessions and FIT Fans programme round off the EFL Day of Action.

EFL Day of Action is coming to a close and the Leeds United Foundation have been showing their support for the annual event throughout the day, delivering a number of different programmes in the local community.

This evening, coaches from the club's official charity have been delivering sessions as part of the Premier League Kicks, Every Player Counts and FIT Fans projects - working hard to increase the amount of opportunities there are for people to play football and stay fit and healthy.

The Premier League Kicks (PL Kicks) team hosted a social inclusion football session at Nowell Mount Community Centre to youngsters that previously didn't have access to play football in a safe environment. The PL Kicks programme deliver sessions on a number of different initiatives, working with key stakeholders such as the NHS, West Yorkshire Police and the West Yorkshire Fire Service to support hard-to-reach youngsters in some of the most deprived areas of Leeds.

Disability coaches have also been running an Every Player Counts football session to some of their young participants who are framed-users or suffer with cerebral palsy at the Ramgarhia Sports Centre in Leeds city centre. The group meet on a weekly basis to develop not only their football skills but also increase their confidence levels. This is just one of many disability sessions delivered every week, with the team also developing a number of Pan Disability football teams, supporting the Sunshine & Smiles Leeds Down Syndrome network and working with local schools to run inclusive PE lessons for students with disabilities.

The FIT Fans programme is a new EFL project that was recently launched by the Foundation for men and women aged from 35 to 65 looking to improve their health and wellbeing. The first course began in January and will run for 12 weeks with a session held every Tuesday evening at Elland Road, completely free of charge. Participants take part in educational and active workshops during the sessions, improving their motivation to stay fit and live a healthy lifestyle. The programme has been developed by the EFL and Sport England with additional funding from The National Lottery to target deprived areas where there is a large proportion of adults that are currently overweight and inactive.

Earlier in the day, the Premier League Primary Stars team delivered educational and sport sessions across nine different schools including hosting a special science workshop at Beeston Primary School in partnership with club partner Utilita. Whilst coaches that work on the SSE Wildcats programme were also out in full force helping to develop the football skills of young females at five different venues in West Yorkshire.

If you'd like to get involved in the celebrations for the annual showcase event just use the hashtag #EFLDayofAction.

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