Leeds United are taking part in the first ever EFL Community Weekends campaign as we celebrate local community heroes alongside the EFL, EFL Trust, 71 other EFL clubs and Community Club Organisations.

The Leeds United Foundation have chosen four people across four different community programmes to be recognised through the campaign, with each of them invited to Thorp Arch earlier this week and presented with a shirt and certificate by first-team players Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara. All four candidates will also be in attendance at our game on Sunday afternoon as we take on Preston North End.

You can learn more about the four chosen community heroes, below:

Aiden: PL Kicks Programme

Aiden started attending Kicks sessions in 2017, at the time he had struggles with full-time education which also impacted his relationship with his family. Since then, Aiden has taken part in a number of initiatives through the Foundation, including our Healthy Holidays Camps, a Positive Choices event and targeted work through Kicks. Aiden quickly became reengaged with his education, and also connected with his local grassroots club and started volunteering within the Kicks set-up, along with building a better relationship with his family. Aiden has now become a registered referee, and he has progressed from a volunteer to a member of the Foundation’s coaching staff.

Arees: Secondary Education Programme

Arees has been working with the Foundation since October 2022, when he had a 04% attendance and struggled with life in and outside of school. Through targeted work within one of their Secondary School Hubs, the Foundation looked at social interaction and reengagement into the school setting, whilst also supporting his health and wellbeing and social skills. At the end of the 2023 school year, Arees finished with 100% attendance, along with a new focus to achieve in school, progressing in his core subjects, all whilst still being supported by the Foundation.

Rhiannah: Women and Girls Programme

Rhiannah started as an intern with our Girls Academy as a strength and conditioning coach and through her hard work, dedication and initiative over the last season she will be coming on board in a paid role with our Shadow Squad and ETC programmes. Rhiannah has shown a real passion for the Foundation and working with women and girls in sport, acting as a role model and building fantastic relationships with both staff and participants.

Barry: Fit Fans Programme

Barry is a familiar face around Elland Road, working as a programme seller. Through attending some of the Foundation social groups, Barry started the Fit Fans programme and went on an extremely positive fitness journey where he lost 16-17kg in weight, reduced his blood pressure and found a much healthier lifestyle to lead. Barry is a larger-than-life character, and a great example of someone who was willing to put themselves out of their comfort zone and in return was able to make positive changes that will benefit his future.