Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust’s staff, volunteers, community partners, and beneficiaries have been learning and celebrating black heritage and culture, during the widely recognised commemorative month known as Black History Month. From young to old, participants and guests have engaged in themed sessions, activities, and events across the Trust’s many community programmes.
Starting with the younger generation and the primary school provision, the Premier League Primary Stars programme featured unique PSHE activations at Vicarage Road Stadium. Pupils from St. John’s and St. Anthony’s took part in the Premier League’s ‘No Room For Racism’ campaign. As part of an interactive activity, children scoured the seats of the Rookery and Sir Elton John stands to find fact files on Watford FC’s iconic Black players, including Luther Blissett OBE DL, John Barnes, Troy Deeney, Adekite Fatuga-Dada, and Renee Hector. Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League’s primary school education programme. Funded by the Premier League, through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the programme uses the appeal of football to help children to be active and develop essential life skills.
Continuing with primary schools, the Trust collaborated with long-time partners Show Racism the Red Card for workshops hosted at the stadium. In addition to an educational workshop with Show Racism the Red Card, pupils enjoyed a stadium tour, a wellbeing workshop delivered by the Trust’s Empower team, and a special question-and-answer session with Watford FC’s Head of Women’s Football Helen Ward, and Watford FC Women Head Coach Renee Hector.
Outside of the stadium, at the Dome in Watford FC’s training ground, players in Hornets’ Charity’s Player Development Pathway also supported Show Racism the Red Card by participating in the Wear Red Day campaign.
Staying with football, the Premier League Primary Stars programme continued with tournaments for primary schools held at the Trust’s community hubs, Meriden Community Centre in North Watford and Cedars Youth & Community Centre in Harrow. In honour of Black History Month, themed workshops were delivered between matches, and the hubs also displayed posters highlighting positive role models and case studies.
Moving up through the ages, young people in the inclusion and personal development programme Premier League Kicks took part in Youth Voice focus groups. These sessions allowed young people and staff to have open conversations that supported mutual understanding of young people’s perspectives on racism and Black history. Premier League Kicks, funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund, uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential, in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.
Finally, in the Golden Memories programme, designed for individuals with a mild to moderate dementia diagnosis, and their carers, the Trust hosted a traditional African drumming session with Masai Cultural Arts and the Watford African Caribbean Association. The event was a joyous occasion filled with drumming and dancing that brought smiles to the faces of everyone involved.
To learn more about the Trust’s work across Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, please contact the Trust’s lead, Ebonnie-Rose, by emailing ebonnie-rose.john-jules@watfordfc.com
