In light of COVID-19 and the closure
of UK schools, all of Southend United Community & Educational Trust’s community
projects will be suspended as of 5pm on Friday 20th March 2020 until further
notice.
We apologise for any inconvenience
caused, however the health and well-being of staff, participants and their families
is the number one priority of the charity.
The current situation will be kept under constant review by Trustees and I whilst taking advice from the football family, UK government and the NHS.
Updates will be provided across our
social media platforms (@SUFCCommunity) and any queries regarding your session
can be directed to info@southendunited-cet.co.uk.
Thank you for your patience and
understanding at this time.
Please stay safe everyone during these unprecedented times.
I’m sure we’ll see you all soon when life gets back to some form of normality.
Saturday’s match against Bristol Rovers saw the official launch of Southend United Community & Educational Trust’s (SUCET) ‘Community Corner’, a new community hub at Roots Hall.
Funded by the Premier League Fans Fund, the hub’s launch coincided with the SUCET’s Community Day – shining a light on the positive work carried out by the Club’s official charity across South East Essex.
Community Corner will be open on every home matchday moving forward.
Councillor Ian Gilbert, Leader of Southend Borough Council, officially unveiled the initiative, praising the hard work of SUCET and the Club in making Community Corner happen.
Supporters – both young and old – enjoyed a variety of pre-match activities, including a Keepy Ups challenge, table football and table tennis.
Local organisations such as Everyone Health, One Love Soup Kitchen and Southend Hospital Charity were in attendance, raising awareness of the inspirational work they do by engaging with fans.
There was also the chance for junior supporters to have their photo taken with the Club’s official mascot, Sammy the Shrimp.
Southend United pair Timothee Dieng and Nathan Ralph showed their support, taking time out to engage with fans and get involved in some of the pre-match activities.
Kelly Clarke, Trustee (Community Engagement) at SUCET, commented:
“I’d like to say a big well done to everyone at SUCET and the Club for putting on such an impressive first event.
“It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying themselves, particularly families and junior supporters – that’s what Community Corner is all about.
“I have no doubt that, as the weeks progress, Community Corner will continue to grow and prove a very popular venue on a matchday.”
To access our full photo gallery, please head to SUCET’s Facebook page.
Southend United Ladies captain and vice-captain, Claudia Zajac and Sophie Lebeze, spoke with young girls at Glebe Primary School in Rayleigh as part of International Women’s Day.
Forming part of Southend United Community & Educational Trust’s Girls After School Club, the young girls were given the opportunity to ask the players a series of questions, centred around how the duo initially got involved in football and the type of opportunities that exist locally within women’s football.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Darcy, a member of the Girls After School Club and Glebe Primary School pupil, commented:
“It was really cool to meet Claudia and Sophie.
“I took away to always try your best and don’t give up.
“Before today I didn’t know who Southend United Ladies were; all I knew was that girls play football at schools.
“I’m going to ask my parents if I can come to a game – maybe even for my birthday!”
For more information about Southend United Ladies including results, fixtures and team news, please visit @SouthendUtdLFC on Twitter.
Southend United striker Charlie Kelman returned to his old place of study, The Bromfords School in Wickford, to talk with pupils about his life as a professional footballer.
Kelman represented the school football team during his time at The Bromfords, alongside teammate Matt Rush.
The 18-year-old – who is Blues’ top scorer so far this season with six goals – was asked a wide range of questions, covering his training schedule and diet to his aims for the future and what life advice he’d have for the pupils.
Kelman commented:
“It was crazy being back, I enjoyed it.
“I remember people used to come into school and I would ask them questions so it was crazy being the other way round.
“These kids know that I’ve been there [in their position] and I’ve gone and done good things.
“Hopefully I can inspire the next person.”
Mr Ford, PE Teacher at The Bromfords School, commented:
“I thought Charlie was brilliant in the way he expressed how hard work, ambition and drive are absolutely key [to success].
“Even if you do make the odd mistake here and there, you’ve got to keep going again which is a great message for the students to hear.”
Southend United’s Jason Demetriou took time out to visit children at Southend United Community & Educational Trust’s Soccer Schools at Garon Parkthis February half term.
In front of over 50 children, the Cypriot international answered a variety of questions on the best players he’s played against, his career highlights and what age he began playing football.
The children then got a photo with Demetriou on the Garon Park Astroturf.
Aiming to inspire future generations and create memories of a lifetime, Soccer Schools are delivered by qualified Community Coaches who run tailored, innovative and dynamic sessions where participants are able to fulfil their potential.
Demetriou commented:
“The setup here at Garon Park is fantastic and it was a brilliant turnout today.
“It was a great 15-20 minutes with the kids and I think they enjoyed it.
“This [Soccer Schools] is where the kids learn and it builds into the club’s future attracting younger fans.”
Southend United Community & Educational Trust (SUCET) is set to benefit from a brand-new community hub at Roots Hall, following the receipt of a £17,200 grant from the Premier League Fans Fund.
The grant will enable SUCET to regenerate and develop an area of Roots Hall car park, known as ‘Community Corner’, launching on Saturday 7th March for Southend United vs Bristol Rovers.
The hub will be open on every home matchday from 7th March onwards and will provide fans with a range of pre-match activities in the build-up to kick-off, such as live music, face painting and gaming. There will also be several partner community organisations in attendance to engage with fans from all generations.
Outside of matchdays, SUCET will also be launching new outreach sessions to educate children on the history of the club and encourage younger fans, particularly those from under-represented groups, to take advantage of the newfound opportunities available at Roots Hall.
The Premier League Fans Fund
is a commitment from the Premier League to fund projects and organisations
which improve the relationship between fans and their clubs, the way football
supporters engage with each other and fans’ experience of the game.
Dale Spiby, CEO of SUCET, said:
“We’re really grateful to the Premier League and Football Foundation for funding Community Corner – an innovative new approach to enhance the fans’ matchday experience.
“It’d be great to see as many Southend United fans as possible at Community Corner before each home fixture.
“We’ll be engaging with local schools to inform them about Community Corner, handing out junior supporter packs containing key information about how to become a Southend United fan.”
Southend United Community & Educational Trust (SUCET) teamed up with Mencap to deliver The Round the World Challenge at Roots Hall.
Supported by Mencap, Sport England and The National Lottery, The Round the World Challenge aims to support people with a learning disability to get out and get active in a way that is flexible, fun and empowering.
The South Essex version was launched at Roots Hall on Wednesday 22nd January, as participants took part in a variety of activities including yoga, boccia and sitting volleyball.
The number of hours of activity the participant completes takes them further around the world, with three different routes on offer – UK (20), Europe (40) and World (100).
The participants were treated to rewards throughout, such as postcards from the countries they visited as well as a The Round the World Challenge certificate and t-shirt to take home.
Faye Dixey, Mencap Round the World Challenge Project Manager, commented:
“People become healthier and feel less isolated by taking part in The Round the World Challenge, as they keep active and make new friends.
“It’s about getting people to work together and learn new skills, which they can then hopefully use to go into Sports Activator, Volunteering and Employment opportunities.”
For more information about Mencap’s The Round the World Challenge, please click here.
The pupils of Porters Grange Primary School in Southend received a very special visit from Southend United players Charlie Kelman and Sam Mantom.
The excitable children asked the players a number of great questions around their football careers, what it’s like representing the Shrimpers and what they get up to in their spare time.
Kelman and Mantom stressed the importance of hard work and application as key components of becoming a professional footballer, as well as achieving in school.
The visit formed part of the school’s Premier League Primary Stars (PL Primary Stars) session, delivered by Southend United Community & Educational Trust coaches.
Available to every primary school in England and Wales, PL Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire girls and boys aged 5-11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field.
For more information about SUCET’s Premier League Primary Stars programme, please click here.
Southend United Community & Educational Trust (SUCET) – the official charity of Southend United – is pleased to announce the receipt of £38,000 from long-time supporter, Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST).
EASST provides charitable grants in support of sport and in
particular football and cricket within Southend-on-Sea and the wider county of
Essex.
EASST has been supporting SUCET every season since making its first grant in 2003.
Accumulatively, it has donated a total of £373,000 to SUCET over a 17-year period, providing sporting access for children and young people within South East Essex.
The money this year will go towards supporting the Premier League Kicks and Senior Shrimpers programmes, as well as contributing towards the costs of an accessible mini bus.
Peter
Butler, Chairman of EASST, commented:
“This is the 17th successive year that EASST has made an annual grant to Southend United Community & Educational Trust.
“The Trustees are proud to have been able to support the growth of SUCET over this period and thank Dale Spiby and his team for the wonderful work they are doing on community projects in Southend and its surrounding areas.”
Dale Spiby, CEO of SUCET, commented:
“I’d like to say a big thank you to Peter Butler and Joe Sims of EASST for their ongoing support of Southend United Community & Educational Trust.
“The annual grant allows us to match fund against other funders, reaching even more children and young people in South East Essex and giving them access to life-changing programmes that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.”
For more information about EASST, please visit www.easst.org.uk.
Southend United midfielder Stephen McLaughlin has been nominated for the PFA Player in the Community Award at this year’s EFL Awards.
McLaughlin has supported a range of Southend United Community & Educational Trust (SUCET) projects during 2019, displaying an outstanding attitude towards work carried out in the community.
At the beginning of the calendar year, the Irishman took part in a fun Soccer School Q&A with children at St. Mary’s Prittlewell C of E Primary School, passing on advice for the future.
He donated food parcels containing items such as cereal, coffee and granola bars to service users, as well as volunteering in the kitchen.
Established in 2006, the EFL Awards is an annual awards ceremony commemorating football-related people involved in the three divisions of the EFL.
This year’s event will take place on Sunday 19 April at Grosvenor House London, Park Lane.
Entries will be judged and shortlisted for the award, before winners for each league and an overall PFA Player in the Community are announced at the event.
McLaughlin commented:
“I’m really grateful that I have been nominated for this award.
“It’s very important that the club does community work and as players we get involved.
“I’ve witnessed first hand what it does for people and it’s priceless.”
