Charity

VYD - Improving lives through football

Football has been part of the fabric of our community life for well over a century. It is by nature a social activity that brings us together, whether as players or spectators.

Football has been part of the fabric of our community life for well over a century. It is by nature a social activity that brings us together, whether as players or spectators. Charity

Many clubs, amateur and professional alike, trace their roots to working men’s clubs or factories, and were a means for getting together to relax and do something to distract from toiling long days in tough environments.

Working conditions for most now are luxurious compared with those days, but nevertheless we see all around us the toll modern life can take on people’s mental health, confidence, and overall wellbeing. An increasing number are struggling.

People finding life tough can withdraw from their social networks, but just as decades ago people came together through football to escape often dull and physically exacting working lives, so today the beautiful game has the power to restore social contact and reconnect with support networks. VYD is a Community Interest Company that believes in the power of football to improve people’s lives, especially those who, for whatever reason, need support to reconnect with the community and find support to get back on track.

Hawks Heroes Case Study The Crew Club’s Hawks Heroes programme was a 10-week communitybased grassroots project that aimed to get men living in Whitehawk, one of the most socially and economically challenging neighbourhoods in England, back into football to reduce health risks and improve psychological and emotional wellbeing.

VYD structured and delivered the 10-week football programme at Crew Club, running two hour sessions every Monday and Wednesday.

What did we do? Over ten weeks the project delivered: • 20 x 2-hour football training sessions delivered by VYD’s professional academy coach, Kevin Green • 3 friendly matches against Montpelier Villa U18s team, 2nd team and Veterans.

How did we track change? Before the first coaching session basic health data was gathered from each participant, including height, weight, information about levels of activity and engagement in risky health behaviours. A visual analogue scale was used to score participants mood and level of social connection. Each participant undertook a bleep test at the beginning of the first training session.

What did difference did Hawk’s Heroes make? Of the 23 participants aged between 18 and 46 who registered pre-programme. • 74% were overweight or obese – total team weight 168 stone 11 pounds (1072kg) • 78% had a heart age that was older than their age in years • The combined actual age of all participants was 782 years and their combined heart age was 814 years, a difference of 32 years • 40% rated ‘Red’ and 26% rated ‘Amber’ health category

• 48% rated their mood 5 or below on a scale of 1-10 (1=very sad and down, 5=in the middle, not happy and not sad, 10=extremely happy) • 52% rated their level of social connection 5 or below on a scale of 1-10 (1=I do not see anyone regularly, 5=I sometimes see people but would like to see them more frequently, 10=I see a lot of my friends and family)

Programme outcomes Total weight of team 160 stone 13 pounds (1022kg) – total weight loss of 7 stone 10Ibs. • The groups hearts were 8 years younger at the end of the programme than they were at the start • Average 16.5% improvement in beep test scores – the biggest improvement was 55% • 100% rated their mood between 8 or above when at the start 48% rated their mood 5 or below • 100% rated their level of social connection 7 or above when at the start 52% rated their level of social connection 5 or below • 100% of participants either Agreed or Strongly Agreed that participating in Hawk’s Heroes made them fitter, stronger, sleep better, cope better with negative emotions, reduce health harming behaviours (such as smoking and drinking) and made them feel less stressed • 1 participant’s life was saved

‘If it wasn’t for Hawk’s Heroes and me going on it, they wouldn’t have found out I had cancer. I just found out from me starting the course, so it saved my life.’ Hawk’s Heroes footballer

Hawks Heroes was evidence of the power of football to improve lives. The team has continued training and playing

The Crew Club is a dynamic community centre in the heart of Whitehawk providing events, projects, activities and a safe space for young people and adults in Whitehawk. ................................................................

VYD is looking for corporate partners to help fund similar projects to Hawks Heroes in 2020.

If you believe that football has the power to change lives and would like to help us do this, perhaps as part of your charity or CSR initiatives for 2020, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Gary Pleece, founder of VYD at gary@vydcic.org call 07989159984 or visit vydcic.org for more.

Brie-licious cheese and wine enjoyed at charity event

A new addition to the Rockinghorse events calendar, the charity’s Cheese and Wine Evening took place on Thursday 13 February at the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton.

The hotel’s hidden cellar bar and dining room provided the perfect setting for the pre-Valentine’s event. Guests were treated to a selection of local cheeses, stunning wines and great company. Charity

Steeped in history, the Old Ship is the oldest hotel in Brighton. Built in 1559, the cellar rooms and adjoining tunnels are thought to have been used by smugglers bringing goods into England from France.

Upon arrival, a welcome glass of Bolney sparkling wine greeted the 28 guests in attendance. They gathered around a candle lit oak table in the Cellar Room to listen to Helen Chesshire from The Bolney Wine Estate. Five beautiful Bolney wines were paired up with a great selection of local Sussex cheeses, donated by The Cheese Hut. Guests also had the chance to sample Bolney’s newest addition - a Gin that was released late last year. Helen’s knowledge engaged the guests wholeheartedly, guiding them through each pairing one by one. She gave insight into the ingredients used in each blend, the history of the grapes and wines, and how they were all produced which made for a very informative and enjoyable evening.

The evening ended with a Rockinghorse raffle and over £1,300 was raised from the event. The winner took home a food and wine hamper full of Sussex based treats, including a bottle of Bolney Sparkling wine along with two tickets to the show, Funk: A Music Revolution, kindly donated by The Brighton Dome.

Stella is Events Fundraising Manager at Rockinghorse, she says: “We’d like to thank everyone involved in making the evening such a success. Thank you to Bolney Wine Estate for donating the wines and of course to Helen for guiding us so enjoyably through the evening. “Thank you to the Cheese Hut for donating a wonderful selection of cheeses and to ASDA in Brighton Marina for donating the crackers and breads. The Old Ship Hotel made our vision come to life, and for that we are very grateful. Finally, thanks to our guests who helped us raise over £1,300 for our projects in Sussex.

“We’ll be hosting another Cheese and Wine event in the upcoming months, so please do keep an eye out for more information.”

Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and a vital supporter of the neighbouring Trevor Mann Baby Unit. The charity raises funds for life-saving and cutting-edge equipment, services and items to ensure that children and babies are treated in an environment better suited to their needs.

To find out more, visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk.

It’s time to put the fun back into fundraising with Give A Dinner Party in Brighton

Charity fundraising platform Give A Dinner Party, which provides Brighton residents with the chance to support good causes and meet new people, will launch in the city in April. Charity

The sophisticated online platform makes it simple to organise and sell tickets for mini charity fundraisers, which could be a dinner party, a picnic, a barbecue or even a cocktail evening.

Give A Dinner Party is appealing for people to sign up as Founding Hosts and organise events, which will enable them to earn a lifetime share of the profits for their chosen charity. With only a limited number of spots available, those interested are encouraged to register their interest at www.giveadinnerparty.com

Co-Founder Mark Viegas said: “We chose to launch in Brighton because this city is so special. When you walk around, you’re greeted with smiles and thoughtfulness. There’s an energy and a passion for sustainability, plus throw in Brighton’s welcoming and energetic party vibe and you have the perfect home for the launch of Give A Dinner Party.

“We designed our concept to bring people together and make a positive difference. If Brighton likes this, we aim to roll the concept out across the UK and beyond. Our mission is to bring a smiling face and a helping hand from Brighton to Timbuktu. As a business we’ve committed 20% of all profits to charity for life via our Founding Host scheme.”

The website will enable hosts to involve their friends and family, but also to invite new people with common interests. Visitors to the website will be able to search for dinner party events to attend and look for people with whom they have something in common, whether that’s scrabble, Mexican food or cycling on the South Downs. Hosts will have the final say on who can come and will be able to ask any prospective guests questions on the platform. Give A Dinner Party events can take place anywhere – in a home, a restaurant, an office, a pub or a community hall.

Mark set up Give A Dinner Party with his wife Sze Lin after the couple decided to combine their love of helping people with a business. Having set up a vintage Tea Room in their village in Kent, they noticed how many people came in on their own to have a chat.

Mark said: “We realised then that there was a silent epidemic of loneliness. In today’s society people often live far away from their families and childhood friends. It’s a sad fact that it’s easier to get a date than to make new friends!

“Our platform is designed to bring people together and lend a helping hand to the causes that need our help. It’s also accessible to virtually everyone – there’s no need to run a marathon or jump out of a plane at 10,000ft!”

For more information visit: www.giveadinnerparty.com

Whoopsadaisy

Whoopsadaisy is a Brighton-based charity helping children with physical disabilities become more mobile, confident and independent, and reach their full potential.

At Whoopsadaisy, we always focus on what children can do, rather than what they are unable to do. Our ‘Conductive Education’ approach is not only about physical skills - such as being able to sit up, stand or walk without help - it’s also about self-confidence, being able to communicate, sit at the table with the rest of the family for a meal, or get dressed independently. Charity

The children all have Cerebral Palsy or other motor disorders affecting their posture, co-ordination, balance and mobility. They often need help with eating, drinking, getting dressed and going to the toilet; many of the children also have speech difficulties and rely on communication aids to express themselves.

In Whoopsadaisy’s Under-fives Groups children work hard towards big goals such as learning to crawl, sit unaided, take their first steps or eat and drink by themselves, with every small achievement along the way boosting their confidence. Parents learn how to help their children become more independent at home, and are able to share ideas and experiences. By the time they are five, most of the children are independent enough to start school. To help them meet this new challenge and participate as fully as possible in school life, the charity also provides Holiday Clubs and term-time ‘Saturday School’ sessions. Here, 5 to 12-yearolds can continue learning new skills and building their independence in a safe, friendly and fun environment.

“Our son’s progress is brilliant, and the mobility he has achieved means we no longer have to carry him everywhere. It has been amazing to see him progressing from the rollator, to the tripod sticks and on to taking independent steps. Without a doubt, he would not have the level of independence he has if he didn’t come to Whoopsadaisy.” A Whoopsadaisy parent

Whoopsadaisy receives no government funding, so we rely on charitable donations and fundraising. We could not help local children with physical disabilities without our generous supporters from Brighton, Hove and across Sussex, including our diverse and creative local business community. Supporting Whoopsadaisy is a special way for companies to feel part of their local communities, motivate their teams and make their customers feel good. Here are a few ways your company can support us:

• Choose Whoopsadaisy as your Charity of the Year and get your staff and customers involved • Enable your employees to make regular tax-free donations (Payroll Giving) • Hold your own fundraising event such as a golf day, a pub quiz, or a charity dinner • Sign up for challenge events like the Brighton Marathon, Tough Mudder or Race the Sun.

We are extremely grateful for the time and commitment already given to us by the business community and we want to build on this vital support!

To find out more about Whoopsadaisy and how you can help, please contact our Corporate & Community Fundraiser, Caroline Matanle on 01273 554178 caroline@whoopsadaisy.org www.whoopsadaisy.org Reg. Charity no. 1083024

New Managing Director dives into Yellow Fish

Full service marketing and events agency Yellow Fish has announced the appointment of Laura Pace as its new Managing Director.

She joins the Brighton agency from London brand experience agency Hot Pickle, where she served as business Director, working on brands including Magnum, Dove and Coca Cola. News

Pace will help lead the development and strategic direction of Yellow Fish, supporting it with its plans to grow sustainably, while working with the existing senior management team

Pace, Managing Director, Yellow Fish, said: “After eight amazing years at Hot Pickle, I’m excited to join the talented team at Yellow Fish and explore the diverse range of projects the agency delivers for its global portfolio of clients.

“As a result of the passion and guidance from Founder and CEO Maria Valentine over the last 17 years, Yellow Fish has grown into an agency that delivers incredible events and campaigns from its Brighton headquarters. The team‘s passion, expertise and experience shines through everything they do making Yellow Fish a truly unique agency.

“I can’t wait to work in partnership with the founder Maria to continue to deliver excellence for all our clients whilst growing and developing the business into new sectors. I’m excited to bring my consumer expertise into the Yellow Fish tank and continue to deliver innovative events around the world.”

Pace also brings experience in destination marketing, as well as experiential, which will complement and enhance the existing offering at Yellow Fish. She will join the board of directors and gradually take over the responsibility for the day to day running of the agency, ensuring the team and clients continue to be well supported. Valentine will focus on positioning and collaboration, seeking out new opportunities for the agency.

Valentine, Founder and CEO of Yellow Fish, said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Laura to the Yellow Fish tank as Managing Director and I’m excited for our future journey together in taking the business even further. Laura is a perfect fit - she encapsulates all that we stand for including our passion for the industry, focus on customer relationships, creative approach and a desire to constantly push boundaries in all that we deliver.

“It has always been important to me that Yellow Fish continues to evolve and moves with agility as our clients demand it – bring on the next chapter!”

For more information visit: www.yfish.co.uk