Blackpool FC Community Trust column: Adapting to new challenges and supporting our Armed Services

Members of our Primary Stars team have returned to work and have developed a host of resources to utilise in schools, supporting class bubbles of 15 and making sure the young people maintain physical distance at all times, while engaging in quality PE and physical activity.

We have tried to utilise outdoor space at all times, which has been difficult when the weather hasn’t been great, and developed strict guidance for staff and risk assessments to be followed by our team members and the school.

We take the safety of our staff and participants very seriously, but we also know how important it is to try to bring back some activities and programmes to our community, to improve people’s mental and physical health and boost our long-term sustainability.

Primary schools receive funding to identify their needs to improve the standards of PE.

We have had agreements in place with many primary schools to support upskilling teachers, delivering high standard PE and developing strategic plans for schools, though it is unclear whether this funding will still be in place from September.

We will keep staff in place to potentially continue our support and we are in regular contact with schools, and hopefuly we will receive some clarity soon.

This week we are also delivering a virtual Sports Day Challenge. Schools have been sent our video challenge, which will go out on our own social media.

Children can take part in our 20x20 challenge, while those at home can link in and represent their schools.

Over the past two weeks we have also been working in partnership with BetterStart Blackpool, Active Blackpool and Westminster Academy to pilot a programme focused on our youngest schoolchildren taking part in physical and group activities in their local park.

A range of activities have taken place at Claremont Park and will continue for another three weeks, with focus on engaging in lots of activities. The idea is to support children and potentially families this summer across a host of parks.

We are working very hard to develop our summer plans, and are receiving lots of calls and messages about our very popular Sports Camps and other provisions.

There are major hurdles to be cleared, including Government guidance, availability of facilities to deliver sports activity and restrictions on group sizes.

Whilst this summer may look very different, we will have some support in place very soon for the community and will return to normal as soon as we can. Please bear with us.

For Armed Forces Week, Blackpool FC Community Trust and The Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland group unveiled a Football Remembers plaque in the Trust’s dedicated garden.

This was part of the wider partnership work between the Trust and Arboretum that has developed over the past 18 months, celebrating the links between Blackpool FC and the Armed Forces.

Because of social-distancing regulations, the event was by invitation only but was also shown live via Facebook.

In the build-up to the unveiling, staff, volunteers and the Woodland group worked hard to prepare as the area dedicated to Blackpool FC had become overgrown amid the pandemic.

However, now that restrictions have eased, this effort has resulted in the area being cleaned up, with new flowers and trees planted.

A lovely new picnic bench has been donated by John Jones for visitors to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, which will also be officially opened this weekend.

Paul Binns, former soldier and who manages the Arboretum as a volunteer, said: “The Arboretum is for the whole of Blackpool and Fylde, and we hope this partnership will help to attract more people to come and visit.

“It is entirely managed and run by volunteers, and more people visiting may mean that more get involved, which may help us establish our ambition of developing a Friends Group”

The event was a real success and was viewed by many people online. Dave Maclean, Community Engagement Manager for BFCCT, was delighted and said: “This project is just one element of our Armed Forces offer, which also includes weekly online meetings.

“The long-term plan is for this to become a dedicated veterans’ gardening group to provide light physical activity, friendship and tackle social isolation and loneliness, while at the same time supporting The Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland group in its future plans.”

The Arboretum has been open since 2008 and its purpose is to provide the Service Associations and the people of Blackpool and the Fylde with a place of peace and beauty in which to remember their fallen comrades and loved ones.

It is the only such facility in the UK outside the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.