Blackpool FC Community Trust column: Adapting our support during lockdown while students hear from top commentator

Examples of this have been our Tackling Isolation project, Pool Together, and our BFC Sports College.

So many people having to stay at home, keep safe and possibly shield increases the risk of individuals who live on their own becoming isolated from their families, friends and the wider community.

The terrible figures have shown that people taking their own lives, for a multitude of reasons, has dramatically intensified in lockdown periods and that being alone – with nobody to talk to, support you or just be there – can cause considerable mental and physical health issues.

To try to help some of the most at risk in this category, we have been contacting 700 individuals in our town with regular phone calls and doorstep visits to keep contact, check on their welfare and just have a general chat.

If there is then additional support people ask for, or if we identify any needs, we can then support them or refer them to the right people.

We expect this work to intensify over the next couple of months.

I have been on a host of Zoom meetings with club directors and a group of local supporters, linked to the Armfield Club on Bloomfield Road, to discuss how we engage the group which is probably the most disengaged normally with our provision and get them the support they need.

Men aged 20-50, who would probably not normally link into some of our social groups, will be offered a new service via the Armfield Supporters Group, which includes a phone line to seek help and find out what is available.

This is a great gesture from a group of volunteers who simply want to help people to find the additional support they need.

The phone line will be open from next week and we are looking to add to the 18 virtual groups we already offer with social opportunities specifically for these men and (if the same need is there) for ladies too.

We have a great USP that will always get people talking – Blackpool FC. It’s a means to talk about people’s opinions, past experiences and expectations for the future. It always gets people to open up.

Our BFC Sports College has also had to go virtual and all students are now staying at home, linking into daily Zoom classes so they can continue to be taught full-time by their BFCCT teachers.

Our team have been out over the past week delivering laptops for students who need them to make sure they remain engaged and up to date with their BTEC and Degree courses.

The team have also developed a host of additional ways to keep students engaged now they cannot come together to train and play as usual.

That has included, this week, an online interview with ITV sports broadcaster Clive Tyldesley.

The talk was designed to offer insight and guidance for our students in relation to employability and sporting career pathways.

Clive outlined his career highlights and explained his approach to his line of work.

It was a great chance for our students to hear at first hand about the opportunities that can come from educating and working in the sports environment.

And it was another example of the opportunities the students receive due to our staff continually going over and above.

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