Blackpool FC Community Trust column: We're all supporting each other

On the whole, none of our provision changes and because of its importance in supporting our community, our local authority has been very supportive in keeping us operationally open and delivering.

Unfortunately, we did have to move our Traineeship programme to virtual delivery because of a positive test result and the bubble the students were working within.

Every student continued to engage with staff from home. They completed their work and all returned to class this week.

The element that caused most concern was their work placements, which had to be postponed while they isolated. Again, all the providers have been extremely understanding and supportive, and agreed for all the trainees to return now they are allowed out of their homes.

It’s another example of the amazing community spirit we have in the town and of how all come together to support those in need.

Our Traineeship programme is targeted at people aged 16-24, who are out of work and education.

They can engage in our 12-week programme to build their maths and English qualifications, employability skills and work experience in an area they would like to progress in. Over the past six years we have worked with well over 500 young people and have a 70 per cent success rate for getting students into work after the programme.

Our aim is to extend this provision further in future to support young people in greater need and also those aged 25 and over.

Next week sees the start of our Holiday Sports Camps.

We have had to develop community bubbles for parents to buy places for their children.

In order to keep within the guidelines, we have had to ask everyone to book for the full week.

The cost for the week is £50 (9am-4pm each day) and the activities on offer include football, MultiSports, arts and crafts and many more fun events at our two school venues, Unity and Highfield.

Anyone who would like to book a place can do so via our website at www.bfcct.co.uk