This week is the EFL Week of Action, a celebration of the significant contributions football clubs make to their communities.
Together with the Luton Town FC Community Trust, we are proud to showcase the impactful projects and programmes the Trust deliver to support our local area.
From promoting health and happiness to enhancing education, fostering social connections, and enhancing employability opportunities, the difference the Trust makes is truly inspiring.
On Tuesday, we were delighted to host a mental health workshop in collaboration with CHUMS. The workshop was open to students from Denbigh High School, where the Trust delivers a variety of group and 1:1 football-based interventions to inspire pupils to be active, look after their wellbeing and develop important life skills.
Some examples include:
We run a breakfast club aimed at pupils who struggle with attending the school (most pupils’ attendance is now 100%)
We provide 1:1 mentoring support to pupils who struggle with self-esteem and confidence
We run a club aimed at pupils who have shown commitment to improve their academic studies
We support PE lessons which includes mentoring PE teachers
The mental health workshop was led by CHUMS, a local mental health and emotional wellbeing service, emphasising the importance of self-care and providing practical guidance on accessing the tools and services available to address mental health concerns.
Head of Behaviour at the school, Mr Gully, said: “It’s had a massive impact. Our attendance in the morning has improved, we’ve got a massive engagement with pupils who maybe struggle to come into school in the mornings, so getting themselves in a bit earlier, that’s a great start to the day for them.
"They have really enjoyed that, and across the week we have seen a huge improvement in our behaviour, with pupils working towards the rewards of turning up on the Thursday sessions and Bradley (the Luton Town Community Trust coach) has done a phenomenal job of working with those pupils, picking them up and just making sure that if they haven’t had such a good week, how can they improve? We’ve seen a massive improvement in a lot of our pupils.”
The students were also fortunate to enjoy a surprise visit from Mick Harford, Elijah Adebayo, and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. Each shared personal insights into how football has positively impacted their mental health and how they have dealt with challenges along the way.
Mick also spoke about his role as an ambassador for CHUMS and highlighted the vital work the organisation does within the community.
Elijah and Pelly further engaged with the students during a Q&A session, answering questions and offering advice on tackling challenges.
Mr Gully continued: “There were lots of hands up in the session so the pupils were absolutely buzzing for the opportunity today, and the wider community links are just huge. This is going to be a day that they are going to remember for a long time.
“The things that I like the most that Mick, Elijah and Pelly spoke about are having those difficult moments, and how to overcome it. I think our pupils are really good at recognising when things haven’t gone as well, but knowing it is going to get better, and how to improve.
“I think working with Bradley in the sessions they have, checking in with him, and him talking them through it, giving them extra strategies and having that different voice coming in, has been really important.
“But hearing from players that have had tough times and are now achieving at the very top level is incredible, a really good experience.”
Our history maker Pelly said: “It was nice to come here and I think our support for the kids is good for everyone. Having me, Eli and Mick come today and see them all happy and listening, it’s a good experience for them, for us and hopefully we can do a lot more for this community.”
Elijah spoke about the importance of mental health and wellbeing as a footballer, and how that can help the local youngsters.
“Sometimes you can get sidetracked by a lot of things that are going on, and I think as professional footballers coming down here to the school today, it’s always good to give that information and confidence to the kids so that what we might be experiencing, they might experience further down the line,” he said.
“It’s giving them insight on how they can try to overcome the obstacles that might lay in front of them. It’s up to us to be able to try and give them the best tools in order to try and counteract that and hopefully overcome it and move forward.”
Chief recruitment officer and Luton Town legend Mick added: “Football is massive in our lives and a lot of people’s lives. Those kids are amazing, it’s great to be around them. They’ve got so much personality, very vibrant and it’s an honour to come along here.
“Elijah, Pelly and myself are in privileged positions, but to come along here and try and help them and endorse what the football club and the charity are all about, it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to get the word out there. Football brings people together.”
We were also thrilled to welcome Alfie Doughty to our Ability Counts session on Friday 22nd November. Alfie joined us at Inspire Sports Village, where he had the opportunity to watch the participants train and later enjoyed an exciting match showcasing their skills and teamwork.
During the visit, participants had the fantastic opportunity to ask Alfie a variety of questions about his football career so far and his time at Luton Town. Alfie’s insights and experiences were both inspiring and motivational, creating a memorable session for everyone involved.
Ability Counts is our inclusive football programme designed for players aged 18 and above with disabilities. Sessions take place every Friday from 12pm–2pm at Inspire Sports Village, moving to an outdoor venue in the warmer months. The programme provides a supportive environment for players to develop their football skills, stay active, and build social connections.
If you’re interested in joining or learning more about this fantastic initiative, please visit our website for further details. www.lutontowncommunity.co.uk
