The EFL's annual Week of Action (18th - 22nd November) celebrates the collective impact of Club community work across the League.
While Managers, First Team and Academy players actively support their Club's community activities all year round, the Week of Action sees them collectively come together in 72 towns and cities across England and Wales over the five-day period, meeting participants and engaging in some of the most innovative projects that are improving the quality of people's lives.
This week, Cardiff City FC Community Foundation has been showcasing its role as a pillar of the local community, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds.
Discovering Futsal with Daland & Fish
Jesper Daland and Will Fish paid a visit to their further and higher education provision to experience their futsal programme, coached and led by their degree students. The session featured participants from their Level 2 and Level 3 sport courses, delivered at our college located on Cardiff City FC's doorstep.
Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced small, sided football game that places a large emphasis on technical skill and ability in situations of high pressure, that can be translated into the 11-a side format of the game.
Students from on the Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching & Development took the lead in coaching two mini-tournaments, joined by Daland and Fish. Following the session, the focus shifted to the classroom, where Sports Business Management students facilitated a Q&A session with the players themselves. The discussion explored Daland and Fish's take on resilience, goal setting, and advice for their peers.
The Foundation offer a range of sports courses and degree programmes based at Cardiff City House of Sport. Their projects are delivered in partnership with Cardiff and Vale College, University of South Wales and EFL in the Community that provides students with an insight into the practicalities of the sports industry, in a non-traditional learning environment.
Joy of Moving with Cardiff City FC Academy
6 scholars from Cardiff City Academy, including Corey Foggarty, Osian Rees, Joe Edwards, Jake Davies, Cody Williams and Lennon Talbot, joined pupils at St John Primary School for a fun-filled #JoyOfMoving session, delivered in partnership with EFL in the Community.
In the first phase of the session, scholars guided the children in creating their own healthy pre-match meals, fit for a footballer! Drawing on their experience, they helped the children navigate the food pyramid and offered valuable advice what a healthy balanced diet looks like for a training athlete.
This was followed by fun practical football session, where the Academy assisted in getting every child up and active!
Reliving Love for Cardiff City through the Women's Team
Hollie Smith and Mackenzie Olden joined the 1927 Club at Cardiff City Stadium for a special show-and-tell session with memorabilia from Cardiff City FC Women's team. Participants included those living with dementia and similar diagnoses, and their families from Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan, giving them a chance to connect through the shared passion of football.
Over some hot drinks and biscuits, the ladies reminisced on their recent success and the development of the women's game.
The 1927 Club meets weekly on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm in the Disabled Supporters Association room on Level 3 of Cardiff City Stadium. This social hub offers individuals living with dementia a chance to connect and engage in activities alongside others with similar diagnoses.
This project is run in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and Sporting Memories.
Sign yourself or a family member up here.
More than 49 million people live within 15 miles of an EFL Club (82% of the population of England and Wales), demonstrating that EFL Clubs really are at the heart of their communities. With more than one million people engaged in Club community activity each season, the scale and impact of that work sets the EFL apart.
Cardiff City FC Community Foundation’s mission is to use the inspiration of Cardiff City FC to change lives and transform communities.