MP backs Seagulls for Community Club of the Year
Hove's Labour MP Celia Barlow has written in support of the bid by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club to become League 1 Community Club of the Year.
She says:
"The contribution that Brighton and Hove Albion makes to the community in Brighton and Hove is remarkable, helping to make the City the vibrant place it continues to be."
The charitable arm of the Club, Albion in the Community (AITC), works in three key areas across Sussex; in Education, Football and Sport, and Health. The programmes that they run do not simply concentrate on football, but use the profile of the football club to run effective courses designed to improve the lives of people in Brighton and Hove.
The work that the Club carries out with respect to Football Development is particularly impressive, not only running disability football programmes and children’s football courses, but providing a Coach Education Programme as well as a Multi Sport Programme for Children. These courses are not only good for the future of Brighton and Hove Albion, but present opportunities for young people to engage in sport at the highest level. By operating a programme for those with a disability, the Club offers much valued service for the young disabled in Brighton and Hove.
The Club's work at AITC relies on good local partnerships across a wide spectrum to people, bringing together children, teenagers, adults, schools and colleges. The Club has an admirable relationship with local government, sports & leisure organisations, job centres, careers services, the NHS Trust, Emergency Services, Prison Service, housing associations, disabled charities, neighbourhood groups, youth charities and local businesses, allowing them to provide the best programmes possible, and improve the community in our city.
Celia wrote: "This year the club embarks on the next great stage of its history with the construction of the brand new Falmer Stadium. I am delighted to support Brighton and Hove Albion in this transition, and I am extremely excited about the opportunities that the new Stadium will offer to the Club to continue their excellent community work."
