Brentford Football Club have a very good record in community engagement – the work of the Football in the Community Trust has won national recognition and awards and the club has a tradition in supporting both local and national charities in promoting the work they do through match day features and collections. Beesotted has also supported a range of charities down the years, and this season we have raised funds for Prostate Cancer, Calm (a mental health charity for young men) and the British Legion, through the social events that are held.

Because the club clearly sees a role for itself in supporting the local communities in and around Brentford, I was heartened by the almost immediate response I got from the Brentford Chief Executive Mark Devlin when I drew his attention to an article published in the Guardian about the rise in demand for food banks, and the ways in which Newcastle United – and other clubs across England – were helping the work these vital organisations do in supporting vulnerable people.

A recent survey showed that, nationally, one in six adults have skipped a meal as they can’t afford it, one in seven worry about not having enough food to eat and one in 12 have gone a whole day without eating. Imagine that happening in your town, or down your street… because it probably is.

In our club’s local area, Hounslow and Ealing Food Banks are seeing demand grow rapidly, primarily due to the problems with the introduction of Universal Credit and the wider financial climate. Both food banks have over 150 referral partners, from local GPs to Job Centres. The policy is to offer support to people in specific circumstances. They also offer counselling and debt advice, and last year saved people £100,000s by helping them organise their finances.

Over Christmas Hounslow Food Bank helped feed 4,000 people. Ealing FoodBank provided 4,916 free meals for three days in the last financial year.

As we’ve said, football clubs play a special part in the life of local communities, so our idea was to encourage the links between Brentford FC and these food banks – so we were delighted to see that that the club’s management are going to see how they can help. But you can play a part right now.

Go to Ealing Food Bank  or Hounslow Food Box. Cash is best, but both organisations have a variety of ways of getting involved, whether it be providing transport, or professional services and both would be delighted to hear from you.

Let’s hope that the Club, and us as supporters, can show that football really can be a force for the good. Do get involved.

Nick Carthew
@nickcarthew

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