Brentford FC and its Community Sports Trust joined EFL clubs to highlight the positive impact football has in changing people’s lives and the work taking place to tackle some of society’s biggest issues. Dubbed the EFL Day of Action, clubs in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two showcased the very best of their community projects in inclusion, education and health. And Brentford have been joining in over the past few days.

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust highlighted their important community work in close proximity to Brentford’s new stadium. Donald Kerr, Brentford FC Vice-Chairman, visited a girls’ football session in Brentford, which also aims to offer mentoring to teenage girls surrounding their physical and mental wellbeing. Less than a mile away, Brentford FC also showcased the impact of their weekly youth club at Haverfield estate, which is nestled between Griffin Park and Brentford’s new stadium.

And at Gunnersbury Park’s new state-of-the-art sports facility, the UK’s only full-time deaf football coach – Ben Lampert – coached a football session to hearing children for the first time. The sports hub, which boasts one of the largest sports facilities in London, aims to encourage hundreds of children and young people to get active. Ben got to work under the floodlights last night.

Thomas, eight, who was coached by Ben at the session, said: “At first it was a bit difficult to get used to someone signing to you and you have to focus on watching Ben rather than listening. However, by the end of the session I managed to pick up a couple of things to say in sign language.”

Donald Kerr, who is also a Trustee of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and the English Football League Trust, said: “With Brentford FC’s new stadium on the horizon, our EFL Day of Action activities illustrate how we are not only building a new stadium but strengthening the foundations of nearby communities through our diverse portfolio of community work. Whether it is mentoring teenage girls to make positive life choices or coaching football sessions using sign language, our Trust continues to offer cutting-edge community projects - highlighted today at the EFL Day of Action.”

The impact of the work carried out by EFL clubs and Club Community Organisations (CCOs) is unparalleled, with more than half a million hours of group activity delivered and over 40 million hours of participation each season. During the 2018/19 season, almost 900,000 people took part in a wide range of activities across key areas, with clubs and CCOs receiving over £60 million of direct project funding.

Rick Parry, EFL Chairman, said: “Our clubs have always had a unique position in the heart of their respective towns and cities and it is important that we celebrate the work they carry out, which improves lives and tackles some of society’s biggest issues on a daily basis.”