The start of a new year is a chance to look back on the 12 months that went before. Th past 12 months have been different in almost every way but there has still been time for reflection. The piece below appeared on the EFL Trust website looking back at 2020.

The past 12 months has been by far the most challenging year of recent times. However, we are extremely proud of our network who have adapted and overcome these challenges working tirelessly to serve their local communities. EFL clubs and their respective club community organisations (CCOs) [such as Brentford FC Community Sports Trust] have always been, and remain, at the heart of their communities, and their importance to the daily lives of so many people cannot be underestimated. That has been reflected in the outstanding collective efforts that have been made in supporting the response to coronavirus so far.

In the midst of the unprecedented and, quite clearly, challenging set of circumstances brought about by the outbreak of Covid-19, clubs came together to collectively show that even when there are no fixtures, football remains at the heart of the community and never went away. With 36.6million people in England and Wales living within a 10-mile radius of an EFL club – a radius that encompasses four in ten residents who fall into the most-deprived population groups – never has this work been more important. During the original and subsequent lock down periods, CCOs were quick to co-ordinate activities with their local authorities, with vulnerable community members and safety at the forefront of their thinking and response.

The work done by Brentford was mainly the #BeeatHome and #BeeWell online campaigns. See more on those at the Trust website here. See the full piece on the EFL Trust website here.