Shrewsbury Town in the Community (STITC) are joining 71 other clubs from around the UK to host an EFL Day of Action on the 10th March. The event aims to tackle some of society’s biggest issues from homelessness and mental health, to community cohesion and the battle against plastic pollution.
STITC will be launching their additional ‘Extra Time’ session during the morning of the event. The Extra Time sessions are part of a national project from the EFL Trust designed to combat loneliness amongst the elderly by providing social events for retired or semi-retired locals, where they can enjoy social and physical activities. The existing ‘Extra Time’ session is attended by over 30 people, so another weekly session has been added to meet demand. Activities outside will include walking football and handball, and inside sitting exercises, boccia, bowls, bingo, and crafts.
In the afternoon STITC will be launching their brand new ‘Off the Streets FC’ programme, which has been created to help the homeless. Working in partnership with Shrewsbury Ark, the programme encourages the homeless to stay active with a kick around at STITC’s 3G pitches. Participants will be able to use the changing rooms to have a shower and a local barber has been invited along to give haircuts. The programme will offer activities to develop skills such as interview tips, CV writing classes, and mental health support.
Jamie Edwards, CEO at Shrewsbury Town in the Community, “We are excited to launch a programme that will giving local homeless people access to essential tools that will hopefully ignite some positive change in their lives. The aim is that this programme will be funded by proceeds raised at our Sleep Out on the 3rd and 4th July, where participants will spend the night sleeping outside at Montgomery Waters Meadow to raise awareness about homelessness issues across the county. We really hope the new programme can make a big difference to the homeless in our region.”
For more information on STITC, please visit www.shrewsburytowninthecommunity.com.