Aspire Sussex and Bognor Regis Town Football Club community partnership hits the net with local Dads

Aspire Sussex and Bognor Regis Town Football Club community partnership hits the net with local Dads

The club will provide a day of activities, led by newly appointed Manager Robbie Blake who
has played over 500 football and premiership league games. Tesco Superstore in Bognor
Regis are supporting the community event, providing a range of healthy snacks, drinks, and
lunch for those attending.

The event continues a hugely successful campaign to support unemployed Dads in the local
community. Summer 2021 established the ‘Even Superheroes Need A Dad’ campaign run by
Aspire Sussex’s ‘All About Me’ project, showing dads suffering adversity, there is a team in
their corner so they can power up their superheroes.

The success of the campaign supported the development of the unique community
partnership with the team at Bognor Regis Town F.C., culminating with an amazing free
Football and Child event in November last year. This unique experience brought smiles, joy,
laughter and many ‘proud dad’ moments along with establishing a peer support group
between the dads attending.

The second football experience day will start with Robbie Blake and a member of the team
teaching the dads and their children ball skills and tricks, which will then be used in a
friendly match. Next, they can relax in ‘Seasons’, their exclusive facilities, to have lunch and
watch a premiership football game on the television. The finale of the day will see the
attendees invited as VIP guests of the club to watch the ‘Rocks’ match against East Thurrock
United!

To make this day even more special and to offer that proud dad moment, the children will
be invited to be mascots and walk onto the pitch with the player.

Places for this amazing and unique experience are very limited with spaces for just ten dads
and their children to attend. These must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

Bookings can be made via the Eventbrite booking service (www.eventbrite.com), searching
for ‘Even Superheroes Need a Dad’ or call us on 01243 850717.

The first free Football and Child event was a great success and opened up the opportunity
for ‘Dads United’ which provides weekly drop ins at the football club. It’s a small group
which offers the company of others in similar situations, inspirational male guest speakers,
and visits from local business like UK Harvest who brought their pizza oven and food for the
dads to prepare their own pizzas.

Dads who joined the ‘Dads United’ have said “I was very nervous to before ‘Dads United’
and nervous to try something new. The group has given me confidence including with my
interviews. I really look forward to Monday mornings, it starts my week off positively and
well” Chris

I have found a group of friends whom help you feel better and get back to the way you used to
be” Adam

The groups’ achievements speak volumes. One lone dad has secured employment that can
be managed around his children. Another is confidently attending interviews and is able to
reflect what job offer was right for him. A third dad has started setting up a business and
produced a professional website. Due to caring responsibilities, a fourth dad is not yet in a
position to work, however the achievements he has made with his confidence has put him
in a more positive place in life.

The team’s innovative approach to deliver shared experience events shows there is a way to
engage this hard-to-reach group and support them to develop their skills and employment
opportunities. The ‘All About Me’ project is funded by the European Social Fund and the
National Lottery Community Fund. Running since 2018, they are proud to offer a person-
centred approach to all individuals who are long term unemployed, that can enable them to
overcome barriers that prevent them from moving forwards in their lives.

Take a look at our website for more information about the project
https://aspiresussex.org.uk/all-about-me/ or for the full range of courses and training
provided by Aspire Sussex.