Community Catch Up: March
Welcome to Sheffield United Community Foundation’s monthly review!
Find out what’s been happening at the Foundation and what we’ve got coming up!
Our Impact
Sheffield United Community Foundation is delighted to unveil its 2023-24 Impact Report, showcasing the incredible work and achievements made over the past year. This report highlights the Foundation’s commitment to transforming lives across Sheffield through its diverse range of programmes focused on health, education, employment, and community engagement.
Through powerful stories, key statistics, and meaningful partnerships, the report provides insight into the positive impact the Foundation has had on individuals and communities. From supporting young people through education and sport to promoting wellbeing and social inclusion, this year’s report reflects the dedication and passion that drive the Foundation’s mission forward.
Chris Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield United Community Foundation said: “The Foundation continues to make a significant impact in communities across Sheffield, despite the challenges of an evolving economic landscape. Our unwavering commitment to community engagement, educational development, and social change has been driven by the strength of our partnerships, the collaborative efforts of stakeholders, and the dedication of our exceptional staff team.“
Read more here and check out our 23-24 highlights below!
Iftar 2025
We had the pleasure of hosting the first-ever open Iftar at Bramall Lane in partnership with Darnall Education & Sports Academy and the Premier League as part of the PL PFA Fans Fund Initiative. Over 200 people from the local community came together to break fast at the home of the Blades. Thanks to everyone who made the night possible and thanks to all that attended, we hope you had a great time!
Easter Football Camps
Our popular football camps are in full-swing for the Easter break!
We have daily sessions at five locations across the city – Handsworth JSC, Leisure United Graves, Leisure United Thorncliffe, Leisure United Westfield, and Wisewood Sports Centre. Designed for children aged 5-14, the sessions run every weekday until Friday 11th April*. We also have girls-only camps available at Graves and Westfield.
Book your child’s place here.
*Please note: No sessions at Thorncliffe on Thursday 10th April or Friday 11th April.
International Women’s Day 2025
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we collaborated with Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme, Sheffield United Women Supporters Club and Sheffield Wednesday Women’s Supporters Group to talk about their experiences in sport, gender equality and more.
Youth Hub Job Fair
Sheffield United Community Foundation and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) proudly hosted a successful Job Fair, bringing together over 220 job seekers with a fantastic range of employers!
Held to support individuals looking for new career opportunities, the event featured a range of employers, offering roles in various industries such as hospitality, healthcare, civil service, creative work, technology and more!
Attendees had the chance to network, submit applications, and even take part in on-the-spot interviews. We have had amazing feedback from both the employers and the attendees so far!
💼 Event Highlights:
✅ 220+ attendees eager to explore career opportunities
✅ A diverse range of employers actively recruiting
✅ On-the-spot interviews
✅ Bespoke career advice
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event a success!
It’s Good to Talk
Talk Club is a mental health charity dedicated to enhancing men’s mental fitness through structured talking groups. These groups encourage participants to assess their wellbeing by asking, “How are you? Out of 10?” and then sharing the reasons behind their rating. This practice helps build self-awareness, resilience, and community support. On average, attending a Talk Club session has been shown to improve mental fitness by over 15%.
We recently sat down with Talk Club regulars Chris and Matt to talk all things mental health and how attending the weekly session has benefitted them.
Matt said: “When I first attended, I found it really hard, because the biggest step is walking through the door. For me, coming down here on a Wednesday, it’s like what I would’ve done on a Saturday night, I look forward to it, and I look forward to the environment, the community, the friendship, hearing what everybody else has got going off. We keep in touch and it’s such a great community.“
College Blades Roundup
March was a month of thrilling victories and high-scoring performances for our College teams!
The Men’s Elite side battled past Bishop Burton in a dramatic NFYL Cup quarter-final, securing their place in the semis after a tense penalty shootout. They followed this up with a 2-1 win over Northampton Town, earning a spot in the final!
The Women’s Elite team delivered standout performances, including a commanding 3-0 victory over league leaders Durham and an 11-0 demolition of Scarborough FS, where Emily Clayton netted an incredible six goals!
Elsewhere, the Men’s B team enjoyed a goal-filled month, putting seven past Rotherham United before an exciting 5-3 win over Derby County. Meanwhile, the C team played out an eight-goal thriller against Bradford City, drawing 4-4. Other highlights included the A team’s victory over Sheffield Wednesday, our Flexi Central squad’s victory over Sheffield Wednesday, and our Women’s side thrashed YCDS Academy 13-3 in a friendly. Our teams also supported the recent Football v Homophobia and Unite For Access campaigns.
Also this month, students studying sport and fitness visited Malaga as part of their enrichment. On the pitch, our two teams did the double over FC Motril Academy, and away from the pitch, took in the sights and sounds of the south of Spain. Our esports students also experienced Berlin’s finest attractions, visiting historical sites like the Brandenburg Gate and cultural places like the Computer Games Museum and Berlin’s very own professional esports team, G2 Esports.
⚔️ A massive congratulations to Rainbow Blades and their founder, James Laley, as they scooped the Supporters Group and FvH Hero awards at the annual Football v Homophobia awards! James’s work with Rainbow Blades remains as important as ever, and his dedication to inclusivity has been truly inspiring. Congratulations James!
⚔️ Alongside Rainbow Blades, we’re running inclusive football sessions at Leisure United Woodbourn Road (S9 3HL) every fortnight starting from Mon 24th March (next session is Mon 7th April), 6-7pm. Learn more here and sign up for future sessions here.
⚔️ Young people aged 10-21 (25 with SEND) can help us inform the National Youth Strategy via a survey designed by young people. Their insights, experiences, ideas, and actions are vital in shaping inclusive, forward-thinking communities. Now it’s time for their voices to shape the future of this Government, through the new National Youth Strategy. Learn more here.
⚔️ Young Women from E-ACT Parkwood Academy have rewritten the rules on Gender Inequalities this year whilst participating in the Premier League Inspires Challenge. Read more here.
⚔️ Finally, congratulations to Sheffield United Community College’s Squad of the Month for March, and our first Chesterfield Blades Student of the Term, Jayden Slack!
