Bantams Community Foundation gets grant for mentoring scheme
The foundation has been awarded a £100,000 grant from the SkyBet EFL Building Foundations Fund to deliver "The Way Forward," a football-based mentoring scheme for young men aged 18 to 24 in Bradford.
The project is aimed at those in some of the city's most deprived areas, who are facing high unemployment, poor mental health, and limited opportunities.
The programme will use sport, coaching, and life skills training to build confidence, resilience, and pathways into education or employment.
Bradford City FC Community Foundation was inspired by Gareth Southgate's response to the Centre for Social Justice's "Lost Boys" report in March 2025.
Ian Ormondroyd, chief executive officer of the Foundation and a former Bantams player, said: "Growing up in Bradford, I experienced first-hand the power football naturally has in changing the trajectory of young men's lives.
"Our commitment to this city is to support everyone, from all backgrounds, and that includes young men who are struggling with finding their place in society.
"This grant allows us to support them in their futures, and have a say in ensuring they are viewed as positive, contributing members of our society.
"I'd like to thank SkyBet and the EFL for providing us with these vital funds, so we can continue to make a difference in Bradford."
Pavan Sembi, the Foundation's project lead for the programme, said: "Following extensive research in our community, a large number of young men expressed feelings of being forgotten in their communities.
"That made our task simple – we need to empower young men to take control of improving their circumstances, and empower them to be supportive, contributing members of their communities.
"'A loss of identity for men and boys in deprived areas is something we have seen and heard consistently throughout our work.
"The Way Forward is our chance to engage them in positive activities, imbue them with the skills they need to grow and develop as people and professionals, and create a lasting legacy they can carry forward into adulthood."
The Building Foundations Fund, now in its second year, is a sponsor-backed fund dedicated solely to community activity.
It offers 72 EFL clubs the chance to bid for grants of up to £100,000 to invest in ongoing programmes or to develop new initiatives.
The other clubs awarded funding in this round were Colchester United, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Shrewsbury Town, and Walsall.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Princess Kate, Prince William attend Wimbledon men's final
Princess Catherine and Prince William attended the Wimbledon men's singles final Sunday along with their eldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Kate has attended the prestigious tennis tournament in London nearly every year since 2011, and she was also in attendance for Saturday's women's singles final. Despite that dismal match — Iga Swiatek crushed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 — Kate brought the family back for Sunday's men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who most recently played a stirring final at the French Open in June. George, 11, and Charlotte, 10, have attended matches in the royal box on Centre Court alongside their parents before. George first attended the tournament in 2022, and Charlotte watched her first match in person the next year. However, Kate and William's youngest child, 7-year-old Prince Louis, has not yet attended the tournament. Kate has missed Wimbledon only once in the past 15 years, skipping in 2013 when she was several months pregnant with George. Last year, her appearance at the men's final between Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic was one of the first times she stepped out in public after being diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year. The Prince and Princess of Wales were not the only royals in attendance Sunday. King Felipe of Spain also watched the match, presumably cheering on his countryman, Alcaraz. _________
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Forest target Liverpool winger as Elanga replacement this summer
Nottingham Forest Eye Move for Liverpool's Ben Doak After Elanga Departure Forest look to replace Elanga with Liverpool winger Nottingham Forest are exploring the possibility of signing Liverpool winger Ben Doak this summer, following Anthony Elanga's £55 million move to Newcastle United. The Sweden international's departure has left a void in Forest's attacking options, and according to The Express, Doak is among the names under consideration as a potential replacement. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement Forest had hoped to keep Elanga, but the lure of European football and Newcastle's growing project proved decisive. Elanga contributed six goals and 11 assists for Forest last season and described his time there as 'amazing', adding that the club 'really helped me to become the player I am today'. His exit now gives Forest room to reinvest, and their focus has turned to Anfield, where Doak is attracting growing interest. Interest in Doak builds across Europe Doak, 19, enjoyed a strong loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, where he scored three goals and provided seven assists in the Championship. His performances did not go unnoticed. PSV Eindhoven are reportedly among the clubs tracking his situation, while sides in Spain have also shown interest. Photo IMAGO Advertisement Closer to home, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Everton have all made enquiries earlier this summer, with Brentford maintaining long-standing interest in the Scottish winger. Forest are now the latest club to join the race, and with funds available from Elanga's sale, they could formalise their interest in the coming days. Liverpool value Doak amid summer reshuffle Liverpool are understood to value Doak at around £25 million. While not actively looking to sell, the club are aware of the growing demand for the young attacker, who joined from Celtic in 2022. Doak made his senior Liverpool debut shortly after arriving and has featured ten times for the Reds in all competitions. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement He also played a part in Sunday's 3-1 pre-season win over Preston North End, registering an assist and further showcasing his attacking potential. Doak is open to leaving Anfield if regular first-team football can be guaranteed, and Forest may offer a more immediate path to consistent minutes. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Ben Doak has long been seen as one of the most promising young players at Liverpool. Quick, fearless and direct, he is exactly the kind of winger the club has built its modern identity around. But if this report is accurate, Liverpool may be ready to cash in. £25 million is a tempting figure for a player with limited top-flight minutes, and it would represent a healthy profit on the teenager signed from Celtic just two years ago. Advertisement Still, it feels early. Doak impressed on loan, showed flashes in pre-season, and already looks capable of contributing at Premier League level. In a summer that has already seen several departures, including Alexander-Arnold, Quansah and the passing of Jota, letting another young talent go could feel like a step back. Yes, there is an argument that loaning him again might not benefit either party. But selling outright, especially to a domestic rival like Forest, might be a decision the club come to regret. Supporters will be hoping this interest prompts Liverpool to rethink. Doak has the tools. What he needs now is trust, patience and a proper chance.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lowry back in his happy place at Royal Portrush where mural depicts 'special' 2019 win
A general view of the Royal Portrush golf course during a practice round for the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A woman walks past a mural of golfer Shane Lowry of Ireland, holding the Claret Jug trophy, in Portrush, ahead of the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People stop and look at a mural of golfer Shane Lowry of Ireland, holding the Claret Jug trophy, in Portrush, ahead of the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People stop and look at a mural of golfer Shane Lowry of Ireland, holding the Claret Jug trophy, in Portrush, ahead of the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A general view of the Royal Portrush golf course during a practice round for the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A woman walks past a mural of golfer Shane Lowry of Ireland, holding the Claret Jug trophy, in Portrush, ahead of the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People stop and look at a mural of golfer Shane Lowry of Ireland, holding the Claret Jug trophy, in Portrush, ahead of the 2025 British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — A mural of Shane Lowry holding aloft the claret jug adorns the side wall of a house just across the road from Royal Portrush. For the people in this part of Northern Ireland, it is a piece of art that serves as a constant reminder of not just one of the great victories in the British Open's 165-year history but one of the great moments for Irish sport. Advertisement An Irishman winning the Open on the island of Ireland. Six years later, Lowry is back on the Antrim coast looking to do it all over again. 'I didn't know what to make of it at the start,' Lowry said of the mural that immortalized the best golfing day of his life, 'and then when they did it, people kept sending me pictures. 'Everyone that comes up here sends me pictures standing beside it. Some of them I can't say what they were doing in it,' he added, laughing, 'but it is very special. I've done something special in my life.' And, boy, did he celebrate it. There's video of Lowry, a beer in one hand and the silver claret jug in the other, singing Irish folk song 'The Fields of Athenry' in a bar in Dublin hours after his six-shot victory. Advertisement It sure wasn't the only drinking hole he visited in the Irish capital that night, which — to some — fueled the narrative of him being something of a party animal. 'Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it from time to time,' he said, 'but I know when I need to put my head down and work. 'You can't be at the top level of any sport if you're not applying yourself well, and I feel like I do it.' Indeed, the No. 18-ranked Lowry feels in a good place after being back home in Ireland for the past three weeks, skipping the opportunity to play at the Scottish Open — regarded as a warmup to the British Open. Instead, he has played a slew of the best courses in Ireland — among them Portmarnock, Waterville and also Adare Manor, which is hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027 — in perfect weather. Advertisement Lowry, whose only solo victory since Portrush in 2019 was the European tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship in 2022, feels 'rejuvenated' and as prepared as he could be in his bid to become the first player to win consecutive British Opens at the same course since Tiger Woods at St. Andrews in 2000 and '05. 'Sometimes when everything is going really well, I get complacent,' he said. "I feel like when things are not going well is when I'm at my best. 'Go back to 2019 here, I had a meltdown on the Wednesday because I thought I wasn't going to go out and play well, but then that focused me in a little bit more.' Roared on by a raucous crowd, Lowry went on to play the best golf of his life in what at times was rough and wet weather. Advertisement Few will forget the scene of Lowry — dressed all in black — marching to the 18th green on Sunday with a broad smile and his arms out wide, to the backdrop of green-white-and-orange Irish flags and jubilant umbrella-holding spectators. 'I came to a place that I knew and I loved,' he said, 'and it just all clicked.' There's now a mural of him to show for it, even if being lionized in such a way makes him feel uncomfortable. 'I'm happy," Lowry said, 'I don't have to drive past it every day.' ___ AP golf:
