New Community partnership

10 February 2011, 11:24 | Updated: 21 February 2011, 14:24

Carers, year 10 students and those who need health advice stand to benefit from a new partnership between the Albion and Amex

 

Hear our interview with Dick Knight

Ben Zoren has benefited from the scheme

This is the Club's statement

American Express and Albion in the Community (AITC) - Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s (BHAFC) national award-winning charitable organisation - have entered into a ground-breaking, community-focused partnership delivering a wide range of social initiatives across Sussex.

The new partnership builds on last year’s announcement that the financial services company had acquired naming rights for the new American Express Community Stadium which is due to open in late summer 2011.

Under the banner ‘Realise the potential of the community’, the partnership between American Express and AITC will provide young people and adults the opportunity to learn new skills and gain qualifications which will be of long-term benefit to both Sussex-based residents and the local economy.

American Express employees will be invited to participate in the projects in volunteering and advisory roles, and will receive specialised training from qualified AITC staff enabling the partnership to deliver 7 initiatives
throughout 2011. These will promote fitness, health, education and the development of new skills.

The first three community projects will roll out this month and comprise:

School Masterclasses Year 10 pupils across the Sussex region will have the opportunity to develop important workplace skills and enhance their understanding of commercial business via two fun and interactive projects. The course will help pupils to prepare for the workplace and inspire them to realise their potential.

‘Gully’s Day Out’ Via this initiative the partnership will provide carer support and the facilities to enable groups of young disabled people to enjoy relaxing and fun days out to a number of local attractions across Sussex, completely free of charge.

Community Stadium Health Squad The Health Squad will be mobilised to deliver targeted community health messages and raise awareness of key public health concerns.


BHAFC Life President and AITC Chairman Dick Knight said: “From the beginning our objective was to provide not only an architecturally-striking new home for the Albion, but a visionary community stadium for the city of Brighton and its surrounding areas. We are confident the new partnership with our two community-minded organisations will transform Albion’s magnificent new home into a 7 day-a-week, living, breathing, community hub through this series of exciting and inclusive community projects.”

Michael Edwards, Senior Vice President at American Express, added: “This partnership will enhance American Express’ longstanding good citizenship programme in the Brighton & Hove area. The AmericanExpress Community Stadium is the natural platform for community initiatives of this nature and we are delighted to be joining forces with AITC which already has a great reputation for delivering effective community initiatives through the power of sport. We are also excited to be able to offer our employees the opportunity to get involved and support these important initiatives.”

Further programmes will roll out throughout 2011 with over 4,000 members of the public expected to directly benefit in the first year of the partnership alone.