Applause rings around ground for volunteers

Maidenhead United FC: Community care volunteers thanked by club for their efforts

Applause rang around York Road on Saturday afternoon for community volunteers who have given up their time to support the most vulnerable in society through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maidenhead United took the opportunity to invite some of those volunteers to Saturday's game with Solihull Moors and, while they weren't rewarded with a positive performance on the pitch, their selfless efforts were recognised by the club and its supporters.

The community care initiative was launched by the club at the height of the pandemic to help the elderly and most vulnerable through long and testing periods of isolation.

While matches were suspended, and then played behind closed doors, the club showed it is more than its results on a football field as it came to the aid of hundreds of people suffering through the crisis.

Its principal aim was to support those higher risk groups who were struggling to carry out day-to-day tasks because they were forced into isolation as a result of their age or health. This included shopping for essential supplies, picking up prescriptions, walking pets or being on hand to speak with people who are on their own on the community helpline.

Reflecting on their efforts this week, Maidenhead's CEO Jon Adams said: “It's been a strange year, but it's been a fantastic year in many respects in terms of the way we've had such a fantastic response from the community for our community care initiative and well-being services. And all we really wanted to do is say thank you to all those volunteers for giving up their time and care to support people who are vulnerable in our community or have been impacted by COVID.

“It was the best way we felt we could say thank you to them, to publicly recognise all of the efforts they've given to us over the past year or so.

“COVID has been quite enlightening for many people and nationally people have given up their time to support others and it's been quite heart-warming to see that people have wanted to help others over an extended period of time.”

The club is also fully invested in something they've called ‘Wellbeing Circles', which takes the community care initiative model that was launched 18 months ago and makes it work for anyone that's vulnerable or in need of support to make their lives better, irrespective of COVID.

During the pandemic the club also set itself a target of raising £150,000 for 15 local charities to mark the club's 150th anniversary. To date the club has raised around £40,000 to be split between those charities, which were all adversely impacted by COVID.

Adams, who himself walked 150kms in seven days to raise money for the initiative, said: “The amount raised so far is about £40,000 to be distributed to the various charities. It's testament to the club itself, because we want to support the wider community, and the Magpies 150 Challenge activities are an example of how we've been able to galvanise and bring people together to support those who are in need.

“It’s very much at the heart of who we are as a community club and moving forward we’re very much focused on supporting the wellbeing of the community in Maidenhead and more widely across the borough.