Bluebirds star Vaulks honoured for all his work in community
CARDIFF City midfielder Will Vaulks has been recognised for his tremendous work off the pitch after the EFL named him the 2021 Championship PFA Player in the Community.
From day one, supporters from Rotherham and Falkirk, the Welshman’s former clubs, insisted Bluebirds fans would adore Vaulks, not only for his wholehearted performances on the field, but also for just how much he contributes away from the pitch.
Last year, in an interview with WalesOnline, Vaulks urged supporters to get behind an initiative he was heavily involved in called ‘Feed the NHS’, aiming to keep healthcare workers fed and watered following the outbreak of coronavirus.
He championed that project and has been unrelenting in his devotion to several other community initiatives over the past year.
The 27-year-old, who is a Cardiff City FC Foundation ambassador, has been extremely charitable with his time, from driving the club’s Home Schools Festival, in which he created videos of football challenges for children to emulate, to partaking in video calls with children and young people in which he offered advice to those who needed it.
He was also a key member of the Foundation’s Christmas Appeal, which aimed to raise money for children and young people facing inequalities across south Wales.
Vaulks, who is soon to become a father, has also recently taken part in the Foundation’s Football for Dads project, run in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, and has spoken with dads and fellow dads-to-be about the transition into fatherhood.
To his credit, the Wales international has not let his extracurricular activities affect his performances, either.
He has been one of the more consistent players for City this season and thrived during the early part of Mick McCarthy’s reign. He has also scored two or three screamers along the way.
“It’s really nice to be recognised,” Vaulks told Sky Sports.
“These things are a little tough though, as you don’t do it for these reasons.
“You do it because you want to, and you want to help people and make a difference.
“It’s something that throughout my career so far I’ve made an effort to be involved with. As players, we have a responsibility to our club and the city in which we play football because we’re in a fortunate position.
“We carry that responsibility at Cardiff City and we channel that into helping as many people as we can.”
The EFL said: “Vaulks’ commitment to community activities was unparalleled in terms of self-motivated volunteering and passion.
“Vaulks has dedicated significant personal time to people in the community and is a strong advocate of the benefits of volunteering for both charitable and mental health reasons.”