Club’s aspirations for community work at Top Field
Nathan Randall, Jordon Jones, Kane Smith, during a lesson at Baldock Arena - Credit: Archant
A FOOTBALL club has revealed its aspirations to undertake community work at Top Field, similar to that already carried out in Baldock.
Mike Bristow and Kevin Huxtable, who work part-time for the clean sheet laundry project at the Baldock Arena - Credit: Archant
Hitchin Town Community Football Club has released an impact report, outlining the work it does at the Arena in Baldock.
And it has told the Comet it wishes to carry out the same sort of projects – which includes work with youths and adults with learning difficulties – at the Hitchin ground.
It’s likely it would need to secure funding in order to do so, which would be easier if it owned the ground.
Currently, the Hitchin Cow Commoners Trust does.
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Mark Burke, community and development manager, said: “We try to cover the whole community and involve everybody we can.
“I don’t see why we can’t replicate what we have done here in Baldock in Hitchin, and ideally at Top Field.”
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The not for profit company works with a number of agencies and charities across the county, including Youth Connexions, councils and Hitchin Christian Centre.
One of its projects includes a social enterprise, where a group of adults with learning difficulties play football, socialise, and carry out ground maintenance.
Mark said: “It all started with two adults with learning difficulties who used to tidy up Top Field after matches. They did a bit of football training and their carer asked if they could do some football on the car parks.
“We supplied a coach and before we knew it we had 30 or 40 people turning up. We moved over to Baldock because there are the facilities there, and through that, set up the social enterprise.”
The club also runs a scholarship scheme, in partnership with Central Beds College and Luton Town FC, for those between 16 and 19.
“They’re aimed at those who wouldn’t ordinarily go into further education,” added Mark.
“We’re looking to expand it from September, so we can get 60 lads here.
“It’s for those whose first love is football.”
Anyone interested in the scholarship scheme, which includes completing a diploma, can visit the open event at the Arena on April 27. It runs from 11am-2pm.
