How Premier League status for Sheffield United is helping the most vulnerable in the community

The wait is over, the English Premier League will return after a 100-day break amid the coronavirus pandemic, and Sheffield United are ready for a new campaign as they kick-off against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home tonight.

For one department of the club, top flight football status has played a vital role in expanding a life-changing initiative that has helped some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

The Sheffield United Community Foundation, run by Chris Bailey, is an almost 365-days-a-year operation, working on all aspects of life throughout the city.

Premier League football has opened the door to expanding the foundation’s Fans Fighting Cancer (Fans FC) which helps cancer sufferers in the community through physical activity with initiatives such as walking football groups.

Previously it had only been able to run as a pilot scheme after being initiated to support people that are going through treatment or are in remission with cancer, in partnership with the Western Park Cancer charity based in the city.

However additional funding from the Premier League and PFA, has enabled the scheme to take the next step, and expand to help 70 participants who are living with cancer or another form of long term illness in the community with further plans to expand.

Mr Bailey, 36, said: “The project wouldn’t exist if we didn’t get promoted to the Premier League.”

As a result of the pandemic the project has also adapted to deliver care packages to those in need including items to help them stay physically active at home, and keep in touch online as part of a digital programme.

Since stepping into the head of foundations role two years ago, after previously being with the foundation for seven years, Mr Bailey said Premier League status had been pivotal in increasing engagement in the community, particularly through education and training programmes for young people.

“There is an increased pride within the city, and the connection between the community and the club has strengthened - we have seen across all of our projects there has been an increased engagement from communities and there is a positive aura the club brings,” he said.

“We have doubled the amount of young people who are engaging in those programmes over the last 12 months and while we can’t perhaps physically evidence that direct correlation with promotion - it is a big coincidence.

“One could reasonably assume that the popularity of the club and the status of the club has maybe swayed young people’s decision to join our programme as opposed to others perhaps.”

He added: “We’ve seen it grow over the last decade… the one thing that will stand the test of time is the brand of the football club is synonymous with the city and any football club in any town - it’s a cornerstone, an institution, and we’ve always been able to use that to our advantage in helping people in our community.

“The most recent growth and success on the pitch - that has helped everything off the pitch - in terms of the recognition and the qudos the club gets from media coverage, television coverage.

“People take note of that, and it just helps us open that door and open that conversation up a little bit easier than what it may have done before the club had premier league status.”

In earlier developments

Reflecting on last season Stephen Bettis, the chief executive at Sheffield United, told The Yorkshire Post the club’s first year in the Premier League had been “a great success”.

He said: “Despite the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, we have reunited valuable real estate with the club and also made plans for improvements... Additionally, we have made significant investments to the playing operation, including record transfers and new contracts for key players and management.

“It has been an interesting and challenging time being part of the Premier League.”

- And in a special report by The Yorkshire this weekend the head of Yorkshire's tourism agency says businesses must seize upon the "huge opportunity" of having two Premier League football teams for the first time in years.

Read the full report here. Plus local businesses in Leeds and Sheffield, who benefit from the routine of football fans on match day, opened up about the "golden chance" having two Premier League football teams for the first time in years could bring to the region.

Read the full report here. _____________________________

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson