THE MARTYRS COMMUNITY TRUST
GIRLS
FOOTBALL
WALKING
FOOTBALL
BREAKING
BARRIERS
BME
FOOTBALL
DISABILITY
FOOTBALL
The Martyrs Community Trust aims to provide its local and wider communities with the opportunity to lead a more healthy and active lifestyle. Using the power of sport and the brand of Merthyr Town FC we aim to engage with people from all walks of life.
Overview
Established in the summer of 2014, the community trust works with partners to provide opportunities for the local and wider community stay active and healthy. The community Trust runs several initiatives targeting a wide range of people from all ages, genders and backgrounds. For the past 3 years, the community trust has led on all community based initiatives on behalf of Merthyr Town FC.
The Martyrs Community Trust also delivers Fun Turn Up and play sessions specifically for girls as well as mixed gender sessions. Girls football is a key priority of the the Community Project and along with Key partners we will continue to support the development of girls football both locally and nationally.
This season will see the first ever girls only junior teams play out of Merthyr Town with Under14's and Under16's squad being run. Also, the Martyrs Community Trust will run a mental health scheme called 'Breaking Down Barriers' and this will be delivered with partners from Time to change Wales and the Welsh Football Trust.
The scheme will be funded by Sports Wales and will see a weekly session being delivered at Penydarren Park in order to help tackle the sigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health illness. Finally, the Martyrs Community Trust and Merthyr Town FC have recently partnered up with Vi/Ability to become one their Viable Clubs.
Joanne and her colleagues will provide the club with their expertise and provide support as the club continues to develop and grow. The Martyrs Community Trust is one of the many positive initiatives being run by Merthyr Town FC and with the help and support from partners, there is no doubt that the Martyrs Community Trust can not only continue, but increase its provision across the Merthyr borough and as a result, have a hugely positive effect on the local town. Football can be a powerful tool and we aim to use the power of football to motivate, educate and inspire people.
GIRLS FOOTBALL
Fun football provision across the Merthyr borough for girls aged 7-11 with teams formed for U12’s – U16’s and as of this year a female senior team.
Overall aim is to provide females of all ages with an opportunity to play regular football and to be active.
WALKING FOOTBALL
This initiative has proved hugely popular.
We currently have 3 sessions across the borough providing men and women over the ages of 50 with an opportunity to meet new people and take part in regular activity.
There is a physical benefit for those attending but we also put a big emphasis on the social side of the session where the participants can interact with each other and develop friendships.A
Please note that all sessions take place on Merthyr Town FC's FIFA Pro standard 3G pitch, so only moulded football boots are allowed - no Astroturf trainers, boots with metal studs, trainers or flat soled shoes can be worn.
NO METAL STUDS ALLOWED!
BREAKING BARRIERS
Merthyr Town F.C. has been selected as one of only two football clubs in the country to deliver a mental health initiative thanks to a new partnership with Time To Change Wales and Football Association Wales Trust.
We Wear The Same Shirt will aim to break down the barriers faced by those living with a mental health condition in playing football through a tailored programme that aligns mental with physical wellbeing.
The weekly football programme, which launched on Tuesday (03.11.15), promises to be free of the pressures of competition and is free thanks to Sports Wales funding.
Elliott Evans, Community Development Officer at Merthyr Town said: “We want to support anyone experiencing living with a mental health condition in either re-entering, or taking their first steps in playing football. And if someone doesn’t want to play, then that’s OK! There will be other opportunities to get involved as we know it’s not just the players that make the team but all its staff and supporters too.
He continued: “With 1 in 4 people living with a mental health condition, we want to make sure that Merthyr Town F.C. is supporting its fans and community. If you want to be our latest signing, then go to www.wewearthesameshirt.org”
We Wear The Same Shirt runs every
Tuesday at Penydarren Park from 1pm to 2:30pm.
If you would like to join the team, please visit www.wewearthesameshirt.org.
BME FOOTBALL
Merthyr Tydfil has a high number of ethnic minority communities and they can often be hard to engage with.
We work with Focal Point Merthyr to support the ‘All Together Merthyr’ football team. This allows people from all backgrounds to come together and interact with each other through the power of football.
We will also run a community based Turn Up and Play for 12-16 year olds of all ages as a means of bringing communities together.
DISABILITY FOOTBALL
We run disability football sessions for young people to provide them with an opportunity to engage in the sport.
Due to their physical or mental disability, many young people may feel as though they are not able to engage not just in football but in sport.
We run these sessions to change that perception and provide them with an opportunity to be physically active.
SCHOOL BASED PROVISION
We aim to deliver some form of fun football based activity into every primary and secondary school within the borough.
We do this to provide the pupils with a mean of staying active and healthy while also promoting other community based session that we run.
We also run the LIDL Play More Football program that aims to get secondary school pupils running fun football sessions with their own school and feeder primaries.
