Kendal-based Westmorland County Football Association has developed a year-long partnership with Alcedo Care Group.
The homecare provider is supporting the not-for-profit governing body for football in Westmorland with new tracksuit tops for its referee mentors and the development of a new special educational needs (SEN) shop and website.
From its office base in Kendal, Westmorland County FA supports, governs and develops all areas of football across the local area. Using football to inspire, the team offers sessions for all ages and all abilities and has a huge focus on youngsters, SEN and delivering footballing sessions for adults and children with disabilities.
With the financial donation from Alcedo Care Group, Westmorland County FA has produced 12 branded tracksuit jackets for the team of young referee mentors that help out every weekend at football matches across the region.
Instantly recognisable, the striking black tops will be used by mentors assisting at football matches across the region and also in two local schools where they deliver special referee courses for children in the care system who aspire to gain referee qualifications and develop confidence skills.
Alcedo has also helped Westmorland County FA convert the former reception at its Kendal office into a pop-up shop.
Working with two local schools, The Queen Katherine School and Sandgate, the shop will sell football gear, nutritional products and other essentials and provide valuable work experience and life, digital and social skills for students.
Supporting the shop is the creation of a new website with design, content and technical development all being undertaken by the students under the mentorship of the Westmorland County FA team.
Peter Leonard, of Westmorland County FA, said: “The latest directive from the FA is to use football for the greater good, to bring businesses together and to engage the community. We receive some funding from the FA but do also look externally to corporate partners for support.
“This partnership with Alcedo Care Group is a perfect fit, working with proactive community-minded businesses to achieve aspirations that will really help youngsters in our community. We are grateful for the support and look forward to working with the team over the next 12 months.”
With an office in South Lakes, Alcedo Care Group is an independent homecare provider offering a comprehensive range of specialist and highly complex clinical care services in the home setting with its talented team delivering hundreds of care hours in the region every week.
Care manager from Alcedo in Kendal Jamie Pepper added: “It was a pleasure to be welcomed to one of the Westmorland County FA training sessions and see just how striking the jackets look in action and I’m forward to visiting the pop-up shop which is just a couple of minutes from our office in the next few weeks.”
