We celebrate our wonderful work in the community on Saturday - and we'll be grateful for more of your fantastic support on AFC Wimbledon Foundation Day.
In just over a year, our Foundation has raised over £125,000 to push further forward with its community work, which involves providing sports opportunities for people of all ages.
On Saturday, staff and volunteers will be selling raffle tickets for supporters to win fantastic prizes (more information below), first-team players will be wearing Foundation T-shirts, and activities will be hosted in the Kids Zone. There will also be a parade around the pitch at half-time, so please give a warm welcome to those involved in our community programmes.
"The 1000 More Campaign" was launched by our Foundation 14 months ago, aimed at inspiring 1,000 more local people to take-up sporting and social activities.
The Foundation's past year in numbers
- A dedicated team of 23 coaches work in 33 local schools, engaging with over 1,800 pupils every week
- 41 students enrolled in the Foundation's Education Football programme at Southfields Academy - 75 per cent of the student squad say they would not be in secondary education without this opportunity
- One or two local primary schools hosted every Friday at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, giving local kids a behind the scenes tour, providing educational workshops and small sided games on our astroturf
- On average 211 local kids (174 boys 45 girls) take part our Saturday morning Football for All sessions at Wimbledon Park - now it its 15th year
- Every Wednesday 133 gifted and talented young footballers (96 boys & 37 girls) train at our Player Development Centre in Wandsworth
- On average 160 local children attend our football holiday camps
- We engage over 135 older people every week in walking football, active ageing, dons fit sessions, our veterans breakfast, and disability football sessions
Paul Munro, Head of Fundraising at our Foundation, said:
"We now need to focus even more on reaching the most disadvantaged people in our community, making sure everyone has access to sport, exercise and social activities.
"We know that low-income families can’t afford the additional costs of sports clubs / activities, for example travel, kit and fees, so it costs more to live a healthy lifestyle. As more and more people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis we need the support of our fans, local people and organisations so that we can reach, engage and pay for the most disadvantaged members of our community to enjoy our sporting and social activities for FREE.
"Thanks to generous donations, fundraising efforts, new partnerships and successful grants, the '1000 More' Campaign raised over £125,000. This has allowed us to expand our levels of engagement and now, on average, 3,596 local people take part in Foundation-led programmes and activities every week.
"Our corporate partner – MidexPro - is donating £18k a year for two years, becoming title sponsor of our older health activities and active lifestyles in local children.
"You can help by making a donation, setting up a monthly donation, taking on the next Dons Cycle Challenge on 6 April or doing your own fundraising. We are also looking for mentors, as well as volunteers, to help at our sessions and help raise awareness of our work."
For more information on the above, access the AFC Wimbledon Foundation website
Raffle on Saturday
Supporters can buy raffle tickets (from the Foundation Gazebo outside the stadium, 1-3 pm), with prizes including the following:
- Apple Ipad from Midex Pro
- Fortnum and Mason Picnic hamper
- AFC Wimbledon Training ground experience for 4 people
- 2023/24 season AFC Wimbledon signed shirt
- 2023/24 season AFC Wimbledon signed football
- Two weeks at an AFC Wimbledon Foundation football holiday camp
- One term at AFC Wimbledon Foundation’s Wimbledon Park Saturday football sessions
