Monday 27th February saw London Progress off to the House of Commons for an excellent Presentation by Brentford Football Club. The Club, in the presence of the Minister of Sport and local MP, Ann Keen, were launching their Community Sports Trust, a continuation and expansion of their already ambitious community sports programme. Whilst London Progress was only a minor player in the day's proceedings, in many ways we were very central to what was being outlined. Brentford have established a vast network of sporting and educational partners in the West London area and through these partnerships the club is attempting to enhance the opportunities of tens of thousands of youngsters, while at the same time making Brentford FC a truly community based club run by its supporters. London Progress is just one of their many sporting partners. In the short time that London Progress has been based at Southall we have been working with Brentford FC in the Community via their work in the Home Office funded, Positive Futures programme.
This social inclusion programme has seen dozens of local kids get the opportunity to play table tennis, many of whom are now members of London Progress and competing in the National Junior and Cadet Leagues held at the Southall Sports Centre. Furthermore, our young coaches have been going out to youth clubs on the local housing estates thus taking table tennis to the very grass roots level. In so doing, London Progress are helping the work being initiated by Brentford FC in helping to enrich the lives of the local youngsters. Everybody is a winner. Brentford Football club win new supporters. London Progress TTC gain new members. And perhaps most importantly of all, the local kids become winners by becoming connected to their local communities.
What most impressed at the Brentford FC presentation, was the energy and commitment of their paid staff and volunteer helpers. Everybody seemed united in their commitment to develop the football club as a real community club which is in touch with its local base. Their willingness to work with others to realise their aims was most refreshing.Their method of work is very much similar to that which London Progress has been developing over the past fifteen years in Brent and Barnet, and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership with this forward looking football club in the West London boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon.
