Over the last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken hold globally, West Ham United has been doing everything it can to support its local communities. West Ham United Foundation CEO, Joseph Lyons, has penned the following piece about the importance of unity as we continue our efforts…
Since 23 March 2020, when the first lockdown began, we have all had to adapt and rise to the challenges which have come our way - individually, organisationally and most importantly, as a collective for the future.
At the West Ham United Foundation that has meant shifting a lot of our programmes from physical to virtual delivery, repurposing our outreach to include regular donations and volunteering for foodbanks and wider services, adapting to and enforcing COVID-19 protocols, developing new projects which will benefit those who have been impacted the most by the pandemic, and establishing key partnerships like those across our local NHS Foundation Trusts. we’ve been working tirelessly to do everything we can to keep serving our communities at a time when they need us most.
We have learnt an incredible amount in the past 15 months. As a third sector charity that already works with those most in need to break down barriers and provide opportunities which inspire better futures, we have been continuing to consult with our networks and staff team to understand the complex issues facing our communities. COVID-19 has not only produced extreme health problems, but it has also brought into sharp focus severe inequalities and the deep divide across our communities, including, poverty, racism and discrimination.
We understand that as an organisation we have a responsibility to represent our values, spread awareness and show our leadership and commitment to helping our communities. Coinciding with this, we must progress our society to celebrate diversity and be more accepting, tolerant and cohesive.
Anti-social behaviour is an ongoing concerning issue. In recent years we have seen knife crime and youth violence rising in many parts of the UK, with an array of incidents in east London. In order to tackle this, we have been using a model of prevention, intervention and partnership; from speaking to young people in parks, to providing mentoring and support throughout our projects, to working with alternative provision establishments and networks like the Metropolitan Police. Our approach is dynamic.
This isn’t about funding, territory or ownership, it’s about working together and collective ownership - making sure we are fulfilling our roles and responsibilities as a key organisation within the third sector with strong links to our football club and wider services - we have to join the dots together. For example, West Ham United Foundation is part of a consortium called London United, consisting of the city’s 14 football club community organisations, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to: share knowledge and best practice, work with London wide organisations to understand how football clubs and the sport can help address wider social issues, and, deliver London wide programmes which improve lives, particularly young lives.
Looking ahead, as a Foundation, it’s important that we recognise work that is happening around us and assess gaps and opportunities with you; considering how we communicate, collaborate and potentially create new areas as a function.
Over the next few months I will be identifying the key areas in which we feel we can make a real difference and add value with the aim of then bringing together our network, by hosting a ‘Community in Conversation’ event in the summer term. Therefore, I would like to invite you to get in touch if you would like us to be involved in any response, rebuilding or repurposing developments and network conversations that you are participating in.
It’s been evident that the third sector plays a vital role in improving the lives of those across our community but we also need to continue to feed into a much bigger strategy where we all connect to make real change. We all hold a lot of power through what we do and it’s crucial we keep reflecting and progressing.
