Throughout October half-term, members of QPR's Under 18’s side visited the popular Soccer School at PlayFootball, the Masbro Youth Centre which is located in Shepherds Bush, Safe Camp at the Phoenix Academy and a community session in North Kensington – events which are all run by the Community Trust.
The players enjoyed time with young participants at PlayFootball, with a few training drills and a match before moving onto the local youth centre - where once again the young scholars continued to inspire the next generation.
Adam Kaliniecki, QPR’s Academy Liaison Officer was at the heart of this initiative and highlighted the importance of these types of initiatives. He told www.qpr.co.uk: “We were delighted to join the Community Trust and contribute to the various projects that they have been delivering during the half term break.
“The value and impact of their work to support our local community is plain to see and particularly important during challenging times such as these.
"It’s great for our players to develop their personal skills off the pitch by taking part in activities like this and I know that they enjoyed meeting all of the participants”.
Local lad and promising Under 18 scholar Riley Cotter knows just how important the community trust work is to the area of west London.
Riley said: “Having grown up in the Ladbroke Grove area, I have experienced first-hand the work QPR in the Community Trust do, but to experience it from the other side was so exciting.
“I felt privileged to understand the vital work they do to help the community.”
www.qpr.co.uk also spoke with Pablo Blackwood from QPR in the Community Trust, who continues to play a key role in organising this fantastic work with QPR’s Academy.
He said: “Following on from a well-received presentation to our scholars and Academy staff about the work undertaken by the Trust. It was great to coordinate and with our delivery partners permission have the players join us during the half term, to sample how we use the power of the badge and brand to positively impact on those who engage with us.
“Hopefully as many of them as possible will go onto have great careers on the pitch, we can do our bit in developing them off the pitch, to be caring and thoughtful members of society.
“The feedback from our delivery partners and key stakeholders within the community has been fantastic, such was the impression our scholars had with both them and our young people alike.”
Please note this was done before the new lockdown restrictions were in place.
