Today, we are rolling out a wide range of projects across all sectors of the local community and bringing much appreciated joy and happiness to a huge number of people. This work is being consolidated by our growing SITC team year on year and we are always looking to develop new projects where they could be beneficial and where they can be funded. I hope you will look through this report and see the details for yourself.
I thank the two Mikes and all the many SITC staff, Trustees and Volunteer colleagues for all their hard work to make this happen. They can be immensely proud of what has been achieved. So can the supporters of Maidstone United FC, who know that a football club is so much more than just the first teams. The Stones are as active as possible to improve the quality of life in the local community and long may it continue.
Oliver Ash
Joint-Owner, Maidstone United
Trustee
Projects
MindSTONES – a Head In The Game Legacy Project
About 2 years ago, SITC took over a Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing programme from Head In The Game (HITG) which we renamed as MindSTONES, a Head In The Game Legacy Project.
The MindSTONES free to participant sessions have gone from strength to strength in the last financial year. MindSTONES now run two separate free to participant sessions each week, enabling them to cater for more participants, with new members continuing to register. SITC have been funding MindSTONES ourselves which now runs sessions each Monday and Thursday evening for men aged 18 to 80 at Valley Park School in Maidstone. We have 26 registered for Mondays and 28 registered for Thursdays. They are coached by 5 highly trained and unpaid volunteers. That’s 2,808 places this year!
HITG filming
During March 2024, we were asked by HITG if we could help record some video for their final submission to The National Lottery Community Fund. We were pleased to assist – click the link below to go to the final version containing Colin Jones and Mike Littleboy of SITC as posted on our website.
Under 11 boys football tournament
October 2023
On Monday 9 October 2023, 36 of Maidstone’s Primary School Teams or around 360 male footballers took part in our UEFA Champions League Tournament at The Gallagher Stadium with a chance of representing Maidstone United at the South-East Regional finals. The Discovery School, representing Shaktar Donetsk played More Park Catholic Primary School representing Young Boys in the Final and eventually won a tense affair 2 – 0.
Funding for this Event was kindly provided by CSIS, Bellway, The National League Trust and Wellbeing People. Thanks also to our partners at Europa Sports, Burning Leaf and Urban Blue. The Discovery School progressed to the South East Regional Finals at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium on Thursday 25 January 2024. A great effort by the boys from The Discovery School saw them make it to the Semi-Finals but losing 2-1 to Eastbourne and just missing out on going to the South Regional Finals.
September 2024
Our Annual Boys U11 Schools Tournament took place on Monday 23 September 2024 at The Gallagher Stadium and coincided with the International Day of Peace. We had been approached by the International Children’s Football Alliance to twin the Gallagher Stadium with the International Peace Field, located at Messines in Flanders, Belgium. This formed the theme for the tournament which involved 360 enthusiastic young footballers in 36 Maidstone Primary Schools.
Messines is one of the sites where, in the Great War 1914-1918, soldiers on both sides left their trenches in several local truces, joining together in ‘No-mans land’ and play impromptu games of football. The Gallagher Stadium is built on the site of the old parade ground of the First Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, who fought in one of the first significant engagements of the Great War at the Battle of Mons in Belgium. In nearby Tertre, a plinth is located to honour the bravery of the men of the RWK. All 36 schools taking art were allocated a country to represent each of the signatories to the International Peace Treaty. Having been presented with their country flag, they then paraded around the pitch with their flag before the tournament was officially opened by the Maidstone Mayor, Cllr John Perry.
At lunch surrounded by some young players, Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant, on behalf of the CFA, presented Maidstone United with a commemorative plaque, replicating that already in place in the Flanders field and a peace declaration was jointly signed by CFA and Maidstone United. “Twinning” the Gallagher with the Peace field in Flanders. The finalists were Sandling Primary School representing Slovenia and Loose Primary School representing Greece. This was an extremely competitive match with skill and quality shown by both teams. The 4-0 final winning score gave Loose victory making them the International Day of Peace Champions. This tournament, part of the National League Trusts UK competition, offers the chance for Loose to go forward representing Maidstone United at the South East Regional Finals in January 2025.
SITC funded this year’s tournament but we wish to thank Morrisons Supermarkets for the donation of 360 bottles of water to keep young players hydrated during the event.
Under 11 girls football tournament
On Monday 16 October 2023, 30 of Maidstone’s Primary School Teams or around 300 female footballers took part in Under 11s Girls Champions League Tournament at The Gallagher Stadium. South Borough Primary School (Barcelona) were crowned Champions beating The Discovery School (Paris FC) 3-2 in the final after extra time. They went on to represent Maidstone United in the U11 National League Cup 2024 South East Regional Finals.
South Borough Primary School progressed to the South East Regional Finals at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium on Thursday 25 January 2024. A great effort by the Girls from South Borough saw them finish 3rd in their Group missing out by only 1 point from getting to the South Regional Finals.
Funding for this Event was kindly provided by CSIS, Bellway, The National League Trust and Wellbeing People. Thanks also to our partners at Europa Sports, Burning Leaf and Urban Blue.
Primary FitSTONES
SITC provided football and multi-sports coaching at 18 local primary schools during this financial year. These sessions took place at The Discovery School, Greenfields, Harrietsham, Hunton, Lenham, Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision, North Borough, Oaks, Palace Wood, Park Way, Senacre, Snodland, South Borough, Swingate Primary, Tiger, Tree Tops, VIAT East Borough and Wateringbury. We also provided coaching and specialist kit and equipment at the special educational needs school Five Acre Wood and their 5 centres in and around Maidstone. Part funding of this initiative was provided by CSIS.
Funding for these sessions was either provided free of charge, from school funds and/or by parents. Maidstone United Academy via B&B Coaching helped us by providing some of the coaches for this programme.
Fit4LIFE @ Valley Park
From September 2023, we worked at VIAT Valley Park School delivering a Fit4Life programme offering educational teaching and football coaching for 2 and 3 days a week for disengaged youngsters, aged 11 to 16 years old. Over the duration of this course, all students who took part benefitted from attending. It has had a positive effect on their behaviour and overall school life.
Our programme included two student Year groups: Year 8 cohort consisting of 12 pupils on a Tuesday; and Year 9 cohort consisting of 13 pupils on a Thursday. From Term 5, we were also instructed to attend each Wednesday to carry out 1 to 1 reviews and class supervision of pupils involved in our programme. In the Year 8 cohort, students overall attendance was positively affected by 83% thanks to our programme. In the Year 9 cohort, 69% of the 13 students had an increase in attendance levels.
This was fully funded with thanks by VIAT Valley Park. Maidstone United Academy via B&B Coaching and Nathan Baker helped us with delivery of this particular programme.
Schools Out free activities club
We have been running this Programme during school holidays and half terms since our existence in 2018. The clubs are located in three locations across Maidstone; Shepway, Parkwood and Tovil.
From October 2023 to end of August 2024, we provided around 4,004 registered places at our Schools Out programme.
FitSTONES
FitSTONES is a weekly exercise and wellbeing course in partnership with Strictly Fitness, Energise Fitness and Wellbeing People. A total of 134 places were provided for our FitSTONES programme. The cohorts gained a combined total of 34 wellbeing years by completing our FitSTONES 6 course. Results for FitSTONES 7 are still to be determined.
FitSTONES 6
We ran one complete 13-week programme in 2023/2024 aiming to improve men and women’s wellbeing, fitness, provide lifestyle guidance, weight and nutritional guidance. FitSTONES 6 took place between September and December 2023 and involved 13 weeks’ work for 8 participants, a total of 104 places provided. This cohort gained 34 wellbeing years by completing this course.
FitSTONES 7
FitSTONES 7 commenced in September 2024 at Hermitage Park Community Centre and in December 2024 and involved 13 weeks’ work for 10 participants who completed the course; a total of 30 places provided in this financial year.
FitSTONES 7 was partly supported by Maidstone Borough Council through their Community Resilience Fund. Thanks also to Swale Community Leisure for their help with venue hire at Hermitage Park Community Centre.
Maidstone United Raiders
Maidstone United Raiders FC are part of the SCT/SITC. It has expanded and continues to grow. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2024, Raiders continues to offer football opportunities for children and adults who have a disability or mental health condition. With 20 teams across the junior and adult sections, over 200 players are given the opportunity to take part in monthly tournaments with other teams across the county in the Kent Disability Football League (KDFL). We have two all-female teams – we are the only club in the KDFL to have women’s teams playing in a predominantly male league.
Raider’s Operations Manager, Lorraine Humm, was the winner of the FA’s National Grassroots Keeping Football Positive Award. She was given the opportunity to carry the Community Shield onto the pitch before Manchester City faced Manchester United in the traditional season curtain-raiser.
Lorraine also won the FA’s National Diversity Award for Refereeing for the ongoing recruitment and help with championing disabled children and adults to take up the whistle for physical and mental health as well as to earn money as a form of self employment. It also promotes support and coaching at a suitable level with children and adults with learning difficulties.
At the Kent FA Grassroots Football Awards, Raiders won Green Hero of The Year with Lorraine winning the Keeping Football Positive Award and Erin Jarvis-Baker winning the Young Volunteer of the Year. Lorraine and Michael Watts were both shortlisted for the Coach of the Year (Disability Player Pathway) award. Lorraine was further shortlisted for the Lioness Award and Bob Moore Award. Raiders won the Kent FA Green United award, the first club to do so! Lorraine Humm was credited with a Kent FA Volunteer Ambassador accreditation for disability football in Kent. She helped grow the game as well as another Club set up a disability team and mentoring them so they could join the Kent Disability Football League.
Raiders have received sponsorship from several local businesses and families including Riveroak, iTech, Knapp, Europa Sport, CSSC Sports and Leisure, Burning Leaf Creatives and Reece van Sertima’s family, iTech Lounge Season Ticket Holders, along with several smaller donations.
And this year, following an idea from a player, we have launched an inhouse competition in the junior section to offer players an opportunity to play against each other in training for a shield which has been sponsored by G4S (the G4S Challenge Shield).
WalkingSTONES
Maidstone United Walking Football Club (WalkingSTONES) are an active member of the SITC providing football for around 40 male players of advancing years who still have a love of the game. The section runs fun training sessions at the YMCA on a Friday evening along with having competitive teams in the 50+ and 60+ age groups in the Kent League. It also has a social side to the club where regular nights out are arranged for the players and their partners. Just the training sessions alone (not including League games) involve 2,080 participants over the year!
We have run a very popular 6-a-side Walking Football tournament for the last 3 years including one at The Gallagher on Saturday 27 April 2024 involving 23 teams (138 participants) from all over London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex. That’s 2,218 participants over the year! WalkingSTONES used the funds raised to donate money to the SITC to help with the fantastic causes it supports in and around Maidstone.
WalkingSTONES have received sponsorship from Cohesion Design.
WildCATS
Since Summer 2023, we have been running a 1 hour programme each Monday evening to encourage young girls (5 to 11 year old) to participate in football. This is a paid initiative and runs from The Gallagher. There were around 30 girls playing each week – this is for girls who don’t belong to a team but just wish to come along and play football in a safe and secure environment with their friends. This is partnered with Maidstone United Women’s and Girls section as well as Kent FA. It was important to ensure that we could cater for all girls to take part and join Maidstone United FC.
From September 2024 , we continued for a second year of our 1 hour programme each Monday evening to encourage young girls to participate in football. This is a paid initiative and runs from The Gallagher. The Wildcats went on to form the new U10 and U12 Girls Maidstone United Women’s and Girls teams for the 2024/25 season.
FAWrient Express
SITC were able to provide a 64ft 1970’s first class buffet car to Five Acre Wood School (Special Needs) in Maidstone. At the end of September 2024, the Costa Coffee train carriage was officially opened by the CEO of Costa. The FAWrient Express is being used as an employability pathway for FAW’s students. The FAWrient Express is open to the public, 5 days a week, from 9.30am to 4pm.
Summary
We are extremely pleased with all the activities that The SCT/SITC has undertaken to Year Ending 30 September 2024.
We helped and made positive changes to so many people from the Maidstone Community.
The change in personnel in April/September 2024 has re-energised to develop and grow The SCT/SITC to be the premier provider in Maidstone.
Read the full report simply click below:
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Funding
We received funding for our activities during this financial year was from numerous organisations including:
| Maidstone United FC |
| The National League Trust |
| The Education People (HAF) |
| Kent County Council |
| Bellway Homes |
| Golding Homes |
| Safer Kent |
| Swale Community Leisure |
| CSIS |
| Kent FA |
| Involve Kent |
| Maidstone Borough Council |
| Wellbeing People |
| Waitrose. |
| Funds from many schools (for coaching) including: |
| Five Acre Wood |
| Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision |
| The Discovery School |
| Greenfields |
| Harrietsham |
| Hunton |
| Lenham |
| North Borough |
| Oaks |
| Palace Wood |
| Park Way |
| Senacre |
| Snodland |
| South Borough |
| Swingate Primary |
| Tiger |
| Tree Tops |
| VIAT East Borough |
| Wateringbury |
| Other donations were received from: |
| Mrs Martin |
| Mrs Varney |
| Barry Clark and Herbie |
| Paul Jackson |
| Simon Gillham |
| Oliver Ash |
| Jacob Smith |
| Loughborough University Students |
| Morrisons Supermarkets |
| Civil Service Sports Club |
| Cohesion Design |
| Oaks Primary Academy |
| From membership, training fees and donations: |
| Much Loved |
| WildCATS |
| MindSTONES |
| Maidstone United Raiders |
| WalkingSTONES |
| Coaches, parents and players who bought from our café during the Boys and Girls Tournaments |
| Raiders have also received funding from: |
| Riveroak |
| iTech |
| Knapp |
| Europa Sport |
| CSSC Sports and Leisure |
| G4S |
| Burning Leaf Creative |
| iTech Lounge Season Ticket Holders |
| Reece van Sertima’s family |