Earlier this season, the English Football League launched their ‘EFL Community Weekends’ initiative. The scheme aims to congratulate the exceptional work that takes place right on our doorsteps and ensures people’s amazing efforts don’t go unnoticed.
Four local heroes were awarded the prize of becoming a ‘Community Hero’, including our very own Sara Clarke, a Peer Support Co-ordinator for Acorn Recovery Projects over on the Fylde coast.
Sara is a real community hero. Over the last 12 months, she’s worked with over a hundred people improving their mental health. Every Tuesday, she holds a coffee morning for people in the community to get together and talk.
Not only that, but she’s also supported people to find jobs and helped make them more independent by giving them roles during her coffee mornings. Sara also offered cooking classes to help people grow their confidence in the kitchen.
John Hartley, Chief Executive Officer at Fleetwood Town FC, said: “We selected Sara as one of the four winners because of her commitment to help others, supporting through a range of mental health related services.
“I was delighted to award Sara with her certificate of recognition prior to kick off as Fleetwood Town FC played Portsmouth. Thank you for all you do, Sara!”
On top of her group sessions, Sara also makes house visits to check on people’s wellbeing which has been a huge success.
Newly crowned Community Hero Sara, said: “I set up my community groups a couple of years ago and they have been very popular with the community. We have had some of those attending go on holiday together, meet up outside of group and go to each other’s houses for tea.
“We do a lot of work with Fleetwood FC who support the groups amazingly. We have been on day trips to Skipton, Windermere, Southport and fish and chips down the lights at Blackpool.”
Sara wasn’t the only lucky winner either. We’d like to offer a huge congrats to Sara’s fellow Community Heroes Ali Bamber, Kevin Clarkson and Elizabeth Loftus on their awards too – thanks for the amazing work you all do in the community.
