It has been another very busy Christmas for Wolves Foundation, with a string of different events arranged across the many projects delivered by the club’s official charity.
Projects such as Head 4 Health and Healthy Goals enjoyed Christmas parties as did Molineux Memories – who staged a lunch including a visit from former players including John Richards and Steve Daley – and Wolves Elders, who welcomed guests from the Girls Academy.
Eighty children with SEND were welcomed to an afternoon of bowling, joining four members of the Wolves Women team, to help launch the new Sporting Chances project, and the Foundation’s Pack Patrons enjoyed an afternoon event at The Halls including Q&As with former Wolves interim manager Terry Connor and captain and Foundation ambassador Karl Henry, and Disability FC captain and coach Darren James.
Younger participants on the Premier League Kicks projects were treated to a couple of ‘Kicksmas’ events at Aldersley Arena, including visits from Wolves Women captain and Foundation ambassador Anna Price and regular leading scorer Amber Hughes.
Saturday featured the return of the hugely popular Santa Dash event as young fans completed laps of Molineux before meeting Santa – and Wolfie – in the home dressing room, before the festivities were rounded off with a day of Festive Football Fun for Wolves Disability FC on Monday.
Here we take a look back at three of the special Christmas events which took place:
CAN I KICKSMAS IT? YES, YOU CAN
Participants on Wolves Foundation’s Premier League Kicks project were able to mark the festive time of year with a string of ‘Kicksmas’ events at the Aldersley Arena.
The normal Girls Hub session on a Tuesday night was given a Christmas theme, including visits from Foundation ambassador and former captain Anna Price, and regular leading scorer Amber Hughes.
Then on Saturday followed three more sessions for different age groups to put young participants in the Christmas mood, including a visit from Wolves Women Head Coach Dan McNamara.
Both Anna and Amber were delighted to be able to attend, meet the girls and answer questions about their own respective careers.
“It’s great to come down and see so many girls enjoying their football without any pressure,” said Anna.
“Some of them probably don’t play any football at school or aren’t part of a club so it’s really good they can get this opportunity.
“And if there any who show a talent want to try and make progress, then I am sure the Foundation staff can help them and point them in the right direction.”
Amber added: “There was nothing like this available when I was younger so it’s brilliant to see.
“Back in the day we would only have been able to play at sessions including boys so to give girls this safe space to enjoy football without being judged is so important.
“Anything we can do as players to help is also massive as when we were growing up there were no role models.
“When they see someone stood in front of them with a Wolves kit on who is playing for the team it makes a real difference so the more we can do, the more the young people can gain from it.”
Premier League Kicks is a programme funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund which helps create safer and stronger communities by engaging eight-to-18 year-olds and giving them a safe place to relax, play football and meet new people.
Wolves Foundation host several Kicks hubs around the city to offer free and accessible football, while PL Kicks participants can also access opportunities like the youth voice group – Action Pack, Wolves matchday ball crew, tournaments, competitions and workshops.
SANTA DASHES TO MOLINEUX
Wolves Foundation’s Santa Dash returned to Molineux once again with a range of participants completing ‘five golden rings’ around the stadium. All funds raised will go towards the club's official charity.
Participants had the opportunity to walk through the players' tunnel and, after completing their laps, were presented with a certificate, medal and a gift bag to conclude the evening.
Lisa Whitehouse, who took part in the event with her daughter Gracie, expressed how important the event was.
She said: “I thought it would be nice to support the Wolves Foundation, let Gracie come and see Molineux and have some Christmas fun and take part – we had a great time.
“I think it’s really important for everyone to be included with SEND children as well which helps make it such a great event.”
Lisa, parent of Archie, who plays for Wolves disability team and also thoroughly enjoyed his laps of Molineux, expanded further on the work which the Foundation delivers.
“Alfie plays for the disability team so he uses the support of the Foundation, and it helps him with opportunities that he wouldn’t get normally.”
Overall, the event has raised in excess of £4,000 towards delivering the Foundation’s range of projects across the community.
“It was a fantastic event and particularly good to see the children not only enjoying the chance to visit Molineux and meet Santa, but also engaging with the Foundation,” said Fundraising & Events Executive Laura Cahill.
“To see the next generation raising awareness and raising funds was another really special part of the day.”
The Foundation would like to thank presenter Dicky Dodd for giving up his time to bring his soundstage inside Molineux and host the event.
WOMEN PLAYERS SUPPORT PROJECT LAUNCH
Wolves Women quartet Anna Morphet, Tammi George, Abi Loydon and Amelia Hiscox gave their support to the launch of the Foundation’s Sporting Chances project, creating new opportunities for young people with disabilities to enjoy more physical activity.
Approximately 80 children with SEND were treated to a couple of hours of bowling at Hollywood Bowl prior to Christmas, whilst meeting the players and officially launching the project.
Nicky Spittle, from Our Lady and St Chads Catholic Academy who took along several pupils, said: “I think it’s massively important to have the links with Wolves Foundation because obviously it is our home city.
“The children are completely in awe of those who are good at sport, they are loving every minute of it.”
One of the participants at the event, Harry, started his football journey with the Foundation and is now playing for the Disability under 12s team. He outlined just how the Foundation has helped him.
“I started out in basketball, but me and my brother were always playing football in the garden, so I wanted to give it a go on the Monday sessions and then I joined the team,” he said.
“It has been really good, and it has helped me because I am running round and releasing energy. I have really enjoyed the bowling today too, I am winning!”
Morphet is also the captain of the Women’s team as well as being a Foundation ambassador, has highlighted the importance of inclusion within sport and how the Foundation is a vehicle for that purpose.
“I'm really enjoying the role and coming back to get stuck in with meeting everyone from the community,” she said.
“Events like today are really rewarding, it’s great to see all the children enjoying themselves so I'm very honoured and really enjoying it.
“It’s so important to give back. We know how lucky we are to do what we do so to come here and spread a bit of joy and meet these people who are so inspiring themselves, is lovely.
“We are really happy to do it.”
By Thomas Gibson
