Video
Blades: Community Winners
SHEFFIELD United won a top honour - for their work off the pitch – at The Star and St John Sports Awards.
They received the Outstanding Community Contribution Award, sponsored by Sainsbury's.
Click on the green play button to see our exclusive videoThe Blades actively engaged in a variety of grassroot corporate social responsibility activities throughout its entire sport, leisure and business division, says Jason Rockett, proud Chief Executive of Sheffield United plc.
This has been demonstrated by the creation of The United Initiative, a firm commitment by the club to broaden its involvement with community groups and partners, aiding the continual social, physical and economic regeneration of the area.
The Blades run a variety of projects and events, including soccer skills camps, from the club's Bramall Lane stadium, their Football Academy in Shirecliffe, the new Derek Dooley Development Centre in Crookes and the Sharrow Community Hall. The club is supporting the NSPCC.
Jason said: "We are thrilled to win this award to help highlight the superb work we do off the pitch for our communities. The Sports Awards have been a fantastic event and it's a honour to be in a room with so many other great sporting achievers.''
The other Outstanding Community Contribution Award finalists were:
Sheffield Boxing Centre - based in Burton Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield, the centre works with 15 professional fighters, including Sheffield legend Clinton Woods. But its community initiatives are knock out. Run by boxing coach Glyn Rhodes, with volunteers ranging from teachers to youth leaders, activities include regularly school visits to talk to pupils about boxing and fitness. It led to the launch of its Boxing Against Bullying campaign, supported by the NPSCC, with appearances, exhibitions and expert advice for vulnerable people in need. The campaign is backed by boxing organisations and superstars, including Joe Calzaghe.
Sheffield Eagles – the Don Valley Stadium based rugby league club has worked with more than 60 schools, amateur teams and partners offering 8,000 children the chance to take part in club-related projects. The Eagles were the first club from both rugby codes to establish a charitable trust to ensure, regardless of the fortunes of the club, rugby league development work would continue within local schools and the community. It runs an annual Tag Rugby Festival - with more than 500 children taking part.
For more about the Sports Awards, a full list of winners and video clips, click here.For a full report and photos see The Star on Friday, October 10, 2008.What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categories The full article contains 489 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
