Workhorse group are proud commercial sponsors for Ipswich Town FC Women and through that working relationship they introduced Workhorse Generation and its ReWORK programme to Ipswich Town FC Foundation. ITFCF run several projects allowing young adults to play football while combining that with their studies. Portman Road had the space to do this, as well as the coaches and partners to deliver the education part, however they had no funding for kitting out the areas at Portman Road to a classroom standard.
Through conversations and productive meetings between ITFCF and Workhorse Group they were introduced to Workhorse Generation and subsequently their ReWORK project.
ReWORK saves new/nearly new office furniture going straight to landfill. Along with Workhorse Generation they get this high spec furniture and equipment to charities and other worthwhile organisations free of charge.
The partnership quickly identified several items which could be used to kit out the spaces within Portman Road site, to a classroom standard. Equipment included desks, chairs, storage cabinets, white boards, stools and other items.
With this in place, Ipswich Town FC Foundation were able to launch the Post 16 Football and Education programme which allows both boys and girls the opportunity to play football and gain the qualification of a NCFC Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical activity.
Brosnan Jarrett, one of the second year students said ‘’The desks have provided us the opportunity to enhance our studies while on the post 16 and education programme. We fully appreciate the support to allow us to maximise our learning and help us secure our future steps.’’
The Partnership between all parties has been set up with clear outcomes demonstrating that community partnership working allows all to bring their strengths to the projects, which in turn maximises the outcome.
Dan Palfrey, Director of Ipswich Town FC Foundation said ‘We are grateful to Workhorse Group for their kind donation. The furniture has enhanced our facility offering for our Post-16 students which in turn create a positive learning environment for students to thrive under.’’
For Workhorse Generation it shows that our model of Partnership working really does make a difference in our communities. Most of the best outcomes occur when people come together and think about what can be done and we are ideally placed to be the Charity hub leading these conversations.
The partnership between Workhorse Group and Ipswich Town working has also opened other doors - Ipswich Town FC Women players Lucy Egan and Abbie Lafayette are now valued members of the Workhorse family based in our Ipswich office. Conversations between groups and understanding the needs of others opens doors and Abbie and Lucy show exactly the positive outcomes of these relationships.