Whitehawk Football Club is Brighton’s premier non-league football club. True to our values as a community club in grassroots football. Below are some of the projects that we have been working on in partnership with our community, our sponsors, and businesses around the region…
Hawks In The Community
Hawks In The Community is a partnership with The Crew Club (Whitehawk’s award winning youth & community centre), local business, University of Brighton and Your League TV to use football as a focus for community solidarity. ‘Hawks Heroes’ is a project for men on the Whitehawk Estate aged 30+ who were unfit through inactivity. The 10-week programme focused on health and mental well-being through intensive football coaching. It culminated in a competitive match at The Hawk’s ground in August. Crew Club Hawks FC is an U13 side drawn entirely from Whitehawk who were unbeaten last season. The team is now part of a three-year programme to expand football for boys and girls in Whitehawk by creating a pathway from U7 to U16.
Hawks’ Heroes. Adam’s Story
Adam Butterworth was a Hawks Hero. Just after the first training session, Adam went to the doctors feeling tired, to be told he had anaemia. He required six emergency blood transfusions. Then a tumour was found, and he was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer. Adam played in the final Heroes match and is now on a programme of chemotherapy and on the road to recovery. Before Hawks Heroes, Adam had no idea he was ill.
Non-league For Grenfell
Set up by a Whitehawk FC fan, Non-league For Grenfell raised funds and support for those affected by the Grenfell tragedy. In September ‘18 over 30 Grenfell children and community leaders spent a day by the seaside and were mascots at our home league game.
Football United
At Brighton Pride 2019 we hosted a match between ex-Premier League players and an LGBTQ+ Xl. The LGBTQ+ kit was designed by Turner Prize nominee and curator of the 2018 Brighton Festival David Shrigley. Fans For Diversity, Kick it Out and Football v Homophobia supported the game. The LGBTQ+ team player-manager was writer and campaigner Sophie Cook. Players came from LGBT inclusive clubs such as Stonewall FC, London Titans and Soho FC. The game was one of the biggest mixed gender matches ever played and gained national media attention. Plans are underway for Football United 2 in 2020.
FEAR//LESS
FEAR//LESS was developed by young people at Brighton & Hove YMCA to challenge and inspire society’s idea of masculinity and break down barriers that keep people from asking for help. Young local artists used ideas around identity, body image and relationships, as well as health and well-being to display an interactive exhibition of their work in the player’s lounge, which was viewed on matchdays in February 2019.
BBC South East: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSkqGNdJZ2Y
Whitehawk Legends
As part of the Brighton & Hove Ageing Well Festival, ‘Whitehawk Legends’ is aimed at men over 50+ who may have lost their immediate family network and are socially isolated. Whitehawk Legends get transport to games and a talk with the club’s historian on memories of the 74 years of the club. The aim is for men to re-connect with their peers, make new friends, have a renewed sense of purpose and make new connections with the club. We hope to see some becoming volunteers at the ground on matchdays.
Links with local Further Education and employers
We provided practical experience to students studying construction and graphic design at Brighton MET. Students re-painted our clubhouse, built an extension to our changing room and designed matchday posters for our league matches. We also used our links with employers to enable key staff such as a local head chef to visit the college and demonstrate industry standard skills to students.
Whitehawk Foodbank
The Whitehawk Ultras, our activist fans, have a tradition of support for the local foodbank. The foodbank is heavily used, and our fans organise regular collections at matches.
https://www.facebook.com/WhitehawkFoodbank
- Football is a powerful tool to unite communities. Football draws people of all backgrounds together in a common cause
- Going to a football match can inspire, improve mental health, give people a renewed sense of purpose and create more contented lives
- Grassroots football in this country relies on volunteers who have a passion for their club and community
- Whitehawk FC connects with its community, the city and beyond, aspiring to be a force for good in the world.
If you would like to know more about Hawks In The Community, please contact Kevin Miller on 07833 736234, kevin.miller@whitehawkfc.com