MFC Foundation are the pioneers of the Stepping Up Transition project.

Starting in May 2016 after consultations with schools and local authorities, it was recognised that the gap from primary to secondary school was too big for some vulnerable young people.

The project initially started with three secondary schools and 12 primary schools; it has now grown to four secondary schools and 28 primary schools (three of the four secondary schools have remained, with one new secondary school being added with an expansion in to East Cleveland).

Four full time staff are all assigned to a secondary school, and a cluster of their associated feeder primaries. Their delivery timetables are split in half across the year. From February through to July, staff work within the primary school setting, getting to know young people in year six and preparing them for their step up. In September, staff actually transition to the secondary school with them and stay with them in their new educational environment until February (the cycle then begins again with a new cohort of young people).

To supplement their school delivery, staff also deliver Premier League Kicks three evenings a week in their local communities, signposting young people from schools to the sessions. This provides wraparound care and allows more consistent and regular access to a role model for the young people to look up to.

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closure of schools, staff have created a menu of support for young people to access to aid them with their transition to secondary school. This year in particular is going to be especially challenging, so the importance of having a ready-made mentor is going to be even more beneficial. This support can be tailored to the individual, or used as a whole by schools. Our valued partner schools will all receive these transition packs and resources.

For further information, please contact steven.bell@mfcfoundation.co.uk

A packed Legends Lounge celebrated another year of service to the communities of Teesside at the MFC Foundation dinner.

Sponsored by Vistech and hosted by Gary Philipson, the inspirational evening mixed fun with hard-hitting stories of our work throughout the area, captured in words and pictures in the programme for the event which once more was kindly sponsored by Middlesbrough College.

Head of Foundation Lynsey Edwards spoke of her pride in the work of her team, Vistech’s Paul Heeran outlined why he was so keen to sponsor the dinner for a third successive year and guest speaker Richard Kilty movingly outlined his own journey which could so easily have gone down another route, not one which took him to the Olympic Games and become the European indoor sprint champion.

Two awards were presented. The Foundation Programme of the Year went to Roary’s Academy. For the little ones, this is a football development school for children aged between two and six aiming to build self-esteem and confidence while developing fine and gross motor skills.

There were joint runners-up in this category, Football Welcomes, a programme for refugees and asylum seekers who have fled oppression and war in their own country. Many participants have gone on to work for the Foundation, keen to give back to a welcoming community.

The other joint runner-up was Think With Your Feet. A football-led programme that brings together people who have been affected by mental illness.

It was a participant from that programme who was named Participant of the Year. Darren ‘Frankie’ Renshaw has overcome significant personal challenges to now be in a position to help others. Clearly emotional, Frankie probably received the loudest applause of the night when, well out of his comfort zone, he went up to receive his prize.

Award-winning photographer Tom Banks captured the essence of it all on an evening where there was a greater appreciation of our work and vital funds were raised for the Foundation through auctions and a raffle. Have a look through the extensive gallery below to see if you feature on an evening which was rounded off in style with a set from local band Flat Back 4.

Thank you to everyone who played some part in making this a very rewarding and very successful event, especially the catering and service staff from the club who were, as ever, on top form.

For a bigger version, click on each image.