MFC Foundation are helping fans to tackle their weight, get healthier and be happier by joining FIT FANS, a free 12 week programme at the Riverside Stadium.

Launched in January 2020 at 30 Clubs in England, the EFL Trust’s FIT FANS programme is supported by over £2.25 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England and aims to use the magnetism of football to tackle obesity levels in over 10,000 fans across the UK.

36.4 million people (61.4% of England’s population) live within 10 miles of an EFL ground, with four in 10 residents within this catchment area falling into the most-deprived population groups.

Sport England has identified lower physical activity participation rates among people living on low incomes and that is why they have joined forces with the EFL Trust network to help people create a long-term healthy and active lifestyle.  FIT FANS is one of a number of initiatives to tackle lower physical activity participation rates among people living on low incomes, which is one of Sport England’s key priorities.

FIT FANS is the operating name in England and Wales for Football Fans in Training, which was created in a Scotland by the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Professional Football League Trust.

The programme shows individuals how to:

• Improve their eating habits by reducing portion sizes and swapping fatty and sugary foods for fruit, vegetables and high fibre foods
• Achieve at least 45 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week. They receive weekly exercise sessions at their club for 12 weeks, and follow a personal pedometer based walking programme that encourages them to fit physical activity into their daily lives
• Use tried-and-tested behaviour change techniques to become more active and improve their diet. These include regular self-monitoring of their weight and pedometer step counts and setting SMART goals to make changes that can be sustained long term.

The 12 week programme gives fans unprecedented access to their club and a look behind the scenes.

For more information on the FIT BORO programme please contact paul.south@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.