MFC Foundation is the independent charitable arm of Middlesbrough FC, working across Teesside to raise aspirations and change lives for the better.  We work with over 35,000 disadvantaged people every year to help make Teesside a better place to live, learn, work and play.

We rely heavily on the generous support of our local business community to help us achieve our mission. In response to corporate feedback we have introduced our Friends of the Foundation scheme. Friends of the Foundation donate a minimum of £500 a year and help us in a number of ways, including:

• Increasing the funding available to support disadvantaged people in Teesside
• Assisting us to spread the word about the work we do
• Helping us plan for the future growth of the charity

As a member of the network, you will receive a number of benefits, including:

The funds raised through Friends of the Foundation membership in 2020 year will be used to:

• Help us grow our ‘Roary’s Class Acts’ programme which raises the attendance of children in Primary School and supports better attainment.
• Develop our programmes that support those struggling with poor mental health to overcome their barriers and give them hope for the future.
• Continue our ‘ClubTogether’ project that brings communities together and educates them in order to promote cohesion and build stronger communities.

SHAYGAN is from Iran. His story as a 20-year-old began with MFC Foundation around April 2019 as a participant in our Football Welcomes programme, the very same programme we are highlighting today, the EFL’s Day of Action.

The programme is an initiative to create a more welcoming community for those seeking refuge and asylum. He hadn’t been in the country long before he started attending sessions.

A keen student of football, Shaygan began volunteering on the Football Welcomes programme organising warm-ups, cool downs and various other activities for the participants. He also assisted in getting teams together for regular tournaments against other programmes and indeed Foundations from across the country. Other roles during this time included being an interpreter for coaches for participants from Iranian, Kurdish and Afghan backgrounds.

Upon gaining his status in the country Shaygan was able to sign up to the MFC Foundation traineeships programme. As part of his as well as gaining a number of qualifications based around football such as Sports Leader, First Aid and Safeguarding he also completed 100hrs work experience. The work experience involved him getting knowledge of a number of different programmes the Foundation deliver across the Tees Valley area.

His journey continued when he gained employment with the organisation. After completing his traineeship, he was successful in getting a 20hr a week contract as a Business Support Worker. This involved him being part of the day to day running of the MFC Foundation Herlingshaw Centre as well as assisting on many of the different programmes the Foundation delivers.

Shaygan’s next calling has taken him to London and occasional work with Amnesty UK and Fulham. But he never forgets where his new life started.