Melbourne City FC’s City in the Community team have kept busy in recent weeks, supporting those who are feeling the effects of COVID-19 in our local community.
Despite the global pandemic, City in the Community have been able to find innovative ways to continue supporting our local community and in particular those who are doing it tough at the moment whilst adhering to the government’s current restrictions.
City in the Community visits North Melbourne’s Street Soccer Program
Members of our CitC team have continued to reach out to vulnerable groups who may need extra support during this difficult period and this week visited the North Melbourne Street Soccer Program where they delivered hampers provided by a local community kitchen.
Many of the women who are part of the Street Soccer Program experience mental illness and social isolation which has been further impacted by the Coronavirus and the restrictions. The team will continue to support these women by meeting up for short walks and connecting them further with the club that they support.
Healthy Hat Trick Online
As the team was unable to run its Healthy Hat Trick program at schools this past term, CitC recorded some videos to coincide with their Healthy Hat Trick book and created an online, remote learning version of the program.
This is a football-themed educational program focused on health and nutrition. Some of the topics covered in the book were balanced diet, healthy eating, hydration and sleep.
CitC reached out to the current schools they work with as well as a number of schools in the wider Melbourne area that had not previously run the Healthy Hat Trick program. The online program reached 726 participants, including 656 students from eight different schools and 70 City Football Schools participants as the participants were able to have fun while learning about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Keeping in touch
Coronavirus restrictions did lead to the suspension of CitC’s community programs but that hasn’t stopped the team from reaching out to many of its target groups and continuing to have a social impact.
The team has developed Facebook groups for its International Students, Walking Footballers and Carers Programs, providing social connection and opportunities for participants to engage in physical activity through the platform.
From there participants can stream physical activity sessions delivered by the club’s Young Leaders and access resources to help stay active and healthy. In these challenging times social isolation and physical inactivity can be a real problem and CitC as per usual is coming up with innovative ways to support its fans and the wider community.
Walking footballers and seniors in general can access gentle exercise by clicking here.
Carers ( those who are caring for loved ones affected by disability, mental illness or chronic illness) can join the group to find ways that they too can get important physical activity that suits their needs.
While international students across Melbourne can join the group to stay connected and work together to stay fit and healthy during this period.
For more information you can also contact george.halkias@melbournecityfc.com.au
