PLANET PENGUIN FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
We don't just build teams, we build communities. Our Latin motto is 'Nihil Impossibile Est' which translates as 'Nothing is Impossible'. We strive to make the lives of our players and their families reach their full potential.
About This Cause
Brentford Penguins Football Club for children with Downs Syndrome started in October 2017, founded by ex-Brentford and Spurs player Allan Cockram and his wife Victoria. Though many community football clubs offer pan-disability training sessions, Allan identified children with Down’s were not always given the attention they needed or deserved. So, Allan and Victoria decided to start up a very specific and unique football club for any child with Downs Syndrome aged 5 or over of ANY ability. The club has grown over the years and now helps over 30 players, some of whom travel over 80 miles every week to train. Being a competitive team is NOT what the Penguins are about. Instead, we focus on well-being and health. Since the start we have noticed a huge improvement in our player’s physical health. For example, by maintaining a healthy weight through undertaking regular exercise. People with Down’s have a lower metabolic rate and tend to burn fewer calories so this is a significant achievement. Many children with Downs Syndrome struggle to socialise. Club coaching sessions allow a safe and non-judgemental environment to enable our players to learn to communicate, socialise, interact with one other and make friends. As a result, we have seen a huge improvement in their emotional and mental wellbeing. This impacts positively on a variety of aspects in their life such as their overall confidence, happiness and a provides a strong sense of belonging. The goals of our club are to provide a professional football club experience for our players and maintain a quality training environment. This includes regular external incentives such as days out, school holiday camps and attendance at Premiership football matches. This provides a rewarding and positive lifestyle for our players and their families. Over the years our players and their families have become a very tightknit community and are now a support mechanism for one another. This is heart-warming to witness. Building on this success we are now developing monthly Learning Zones. These are sessions run by specialist teachers and coaches targeted at areas where children with Downs Syndrome can benefit most. For example, speech therapy, yoga sessions and sign language. For our older players we want to help facilitate a seamless pathway into the workplace so their future is better structured and they can achieve their full potential. Your donations will enable us to continue delivering our coaching sessions and develop so we can further support and improve the lives of our players and others joining in the future. Since the launch of the Brentford Penguins FC in 2017, we have gone from strength to strength. In September 2022 we launched our 2nd Club, The Brentford Emperors FC, a Walking Football team for men over 55 to help tackle issues with mental health, fitness and wellbeing. In April 2023 we launched our 3rd Club, the Brentford Empress Penguins FC, a Walking Football team for ladies over 40 to bring football to those who never had the opportunity to play it in their youth. In May 2023 we were granted Charity Status with the umbrella name of Planet Penguin Football Foundation (charity no. 1202901) and our three Clubs sit under this Charity. We are supported by Brentford Football Club, the Brentford Community Sports Trust, the Middlesex FA and the Walking Football Association. Walking football has become increasingly popular. It is exactly what it sounds like – a standard game of football where players walk instead of run. It is designed to help people get fit or maintain an active lifestyle no matter what their age and fitness, as well as support people getting back into football if they have given it up due to age or injury. Older people who play have seen many benefits: lower heart rate and blood pressure, less fat and more muscle, and better mobility. And it’s not just health benefits - Walking football also offers social benefits. Participants can meet new people, avoid becoming isolated, and interact with individuals and small groups. We are very proud of what we have achieved but we would not have been able to do this without the love and support of our Penguin family.