December’s Champion Charity is Sudbury-based The Befriending Scheme. The organisation provides friendship and learning opportunities for vulnerable people (16yrs+) across Suffolk, including those with learning disabilities, mental health needs and other isolated groups. They also provide lots of volunteering opportunities with extra support for those who need it.

The Befriending Scheme was founded in 1989. Their core activities are regular drop-in centres, known as hubs, building meaningful one-to-one relationships between vulnerable people and volunteer befrienders, and out-and-about events on evenings and weekends.
The group also runs a community care farm called the Red Rose Community Farm in Lindsey Tye, Suffolk. You can watch their video about the farm here. They also run one-off themed activity days, workshops and social events as well as training for volunteers and support for carers across the county.
At the match, the group’s Haverhill Area and Young Persons' Coordinator, Will Ginno, will have a table in the clubhouse where anyone interested in joining any of the activities offered or putting themselves forward as a volunteer will be welcomed for a chat. At half time, Isaac will interview Will to find out more about the scheme.

In addition, not only do we look forward to welcoming The Befriending Scheme for this match, but we are excited to announce that we hope that this will be the start of an ongoing partnership. Our Head of Disability Football, Mike Onslow, is working with Will and the group to organise some Pan-Disability Football sessions at which the members can enjoy all the health and wellbeing benefits that playing at our excellent facilities provides.

And finally, we will also be delighted to welcome a group of The Befriending Scheme’s Volunteers and Members who we have invited along to the match as our special guests. We hope they enjoy the game and bring us lots of luck in this last home Men’s First Team match before Christmas.