Aston Villa project keeping people safely connected

At a time when friends and family are being kept apart because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Aston Villa Foundation is helping keep people safely connected with the launch of their TeamWork project.

Aiming to bring Villa fans and the wider community together, TeamWork supports mental health and wellbeing by providing online and in-person activities and challenges.

TeamWork, which has been funded by the Premier League and the Professional Footballers Association, provides virtual meet-ups to share resources and inspire communication.

The project will also work alongside existing fan-led initiatives including the Villa Running Club to encourage activities such as running, walking and cycling both now and in the future.

Difficult period

"The past 12 months has been a difficult period for everyone. The mental health of the nation has been greatly affected as a result of the pandemic," Ryan Hollings, Aston Villa Foundation's Health and Wellbeing Manager, told the club's official website.

"Over the next three years, TeamWork will support as many people as we can - local people and the wider Villa family through supporting and connecting with others, encouraging physical activity and other ways that can support with our mental wellbeing."

Both the Foundation and the club have offered an extensive support network to the local community during the past few months, including the use of Villa Park as a central hub for maternity care.

Most recently they produced a timetable of live virtual lessons to help parents and teachers, while the Premier League Kicks team has run Virtual Youth Clubs during lockdown, enabling people to catch up with friends and receive support from their team of coaches.