Communities

City fans turn Manchester blue to support club's community work

5 Apr 2023

More than 1,000 supporters take part in the Blue Run to help Man City continue to make an impact in the local community

As part of the Premier League Supports campaign, we are highlighting the impact of Premier League investment on wider football and communities.

Manchester City

Last week, Man City fans came out in force to raise money for and awareness of the work that City in the Community (CitC) carries out in the local community.

More than 1,000 supporters took part in the Blue Run, which involved running, walking or dancing a 2.5km or 5km course while being covered in blue paint by CitC staff.

"City in the Community affects so many people," former player and CitC trustee Nedum Onuoha told BBC Match of Day. "It's about healthier people, futures and communities. When I was younger, I used to take part in some of the City in the Community schemes and I know the importance of this to the city.

"Not only is the event hugely impactful for people living across Greater Manchester but it also brings fans together in unique way.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has shown their support for City in the Community, you really are helping to empower lives."

The event raised £32,000 so far which will help City in the Community deliver programmes throughout the year such as PL Kicks, PL Inspires, PL Primary Stars and One City Disability.

Turning lives around

One of the participants who has benefitted from CitC's work is Tom Odell, who was selected for the PL Inspires programme because of his challenging behaviour and truancy at school.

Tom spent two years on the programme after enrolling as a 15-year-old, during which time he re-engaged with school and left with excellent GCSEs and a Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma.

"I was pretty much on the end of a Pupil Referral Unit," he says "[CitC] picked me up and said, 'We are going to take you on a course, we are going to help you out, we are going to see if we can find a different path for you.'

"They did that and now I've ended up being a member of staff at CitC which is amazing. It's good to be able to guide other people and say, 'This is what you can become, you can turn it around completely.'

"I'm living proof of that."

PL Inspires works with young people to develop personal skills and positive attitudes using the power of football. It is run by 44 Premier League and EFL clubs and since its launch in 2019, more than 25,300 young people have been supported.