Enfield Town FC's Marc Weatherstone (centre) with Zebras Children and Adults' Charity co-founder Jamie Ashton (zebra costume) — Enfield Town FC’s Marc Weatherstone (centre) with Zebras Children and Adults’ Charity co-founder Jamie Ashton (zebra costume)

Andrew Warshaw on how Enfield Town FC is committed to supporting the local community

Enfield Town FC has, from time to time since its formation, supported a preferred local charity – invariably one which provides services that reflect the community ethos of the club.

The Enfield Town board recently decided that the club will link up with a different locally-based group for the duration of a whole season and for the current season the chosen charity partner would be Zebras Children and Adults’ Charity.

Zebras aim to support both children and adults with disabilities to live the way they choose . The charity believes it is important that if you have a disability you must be given the chance to get the most out of life. Crucially, Enfield Town’s disability team will in particular benefit from Zebras’ input.

“I’ve been very keen for a long time for the club to have a link with an Enfield-based charity,” says club director Dave Bryant, who helped drive the new partnership. “Zebras fits in with our ethos of being an inclusive club.

“We’ve had one-off arrangements in the past but the idea is to promote a local charity every season, as long as it has a clear Enfield dimension. It wouldn’t necessarily be an exclusive deal and we’d still be open to working with others, but it’s the first time we’ve identified a charity partner to focus our attention on a particular enterprise.

“In future it could be any charity in Enfield, whether it be refugees living in the borough, the homeless, or cancer sufferers. It’s of mutual benefit because it also helps promote our existence and hopefully brings in more fans.”

Among Zebras’ initiatives are helping people gain employment experience, improving health and wellbeing, building confidence and self-esteem, alleviating the effects of poverty for individuals, families and carers; and diminishing stigma, inequality, abuse and discrimination.

The charity’s relationship with the club will include the provision of space at a number of home matches during the course of the season for Zebras to promote itself and raise funds. In October, Zebras were invited to the Cheshunt ‘local derby’ game at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium where over £100 was raised and a Zebra outfit was used by the mascot.

Harriet Piercy and Jamie Ashton, founders of Zebras, could not disguise their excitement at being selected. “We are very proud of the work we do in our borough which is far and wide-reaching for such a small charity with only a handful of volunteers,” they said. “This has been a great year so far and we are very much looking forward to working with Enfield Town.”

For more information about Zebras Children and Adults’ Charity:
Visit zebrascacharity.org.uk

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