The English Football League (EFL) has launched Scan to Smile, a new feelgood initiative rolling out across EFL stadiums in England and Wales this month, designed to spread positivity, beat the January blues, and shine a spotlight on the life-changing work delivered by Football Club charities.
From mental health support and tackling loneliness, to improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence, Scan to Smile celebrates the powerful role football plays in communities far beyond the pitch.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive at the EFL said: “Scan to Smile is about harnessing the power of football to lift spirits and share real stories of hope. Behind every Club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL Club charity. This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact firsthand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good.”
For Jacob, it was the charity arm of Southampton Football Club Saints Foundation that got him back on the right track, and gave him a pathway to follow: “Before I started working with Saints Foundation, I got myself into a bit of trouble. Saints Foundation helped me take my negative thoughts and turn them into something positive.”
Starting his engagement with us through Saints Switching Play, our youth intervention and sports mentoring project, Jacob would find an outlet in boxing and people he could trust in our staff.
After finishing that project, he wanted to take steps into employment and finding his own independence, and he was referred to start on Saints Works. Engaging 16–19-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET) to develop their employability and life skills so they can take their first steps into the world of work.
“They have really supported me in finding a career, helping me with my CV and finding opportunities. I started with doing some work in hospitality at the stadium and have progressed from there.”
From Saints Works, and working as part of the Saints Events team on a matchday, Jacob would take part in our Saints Foundation Stewarding SWAP in partnership with Southampton Football Club. This is an ongoing project where Saints Foundation’s Employability area of work support the club with mass training and recruitment of matchday stewards.
Jacob completed the SWAP, and has been working his way up the matchday steward roles since, now being trusted to steward the away end on some of the biggest games of the season for crowd control: “I’m really happy. It has made me more confident, and my communication skills have improved a lot since working here,
“Since then, I have got my NVQ level 2 crowd safety certificate, which allows me to do steward work outside the stadium. I want to keep gaining the skills and qualification to do other security work, which I am really looking forward to.”
You can find out more about Saints Works, and how Stewarding SWAPS here: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/saints-foundation-saints-works