A closer look at the relationship between Reading FC Community Trust and a school less than a mile from our home…

This week is #EFLWeekOfAction – a chance for football clubs up and down the country to shine a light on some of their important work.

And this year, we’ve looked close to home to showcase the relationship that our Community Trust is building with Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School… based less than a mile from the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with around 600 pupils.

The school is a hub for activity from the Community Trust – Kicks, Every Player Counts, Primary Stars, as well as mentoring from Trust staff on site at the school. And occasionally, a pro footballer from our club comes to visit and see the work that is being done – midfield man Dejan Tetek dropped in to visit, as well as to host a Q&A session with some of kids at an after-school session!

Less than a decade ago, Whitley Park’s Ofsted assessment came back as ‘Inadequate’. But as recently as December 2021, while our relationship with the school has been growing, the most recent Ofsted assessment came back as ‘Good’.

It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Our mentors are benefitting hugely from the experience of being involved in the school, and the school is able to harness the power of its local football team to help improve the lives of young people, many of which live in challenging circumstances.

So take a look at our feature video above, and learn more about the school and our partnership!

EFL Week of Action – focus on Whitley Park, and a visit from Dejan