A detailed overview of Wanderers' presence in the local community during November
The month of November began with academy graduates Joe Riley and Josh Vela visiting young season ticket holders taking part in a BSM road safety event at the stadium.
The road safety initiative, which teaches driving techniques and important safety messages in a bid to make them safer drivers, also gives young adults the opportunity to get behind the wheel in a driving school car with a BSM instructor and take part in classroom sessions to increase awareness of the dangers of driving.
The sessions are modelled on a successful safer driving programme given to players, including the first team duo, by BSM driving instructors, funded by the PFA, over the last few years.
Elsewhere, Bolton Wanderers Community Trust picked up the North West Football Awards’ Community Initiative of the Year accolade at a star-studded event held in Manchester on an evening which also saw Jay Spearing named as Championship Player of the Year.
An award for the Trust’s Wanderers Hearts and Goals campaign, the Whites fought off competition from a number of clubs to secure the accolade.
Launched in October 2012, the scheme itself aims to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths by raising awareness of the condition, offering emergency lifesaving skills to schools, workforces and community groups as well as raising funds to position Automated External Defibrillators in public places throughout the North West.
A project which works alongside a number of key partners within the local community such as the North West Ambulance Service, the British Heart Foundation and Bolton ICD Support Group, Wanderers Hearts and Goals looks set to go from strength to strength over the coming years.
Jermaine Beckford was also out and about in the community this month as he visited students from the Club’s education arm to take part in a question and answer session as well as talking to them about the importance of hard work and dedication.
The striker met with the 50 strong group to pass on his advice about the importance of self-belief and always working hard to achieve your full potential before taking part in a light-hearted Q&A session where he revealed all about the best players he has played with and against and the best FIFA player in the Bolton squad.
After the session, Jermaine spent time signing autographs and posing for photographs with the group before sharing his sentiments.
The group of young adults, aged between 16-18 years old, are all part of Bolton Wanderers' Institute of Sport education programme which focuses on personal and academic progression as well as elite football coaching and helps to prepare students for a range of progression routes into university or employment.
As November drew to its conclusion, Andre Moritz and Chung-Yong Lee attended the Voice 4 U Awards at Bolton Town Hall to present certificates of success to children who have worked with the Bolton Wanderers Community Trust Positive Chances programme over the last twelve months.
The Voice 4 U Awards are aimed at looked after children, supported by Bolton’s Children in Care Council and acknowledges and celebrates their achievements over the past year.
Whilst at the Town Hall, the pair signed autographs for the children and their families before taking their place on stage in front of 300 people to award six certificates to local children who have been working with BWCT during the course of the last year and have developed as individuals via a range of activities, support and guidance.
Finally, first team duo Alex Baptiste and Marc Tierney took centre stage at the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association’s November social evening.
Having only joined the club last summer, the Wanderers pair gave those in attendance an introduction to them and their careers to date before taking questions from the floor and rounded off their visit posing for photographs and signing autographs for fans.
They also gave BWSA members an insight into day-to-day life at Euxton, their reasons behind choosing to sign for Bolton Wanderers and their hopes for the season and beyond.