Brentford FC Community Sports Trust..doing great work!

Last week, I attended an event at the new Audi centre in Brentford to celebrate the achievements of the Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust over the last two years.

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust started out as a football-based charity and they now offer some 27 different sports and other educational activities to more than 27,800 children in the area. They have achieved so much over the past two years with 179 projects currently across health, social inclusion, education and sports participation.

I recently saw some of this work, when I visited Brentford FC with Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. We were shown several examples of work that is done in the community, including local schoolchildren enjoying their kayaking lesson at the Kew Boating Arch. Might be tempted to join them next time!

The work that the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust is an inspiration to others. They have shown real leadership and commitment to working within the local community and making a difference to young people by giving them opportunities to develop and learn.

P.S. I was at Griffin Park on Saturday afternoon and was thrilled to watch The Bees take a point from the mighty Leeds United. Well done to the team.

Good ideas can come from young people

I am in Russia this week and today met with the Youth Government of Moscow.

The Youth Government is a group of bright young students/ graduates from the Universities of Moscow who have been selected to shadow the official Moscow government. They shadow the mayoral ministerial team, are consulted on all key policy areas and present their views weekly at the main city government sittings.

When the Mayor and his ministers have their three week holiday in the summer, the Youth Government take over!

Fascinating way of getting young people more interested in the political process and showing that good ideas can come from anyone, no matter what their age, background or experience. These young people are the best ones to ask about youth issues and solving youth crime!

Photo: Mary (centre) with fellow Leaders Quest colleagues and members of the Moscow Youth Government