Native Communities

Champions Community Sport and Health CIC was established in September 2020, by our Director Craig Gilmore. Having delivered sport in the South Leeds community for over 20 years, Craig identified that a large proportion of children/young adults in South Leeds whose families were struggling financially, didn’t have the funds to join the more traditional sports clubs/ organised activities in the area, and consequently were becoming increasingly inactive, socially isolated and in some cases, involved in local gangs and anti-social behaviour. In response to this problem, we started to provide FREE turn up and play football sessions for children/young adults in the South Leeds area. Sessions are every Saturday 10.30am – 11.30am on Hunslet Moor in Beeston. Our aim is to make sport available to young people, who live in what is one of the most deprived areas of Leeds, irrespective of their age, ability and background. We’ve formed some amazing alliances along the way, Leeds South and East Foodbank provides fruit, yogurts and snacks, as most arrive hungry not having had any breakfast. Our local Tesco Express provides bottles of water. The Lord Mayor has even been to visit. Our first session was attended by 18 children/young people and our most recent by 94, with 402 names on our database. This has been achieved through word of mouth, and because Craig has the trust of the children/young people and their families living in the area, having taught many of them from the age of 4 years old. Approximately 98% of those attending are of a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, which reflects the diversity of the local population.

We are a registered charitable organisation operating a Foodbank service from our church building, we rescue surplus food in partnership with Neighbourly and Fareshare - food that would otherwise go to Landfill. We transport this back to our base where we sort the food into parcels, then redistributes it to families and individuals who are struggling to put food on their table. We serve over 300 people on a weekly basis. This includes a delivery service for elderly and disabled people who are most vulnerable in the community. In 2022 after lockdown we started operating a warm space service, one day per week providing three meals and social activities which is good interaction with the community also. We have seen this as a vital service to the community but the demandis rising due to the economic crisis. We are extremely pleased with the success and now humbly ask for your support in fund donations to help us with the continuation for this service. We are on a mission to make a difference in the lives of those in need within our community.

Provision of relief of items to vulnerable and disadvantaged families. We now want to launch a community hub but need more funding, help with fridge and a space to fully launch the hub. When this is accomplished we will be able to increase our beneficiary base as well as increase our services. People will not have to wait to get appointments before accessing food. They can get come in everyday we are open to eat.