26 November 2009
Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, visited Whitley-based Unity Community & Sports Association last week to learn more about the Association’s sporting achievements and the broader community work which Unity is currently undertaking.
Unity Football Club was established in 1980 to support and develop grassroots football for the local community. The Club has achieved many successes over the years and has a good track record of furthering talented players to semi-professional and professional clubs. The Club currently runs seven football teams including a women’s team across various age ranges.
In addition to its football club, Unity has set up a touring theatre company and a film production unit. The Film Buddies programme is designed to encourage local youngsters, with an interest in film making, to try their hand and learn some news skills. Unity is also pioneering a local community-based internet radio project, Unity Live Radio, which will again aim to engage with young people in the area and help them to develop their potential by providing training in media skills as well as deliver a fully functional radio station.
Malcolm Hinds, Chairman of Unity Football Club and the Centre Manager of the Unity Community and Sports Association, said: “We have a successful football club running at Unity and we now want to do even more to reach out into the community, engage with youngsters and help them develop new skills and build on their self-confidence, which is vital ingredient for their future success.”
John Sailsman, Artistic Director of Unity Arts Music and Multimedia, said: “There is a lot of interest in both the theatre company and the film production unit, as well as our internet radio project, and the young people we talk to are hugely enthusiastic about getting involved. As these projects expand, I hope we can work with and help develop the skills of a growing number of young people in the local area.”
Following the visit Alok Sharma said: “Malcolm, John and their team of volunteers have been doing fantastic work over many years in Whitley, and the wider community, and now have a unique vision to develop Unity into a multi-project based initiative. The Association has to constantly raise external funding to buy equipment and deliver its projects for the community and I would request any local business which is interested in sponsoring Unity’s projects by providing funding, expertise or equipment, to get in touch with Malcolm and John.”
Alok added: “If a Conservative Government is elected next year one of its most important ambitions will be to expand the role and influences of charities, social enterprises and voluntary bodies such as the Unity Community & Sports Association.”
For further information about Unity Football Club visit www.unityfootballclub.co.uk or contact Malcolm Hinds and John Sailsman on 0118 954 7275.
Photo: James Anderson, Conservative Candidate for Whitley, Alok Sharma and Malcolm Hinds with members of Unity Football Club.
Unity Football Club was established in 1980 to support and develop grassroots football for the local community. The Club has achieved many successes over the years and has a good track record of furthering talented players to semi-professional and professional clubs. The Club currently runs seven football teams including a women’s team across various age ranges.
In addition to its football club, Unity has set up a touring theatre company and a film production unit. The Film Buddies programme is designed to encourage local youngsters, with an interest in film making, to try their hand and learn some news skills. Unity is also pioneering a local community-based internet radio project, Unity Live Radio, which will again aim to engage with young people in the area and help them to develop their potential by providing training in media skills as well as deliver a fully functional radio station.
Malcolm Hinds, Chairman of Unity Football Club and the Centre Manager of the Unity Community and Sports Association, said: “We have a successful football club running at Unity and we now want to do even more to reach out into the community, engage with youngsters and help them develop new skills and build on their self-confidence, which is vital ingredient for their future success.”
John Sailsman, Artistic Director of Unity Arts Music and Multimedia, said: “There is a lot of interest in both the theatre company and the film production unit, as well as our internet radio project, and the young people we talk to are hugely enthusiastic about getting involved. As these projects expand, I hope we can work with and help develop the skills of a growing number of young people in the local area.”
Following the visit Alok Sharma said: “Malcolm, John and their team of volunteers have been doing fantastic work over many years in Whitley, and the wider community, and now have a unique vision to develop Unity into a multi-project based initiative. The Association has to constantly raise external funding to buy equipment and deliver its projects for the community and I would request any local business which is interested in sponsoring Unity’s projects by providing funding, expertise or equipment, to get in touch with Malcolm and John.”
Alok added: “If a Conservative Government is elected next year one of its most important ambitions will be to expand the role and influences of charities, social enterprises and voluntary bodies such as the Unity Community & Sports Association.”
For further information about Unity Football Club visit www.unityfootballclub.co.uk or contact Malcolm Hinds and John Sailsman on 0118 954 7275.
Photo: James Anderson, Conservative Candidate for Whitley, Alok Sharma and Malcolm Hinds with members of Unity Football Club.
