AFC Bournemouth has gifted over £80,000 in training funds to healthcare groups across the south and south west this year, as the club continues to help small organisations to develop and train their staff to support those hit hardest by the pandemic.
Working alongside leading apprenticeship training provider, Paragon Skills, the club is financing training schemes for five local charities and care-homes to upskill workers who may not otherwise be able to afford training.
The investment will help to raise visibility and profile of much needed apprenticeship training in the care sector, providing opportunities and support to businesses in the region.
The funding has been provided out of the club’s Apprenticeship Levy pot, and the Cherries have chosen to utilise the money within the community.
The five organisations benefiting from the funding are: Elmfield Care, Step One, The Nurture Den, Acorn Lodge and Drumconner.
Elmfield Care, a state-of-the-art residential care home, receives £42,000 to fund further qualifications for some of their 75 employees, translating into a better care and living situation for their residents.
Meanwhile, Drumconner, a Westbourne-based residential home, receives £8,000 to provide additional training for their members of staff.
Step One in Exeter (£9,000), The Nurture Den in Lymington (£8,000) and Acorn Lodge in Southbourne (£15,000) have also received significant donations for training purposes.
Neill Blake, Chief Executive at AFC Bournemouth, told afcb.co.uk: “We’re a football club that prides itself on the work we do within our wider community, and we’re delighted to be able to utilise this funding to support these five incredible organisations.
“This gift will provide a tangible benefit to not only their employees, but those who utilise the services they provide too. We’re grateful for the support of local training provider Paragon in helping identify such deserving recipients.”
Mark Botha, CEO at Paragon Skills commented: “The partnership with AFC Bournemouth has allowed Paragon Skills to back the small and medium-sized enterprise [SME] community, ensuring access to new talent and providing opportunities to succeed in the digital age, regardless of background.
“SMEs are the life-blood of the local economy, and in partnership with AFC Bournemouth, we are committed to helping as many as possible to not just recover from COVID-19, but adapt and thrive preparing their workforce for the future.”
