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Birmingham County FA Partner with Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

Birmingham County FA aim to reconnect football to nature

Birmingham County Football Association (BCFA) and their Save Today, Play Tomorrow programme is pleased to share that they have partnered with Birmingham and Black County Wildlife Trust as their Charity of the Year for the 2022/23 season. 

The vision for the Trust is for A Wilder Birmingham and Black Country with more green and wild spaces where nature thrives, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to access nature in their daily lives. 

The Trust are working towards three goals that they aim to reach by 2030 which are;

1. To see 30% of Birmingham & Black Country’s landscape managed for the benefit of wildlife

2. To have at least 1in 4 people in Birmingham & Black Country taking action for nature

3. To aim for 500 hectares (or the equivalent of 700 football pitches) to be improved to provide nature-based solutions to the ecological & climate crisis

It is hoped through this brand-new partnership that BCFA member clubs and their supporters can play a part helping to raise the Trust’s profile and encourage and adopt regular fundraising through a series of planned activities from wildlife gardening, citizen science, volunteering, campaigning, events, and training courses at one of the Trust’s six nature reserves or two environmental education centres.

Richard Lindsay, Birmingham CFA's Save Today, Play Tomorrow Lead, said: “We are really excited about this partnership. Football can play a vital part in protecting our planet by reconnecting and helping the recovery of nature. Grassroots football is predominantly an outdoor sport played on green spaces and it has a unique opportunity to support the Trust’s on-going work. 

"By connecting our clubs and their members to nearby nature over the coming months, we hope will also bring about long-term health & wellbeing benefits reducing anxiety, stress and improving heart health for individuals coupled with the opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause.”

Emma Thompson, Head of Fundraising and Communication at Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted that Birmingham County Football Association have chosen us as their Charity of the Year and look forward working together on our vision for a Wilder Birmingham and Black Country. Through this partnership we will be able to connect with and inspire thousands of individuals to take action for nature’s recovery via the Save Today, Play Tomorrow newsletter. This is an exciting partnership for us that has lots of potential to grow and develop including unique fundraising events and building relationships with football clubs across the conurbation.”