Bantams, Bruno and us! ??

Today I had the pleasure of attending a networking event with our friends and charity partners over at Bradford City AFC . With over 50 attendees from local businesses, charities, and sports clubs across the region, this event was a real opportunity for me to connect with the community, learn more about a collective vision for the town of Bradford, and as always, spread the word of the life-saving mission at Penny Appeal , where I am honoured to be CEO.

I attended today’s gathering, alongside some extra-special Penny Appeal colleagues, not only as a proud Penny Appeal representative, but also as a lifelong Bantams fan and a Trustee of Bradford City FC Community Foundation – a hattrick if I say so myself! Together, we spent some quality time networking with other Bradford City partners and of course, spreading some orange smiles to everyone who attended.

We went 36 minutes with boxing legend Frank Bruno, hearing all about his incredible story of determination, courage and hard work. He shared his earliest memories of his childhood, dealing with the pressure of retaining the heavyweight title, and his early encounters with Mike Tyson. It was particularly moving to hear of his struggles with his mental health – something I am truly passionate about raising awareness around, and always take time to give support to my team. Being vulnerable in a room full of people is never easy, so hats off to Frank for his courage.

We enjoyed a presentation about all the amazing work Penny Appeal has done and continues to do for the poor and needy across Bradford and the surrounding communities. To see the Penny Appeal Food Truck displayed on the big screen at such a high-profile event like this one was truly incredible – it is humbling to see how our small effort of giving up our time can make such a huge impact on those less fortunate. I felt so proud to see our volunteers represent us in full orange – of course!

Overall, I had a great time. Events like this really showcase the importance of community and how together we can make a big difference in the lives of our vulnerable neighbours. Penny Appeal have some exciting antics in the works, so make sure you keep an eye out for future projects with Bradford City, the Community Foundation and the incredibly talented women’s team.

If you’d like to learn more about our Thursday feedings in Bradford, Leeds or Wakefield, or want to take a look at our other volunteering opportunities, take a look at our volunteer page on the website. Also, don’t forget to take a look at our Penny Appeal at Home page to find out more about our UK initiatives - because we believe that charity always starts at home.

Visiting beacons of opportunity like this in Bradford remind me of my personal purpose and our collective purpose at Penny Appeal, which is to reach those who need our help the most.