Presented with certificates by Rupa Huq MP and Andy Sinton

The Friary Park youngsters with Rupa Huq MP and Andy Sinton

A group of young people from the Acton area were invited onto the pitch before a recent QPR home game after participating in a community engagement scheme run by the club.

They went through the players’ tunnel onto the pitch at QPR before their match against Cardiff City to be presented certificates by Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq along with former England international Andy Sinton. The young residents from the Friary Park Estate off Horn Lane took part in a half term project run by the club club in partnership with Catalyst Housing association. The scheme lasted for a week and included 2 tips to Oxygen Jump in Acton. Over 5 days over 60 local young people aged between 5 to 15 took part, males and females. The children who’d been awarded prizes then enjoyed the game as did their MP as guests of QPR.

Dr Huq said, “I remember the boredom of half terms from my own school-days so I’m delighted to be presenting certificates to those who’ve graduated from this great scheme that also teaches useful life-skills like team-work and discipline.”

She added, “In a seat where large numbers of my electors support Chelsea and Brentford as well as non-London teams it might be dangerous to be seen at QPR but I’m happy to engage with anyone who’ll do things that benefit Ealing, Acton and Chiswick. It was good to see them win too. Apparently I brought luck to the club – the original date I was offered to meet them but had to reject due to a diary clash saw a heavy defeat!”

She added “I was also delighted to see that just a couple of days after I appeared in the matchday programme with my young constituents”.

Kowsar Abdi Youth Engagement Practitioner at Catalyst said, “Parents were extremely grateful for the half term project taking place and young people said they loved the week of activities they also said they tried new sports like fencing which they have never played before. QPR were also amazing at facilitating the project with a positive attitude throughout.”

Justin Stone, multi-sport manager for the QPR Trust, added, "We're been working alongside Catalyst housing since June last year delivering evening sessions as well as running their summer football tournament. The half term course we ran in February was a great success throughout the week."

March 16, 2017