A BOLTON Wanderers star went back to school to kick off the English Football League’s first Week of Action.
George Johnston visited Masefield Primary School in Little Lever, where pupils raised funds to buy a defibrillator, a potentially life-saving piece of equipment, which can be accessed by the community.
George performed the opening ceremony as part of a visit to the school with Bolton Wanderers in the Community.
The Wanderers defender also took part in a question-and-answer session with pupils and met participants undertaking a play leaders programme as part of the Premier League Primary Stars project run by BWitC.
George said: “It’s been a fantastic effort from the youngsters to raise the money to provide such an important piece of equipment.
“It was a pleasure to be here to open it and to chat with pupils and staff and play a small part in such valuable community work.”
The EFL will run its first ever Week of Action from April 4-8.
All 72 clubs and club community organisations will showcase activity with EFL players and managers joining participants across England and Wales.
BWitC have a number of activities planned across the week to support, help and encourage people of all ages in and around Bolton around issues including health, fitness, well-being, sexuality, mentoring, disability, offending and employability.
Phil Mason, CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community and Club Chaplain, said: “We will be joining and playing a full part in such a positive week here at Bolton and throughout this period we will showcase some of the great community work carried out through Bolton Wanderers in the Community.
“As the award-winning charity arm of the club, through the 10 programmes and 33 projects we currently run, BWitC is making a significant contribution to the wider community in Bolton.”
Using the power of football, EFL clubs and Club Community Organisations (CCOs) collectively invest over £59m in their communities every year, engaging with some of the most vulnerable members of society.
In 2021, EFL clubs and CCOs were recognised at both the Leaders Sports Awards and Sports Business Awards for the important and unique role they played in supporting their local communities during the pandemic.
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