Tue 04 Nov - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
The English Football League's (EFL) annual Week of Action is taking place from 3rd-7th November 2025, celebrating the collective impact of Football Club charities’ community work across England and Wales.
The week showcases how EFL Clubs have taken on even greater importance within their communities, supporting people’s health, happiness, social connections, education and economic prospects.
The work undertaken by the 72 Club charities has a sizeable impact across key areas linked to issues ranked high on the national government agenda, such as health, education and criminal justice. Football Club charities help to relieve pressures on the country’s national systems in a bid to help improve the quality of people’s lives.
In November 2024, research analysing data from the 2023/24 season found that more than one million people engaged in Club community projects across the towns and cities served by EFL Clubs, generating a total of £1.24bn of social value across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.
While Managers and First Team players actively support their Club’s community activities all year round, the EFL Week of Action provides an opportunity to shine a light on the most impactful and innovative projects across England and Wales, allowing players and managers to meet participants and hear firsthand how projects are improving the quality of people’s lives.
Derby County and Derby County Community Trust will be staging a Show Racism the Red Card workshop at Pride Park Stadium during the week, which will include representatives from the Men’s and Women’s first-team squads and former players.
Attendees will include local schoolchildren and members of the Community Trust’s programmes and initiatives, taking part in a variety of educational activities and hearing from the guests throughout the day.
Derby County Community Trust will also be attending the EFL Week of Action: Changing Lives Together event held in Coventry during the week to take part in an activity showcase and panel discussion highlighting the impact of their work on our communities on a national stage.
Paul Newman, Chief Executive Officer at Derby County Community Trust, said: “The EFL Week of Action is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact that the badge can have beyond the pitch. It’s a great opportunity for Derby County Community Trust and other football club charities across the country to showcase how our work transforms lives every day.
“From cancer recovery and mental health support to environmental projects, education pathways, and community meals, we work with over 30,000 people per year across Derby and Derbyshire. Our impact reaches far beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch and it’s great to have the national platform to shine a light on this.”
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive Officer of the EFL, said: “The EFL Week of Action celebrates and demonstrates the formidable, life-changing impact that our Clubs and their Charities are making in their local communities.
“Whether it’s supporting men, women, and children with mental health challenges, providing warm spaces and hot meals to families facing financial difficulties, or assisting those recovering from addiction, EFL Clubs are truly at the heart of their communities. They respond to, and proactively address, some of society’s biggest challenges.
“I am always extremely proud to hear about the depth and breadth of services provided by Club charities and the positive contribution they make – work that is both locally relevant and nationally significant.”
