Caridon Foundation Eagles Shortlisted for The London Sport Awards 2020

3rd March 2020

Caridon Foundation Eagles, an adult mental health football team set up by Caridon Foundation, part of Caridon Group, has been shortlisted for ‘The Health and Wellbeing Award’ at the 2020 London Sport Awards.

The London Sport Awards is London community sport’s showpiece event, recognising the best of the best of grassroots physical activity and sport in the capital. Each year, a collection of incredible individuals and groups are recognised for their outstanding work in helping Londoners to be more physically active. This year, the awards received a staggering 284 nominations, from which eleven industry expert judges faced the challenge of selecting just 29 inspirational individuals, organisations and projects to be shortlisted.

The Awards ceremony will take place on Friday 6 March at the Guildhall in central London where just ten winners will be announced

The Caridon Foundation Eagles football team began in the Summer of 2019 following a successful bid for funding from the Mayor of London’s Grant Scheme to get Londoner’s more active.Caridon Foundation was looking for an activity that would engage some of its tenants who find it difficult to access other ‘more formal’ forms of support. “We were particularly keen to engage tenants who struggle with mental health and/or substance misuse issues, as the evidence that physical activity improves mental wellbeing is overwhelming” said Ebenezer Amoh of Caridon Foundation.

The grant by the Mayor enabled Caridon Foundation Eagles to run a very successful 12-week Summer Programme, in partnership with Crystal Palace’s disability coach Michael Harrington from Palace for Life Foundation.Palace for Life Foundation is the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club, who help young South Londoners grow through the power of sport, inspiring them to find a better path in life.

Caridon Foundation Eagles then went on to receive a grant from Croydon Council to continue the project. To date, more than 50 men with various emotional, physical and cognitive difficulties have taken part in the programme.

On being shortlisted for the 2020 London Sport Awards, Mario Carrozzo, CEO of the Caridon Group said “The London Sport Awards is the largest celebration of community grassroot physical activity and sport, and we are thrilled to have been recognised and for the chance to showcase our hard work, which demonstrates the power of activity in changing Londoners’ lives for the better.”