Local Impact Stories

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund SLOW – surviving the loss of your world – a charity that supports parents and siblings following the loss of a child. Charity Director Nikki Peterson, 47 and from Sussex, tells us about their work

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Whittington Hospital’s Calm Cove sensory room, which opened recently on their inpatient paediatrics ward. Local parents Owen and Emma Smith-Jaynes were involved, so Owen is perfectly placed to tell us about it and how it will benefit children like their son Harry

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Healthy Minds, Healthy Bods, a local project that helps disadvantaged people live a healthier life through walks, exercise, social events and a course on mindset, health and nutrition. Founder Lazza tells us about it

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund InterAct Stroke Support, a charity that uses actors to read to stroke survivors, in hospital and via video calls, to help stimulate the brain and aid recovery. Helen Stern, aged 95 and from London, tells us how it has helped

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Cyclists Fighting Cancer, a charity that helps children and young people living with and beyond cancer. Fundraiser Laura Parker tells us how they are helping youngsters at Great Ormond Street Hospital

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Rehabit, a charity that offers counselling and peer support for local people who are struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs and who have limited or no funds. Peer supporter Garry Durston, 59 and from north London, tells us about their work

The Arsenal Foundation has helped Islington Handball bring their sport to more young people across the borough. Club president Alex tells us how

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Mimbre Youth, a programme run by the female-led Mimbre acrobatic theatre company that offers sessions to local youngsters on Milton Garden Estate. Local youngster Kiki tells us why she loves them

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Make-Do Play, a local community interest company that offers free play sessions for children of all ages. Islington resident Sam tells us how much his daughter Clara loves the sessions for their variety and sheer fun

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund the Baobab Centre, a non-residential therapeutic community that offers holistic support to young survivors of human rights abuses seeking refuge in the UK. Baobab director Sheila Melzak, who is 75 and was herself a refugee from eastern Europe, tells us about their work

The Arsenal Foundation has donated to Choices, a charity that supports women through a pregnancy, pregnancy loss or parenting crisis, and runs Choices Boutique, which provides pre-loved clothing and equipment. Boutique manager Marianne tells us about their work

The Arsenal Foundation, in partnership with Islington Giving, has been supporting the Brandon Centre’s Arsenal Girls’ Kicks Programme since 2019, when it first started helping girls in Islington improve their wellbeing, mental and physical health through football. The Brandon Centre’s Clinical Director, Pavlos Rossolymos, tells us about the impact

Arsenal have helped to fund the Well Street Common Summer Festival. Organiser Kay Richardson tells us how our donation helped locals to have fun and reach new heights

Arsenal helped to fund a summer camp at Amberliegh, a local charity that educates the public in art and science. Akunna Nwanna-Skeete tells us how the money helped children have fun – for free

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Well Versed, a poetry and performance group for older people run by All Change Arts. Published poet Anthony M Baker tells us how it has enriched his life

The Arsenal Foundation has helped fund the Community Brigade, a six-month training and work experience programme run by social enterprise Cook for Good open to people on or near the Priory Green Estate. Ijeoma Anyanwu tells us how she got involved and the difference it’s making to her future

The Arsenal Foundation has helped fund Park Theatre’s Reminiscence Group for people with dementia. Stephen Whittle, 84, tells us how the sessions have helped him and his wife Brenda, 82, over recent years

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund north London’s CCIWBS Bereavement Service, which offers counselling for adults who have experienced loss. Counsellor David, who lives in Camden, tells us about their invaluable work

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund the food bank at the Church of the Sacred Heart near Emirates Stadium. Volunteer and committee member Philip Ward tells us how the service has grown to help more people during difficult times

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Spread a Smile, a charity that provides hospital visits, outings and events for children and their families during long hospital stays. Mum Gemma tells us how they helped her whole family when her daughter Amelia, now 11, was fighting a brain tumour

April 22 is Stephen Lawrence Day, and the legacy of the teenager who was stabbed to death on this date in 1993 is kept alive by Arsenal’s No More Red charity partner The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation. Esther Ope Elias, aged 18, tells us how the foundation has inspired her to help change society

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Music in Hospitals & Care, a charity that brings live music to people in hospitals and other healthcare institutions. Sarah Northall tells us how the money has helped

The Arsenal Foundation has helped Urban Hope, a local charity that provides drop-in sessions and support in schools for youngsters, send two youngsters to learn how to become ski/snowboard instructors. Urban Hope’s Mathew Barber tells us how it happened

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Pedal Power, a north London cycling club for people with disabilities that runs sessions on the podium outside Emirates Stadium and in Finsbury Park. Nina tells us how the sessions helped her recover mentally and physically after a serious accident, and how she now volunteers for the club to give something back

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Family Futures, a not-for-profit adoption agency, fostering agency and therapy centre. Mum Amanda tells us how their work has helped her adopted children after a traumatic start to their lives

The Arsenal Foundation have helped to fund the Museum Of Homelessness, a community-driven social justice museum created and run by people with direct experience of homelessness. Internationally award-winning artist, educator and activist David Tovey tell us how the charity has helped him

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Crown & Manor’s Junior Club for young boys aged seven and up. Artie, aged 11 from Islington, tells us about it

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Fence Club 43, a club that delivers fencing classes for children both at its club based in Islington and within schools across London. Club regular Hugo, aged 11, tells us about it

The Arsenal Foundation has helped Sweet Patootoe Arts, a non-profit arts organisation that creates historical and contemporary films and documentaries around black heritage, launch a new project with the help of Mildmay Community Centre. Mildmay centre manager Teena Phillips tells us about it…

The Arsenal Foundation have helped Richard Cloudesley School buy an Innowalk, a device that helps children with special needs including cerebral palsy walk in an upright position. Here we find out from the school how the machine has benefitted pupils in a variety of ways

The Arsenal Foundation has helped Islington’s MahaDevi Yoga Centre create a fund for families in need to either subsidise their sessions or to offer the first three classes for free. Emma, from Camden, tells us how it has helped her daughter Tyler

London’s Air Ambulance delivers rapid-response care to critically injured people in London. Outreach manager Rhiannon tells us how The Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal in the Community have helped to fund the charity and engage local youngsters with its work

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Ambitious Academy, a community mentoring and education programme based at the Elthorne Estate, make a film called Chance The Movie. Actor Daniel Phelan tells us about it – and you can watch the movie here

The Arsenal Foundation helped to fund a new Lung Function Unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), which was opened by Arsène Wenger in 2012. We hear from two people with close links to the unit as it celebrates the tenth anniversary of its renovation – including mum Juliet

The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund the CARIS Bereavement Service, which works with children who have lost a loved one, run a programme known as Rucksack. Counsellor Maire Hemmingway reveals how she helps children come to terms with loss

The Arsenal Foundation has helped fund STEP Football, a local team for adults with learning disabilities. Patrick Murphy is a long-standing regular who now does more than just play football…

Artist Stazzy reveals how The Arsenal Foundation changed his life and how our work continues to help him help others