Over the last three years, the Foundation has been delighted to support KEEN, a small London based charity that runs free sports and recreation sessions for children and young adults with learning, behavioural and physical disabilities.
The donations have meant that the Foundation has helped Keen provide nearly 12,000 contact hours of one-to-one support to over 150 different children.
Keen have trained over 400 volunteers, run three residential weekends, added additional sessions to our East and South London sites and most importantly had lots of fun (despite lockdowns and pandemics).
In June 2022, the Foundation pledged a fourth grant of £5,000 to the charity to continue their excellent work in a range of new initiatives including –
A Coach Apprenticeship Programme has been started up that sees young people who have previously accessed the service, train up to join the team supporting their services as a volunteer.
Keen’s first pre school pilot stemming from the increase in enquires from families of preschool children with SEN or suspected additional needs, struggling to find services and support. Our pilot project aims to reach between 15-20 families a month at our informal play and stay sessions.
Kirstie Hayward, Fundraiser for Keen, told the Foundation
“We are so grateful for another year of support from Matchroom Sport. We really are thrilled and look forward to finishing our summer activities safe in the knowledge we have funding to kick start September!”