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On 4 April, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited Brymbo to meet Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club and to see how the Your Community, Your Choice initiative is using some of the ill-gotten gains of criminals to fund local projects in North Wales. Your Community, Your Choice, which empowers local communities and is decided through a public vote, is supported by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales Police, and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club were one of the winners in the recent public vote for their Football in the Community project.
Over the past twelve years, Your Community, Your Choice has awarded almost £660,000 to 214 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods and support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan. The funding comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the remainder provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Dragonesses’ Football in the Community initiative involves walking football sessions for ladies over 30. They currently have 18 registered ladies with an age range between 33-70. The funding from Your Community, Your Choice will support hall hire costs, football equipment and training aids. While the group was formed in Coedpoeth, they have also reached out to other local communities, such as Minera, Brymbo, Chester and Wrexham. The group are assisting ladies with issues of loneliness and mental and physical wellbeing. They help bring people together within neighbouring communities to build bonds and friendships, while participating in gentle exercise sessions.
While at the session at the Brymbo & Tanyfron Regeneration Trust Enterprise Centre, PCC Andy Dunbobbin met club organisers Dave Donaghy and Allan Edwards and heard a detailed account of what they do and how they see the project going forward. Mr Dunbobbin also saw a club session underway and spoke to several members of the team.
Dave Donaghy from Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football commented: “We are empowering ladies to be confident, outside of their normal day-to-day lives and to help others in the community. It was during the Covid pandemic and lockdowns when we first identified the need for an outlet for the ladies. We have received a fantastic response and our numbers have grown month-on-month and the funds from Your Community, Your Choice will hopefully enable us to grow even further. It was a pleasure to host the PCC and to share with him all the exciting plans we have for the club.”
Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner, said: "I was delighted to meet the team from Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club and to see how their project is going to help and empower local women. As PCC, supporting communities and ensuring they remain resilient is a key part of my plan to fight crime in North Wales and clubs like this do an outstanding job in building bonds among different people. I'm proud that we can help these organisations make a positive difference across North Wales."
PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers said: " Your Community, Your Choice continues to be a powerful way to support grassroots projects like Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club, which help people to get fit, while reducing isolation and encouraging community action and engagement. I hope that this project will enable even more women to get involved locally and take up sport."
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans commented: "North Wales Police is proud to support Your Community, Your Choice and the important work that groups like Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club do. Projects like Football in the Community provide valuable and positive opportunities for people to get out and active and I wholeheartedly support their aims."
To learn more about PACT, visit www.pactnorthwales.co.uk and to learn more about the work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk.
To read more about Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football Club visit: Coedpoeth Dragonesses Walking Football - Walking Football