A football charity has celebrated 10 years of life-changing impact.
The Russell Martin Foundation (RMF), based in Sussex, marked its 10th anniversary with a special event at the House of Commons, with Brighton Pavilion MP Siân Berry and attended by more than 50 guests including partners, funders, staff and trustees.
Founded by former footballer Russell Martin, the charity began as a football academy in 2016 before gaining registered status in 2017 and expanding into a Sussex-wide organisation delivering education, health, well-being and physical activity programmes.
Russell Martin, founder of the charity, said: “I’m very grateful to Siân Berry for her support in helping us celebrate 10 years of RMF.
“The impact the foundation has had on so many people is something I am so proud of and it has been driven by the amazing people we have at the charity.
“This is a great way to say thank you to them and to show our appreciation for everything they have done and continue to do.”
The Russell Martin Foundation now engages with more than 8,600 people across Sussex each year through diverse projects.
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Among its flagship programmes is RMF Extra Time, which supports the re-integration of children into mainstream education and was named Best Sports Community Programme at the national Sports Business Awards last year.
The charity is also known for its work promoting football among women and girls, including running the largest annual grassroots girls’ football tournament in the region.
Plans for the future include the redevelopment of Old Barn Way, the former Southwick FC ground, into a community hub.
The facility will feature a full-size 3G pitch, clubhouse and changing rooms and will host RMF’s health, wellbeing and education programmes.
Mr Martin said: “I’m excited for the future of RMF including our plans for the new state-of-the-art facility at Old Barn Way that will be our home and enable us to have a positive impact on even more lives.”
MP Siân Berry praised the charity’s work at the event.
Ms Berry said: “For ten years the Russell Martin Foundation has played a huge role in helping young people in Sussex to thrive.