Kelvin Husbands
Nominated for Community Champion sponsored by Reading football Club
Kelvin Husbands, who self-funds four youth clubs, has been put forward for the Community Champion award, sponsored by Reading Football Club.
Kelvin provides a mentoring service, and addresses food and period poverty, for young people in two age groups (eight-11 and 11-16) at clubs in Coley, Whitley, Caversham and Dee Road.
“Eight hundred people attend on weekly basis and he has really changed their lives around,” his nominator said.
“He also buys equipment for all the activities and his work dovetails with the Olly Stephens knife crime initiative which MP Matt Rodda is the patron of,” they added.
Kelvin also partners with Give Back FC, a Reading Community Trust initiative which runs several football teams for hard to reach groups.
“Kelvin receives no funding and he funds activities out of his own pocket. There is no doubt that many of the participants are now receiving much-needed food as well as sanitary products, which allows them to perform better at school,” said his nominator.
“It also teaches them values and shows them that there is hope for their futures. The majority of the attendees are from the black or minority ethnic child groups who reside in some of the most deprived areas of Reading borough.”
The Bishop of Reading and Matt Rodda are now trying to assist Kelvin with his much-needed service, they added.
Kelvin and his team at the Grassrootz charity won Volunteers of the Year in last year's Pride of Reading Awards and he was nominated then for Local Hero.
