Accrington Stanley Football Club Community Trust, in partnership with the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), is proud to announce the appointment of first team player, Josh Woods, as the club’s new Champions Ambassador.
The Champions programme works with people aged 10-25 who have been involved in offending behaviours or are at high risk of offending, offering positive role models through mentoring and supportive environments to help them make safer, healthier choices. Ambassadors like Josh provide additional encouragement, guidance, and opportunities for young people involved.
In this role, Josh will interact with clients at the training ground and stadium, support half-term activities such as snooker, darts, and table tennis, and provide more informal support during Champions clients 1:1 sessions at the hub, helping to inspire and connect with those on the programme.
Josh Woods said: “I think sometimes young people don’t always get the opportunity to show who they really are. Where I grew up, I know how lucky I was to have people and places that helped me stay on track. Having the chance to go to safe spaces, play football, and be around good mates kept me out of trouble.”
“A lot of the young people who come to Champions haven’t chosen the circumstances they’re in, and I think they deserve real credit for trying to turn their luck around. It takes courage to say, ‘I want to change,’ and with the support of the Champions staff at the Trust, many of them are now doing just that – making real steps to turn things around.”
“For me personally, football in the community was such an important part of my childhood, giving me somewhere to belong and spend time with friends. To now be in a position where I can give back in some way and hopefully make even a small difference for young people in similar situations, is something I’m really proud to be part of.”
Chief Inspector Gemma Barr, Operational Lead at the LVRN added: “The Champions programme has already shown how powerful it can be in helping young people make positive choices, and having people like Josh on board only adds to that success by giving young people someone they can look up to and relate to.”
