As part of the English Football League (EFL) Community Weekends campaign, Leeds United welcomed four local community heroes to Thorp Arch to present them with a shirt and certificate by first-team players Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara. The four were also invited to attend Leeds United’s fixture against Preston North End at Elland Road on Sunday 21 January.

Arees Afzal, student at ̨��swag Academy Hemsworth, was chosen as a community hero due to his participation in the Leeds United Foundation Secondary Education Programme. Arees, 14, has been working with the Foundation since October 2022, when he had a 0.4% attendance and struggled with life in and outside of school.

Through targeted work within one of their Secondary School Hubs, the Foundation looked at social interaction and re-engagement into the school setting, whilst also supporting his health, wellbeing and social skills. At the end of the 2023 school year, Arees finished with 100% attendance, along with a new focus to achieve in school, progressing in his core subjects, all whilst still being supported by the Foundation.

Andy Wormald, Attendance & Behaviour Officer who mentors Arees, said:

“Arees has made massive improvements in his attendance and wellbeing since we started working together. It’s not been easy but he has the right mindset to keep improving and thriving in education. 

“We’ve had achievable goals to reach every step of the way, along with great incentives such as trips to Elland Road, player messages, tickets and meeting the players at Thorp Arch Leeds United training ground. Then to top it off Leeds United invited us to watch the Preston game in a VIP box - you can’t buy this sort of experience.”