Community. It is one of the driving principles at Nottingham Forest.
Ever since Evangelos Marinakis took over almost three years ago, the focus has been on looking beyond the City Ground; reaching out to the fans who form the Forest family and the city which is the club’s home.
And never has that been more evident than now.
Amid difficult and trying times, the Reds have been playing their part.
Forest are a focal point in the city. The players are heroes for many.
While they are not currently able to provide supporters with a means of escape through what happens on the pitch, they are nevertheless doing their best to keep spirits up in challenging circumstances.
What do you do when there’s no actual football?
The Reds have found a unique - and brilliant - way to fill the void.
They have won social media. Hands down.
From Ryan Yates cooking up a storm in the kitchen, to John Bostock and Joe Worrall reading bedtime stories, to Matty Cash’s exercise video, there has been no shortage of entertainment.
The club know they have a role to play on that front. They know they are seen as a beacon of light; something to look towards amid all the gloom.
They are also keen to help out where they can.
With the country under lockdown and children cooped up for what could be a lengthy period of time, Forest and the players are doing their best to provide some light relief.
Bostock and Worrall read out stories with the aim of making bedtimes easier for youngsters, particularly those of key workers who are at the heart of this coronavirus battle.
The fitness and recipe posts promote the importance of healthy living.
On top of this, there have been throwback videos, games of Connect Four and all manner of nostalgia, as well as special mentions to key workers.
But perhaps most importantly, the club have been keen to get out a serious message.
With their ability to reach a different demographic compared to the likes of government and NHS social media channels, the Reds have reinforced the official advice of ‘stay at home, save lives’.
While their job on the pitch is on hold for now, off it Forest are nevertheless playing an important role.
