Mark Noble and the West Ham squad joined Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady at the London Stadium to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Players’ Project, which has been hailed as the most ambitious community programme ever created by a Premier League club.
West Ham players from their men’s, women’s and academy teams have given over 300 hours of community time since the project was launched last year.
Captain Noble has done work on tackling poverty, while West Ham Women skipper Gilly Flaherty has spent time with the members of the over 65s supporters group, Any Old Irons.
West Ham’s community scheme includes over 30 programmes that span health, education, community initiatives and football development, which engage with up to 50,000 people per year.
The club announced last year that it would invest £10million over three years in the London Borough of Newham and surrounding Olympic boroughs and Essex. That investment is now forecast to be £28m by the end of 2021.
West Ham vice-chairman Brady said: “I am immensely proud of everything we’ve done so far, and everything we have committed to doing in the future.
“When we moved to the stadium, we came here with the aim of affecting change – bringing investment, making a positive economic impact, creating opportunities for people, for our community.
"This project has been and continues to be a fantastic achievement.
“The independent analysis showing, for example, that the club supports 3,300 local jobs is a significant achievement.
"However, the investment that has given me the most the pride and satisfaction is not a financial one. It’s a human one.
“The time, energy and care that our players, staff and volunteers have given to the cause throughout the past year. That is what really makes the difference to those in need.
"People giving up their time to help, genuinely changing lives for the better.”
