The title of this blog may sound like I’ve been collared by the police and am now serving my penance but it’s far more innocent than that. Sorry if that’s disappointed you but at least it got your attention!

It actually refers to some great stuff we’ve been doing lately with various groups in the local community. As a Hampshire based company we’ve always been proactive about getting involved where we can. For example, we provided the lifeboat to the Portsmouth & Southsea Voluntary Lifeguards, sponsored the Havant cricket team, the Chichester under 8s rugby team and the Havant Lip-reading service to help local people to learn how to manage their hearing loss, plus we work with local schools to provide practical career advice.

The recent activity we’ve been getting involved in is through our sponsorship of Portsmouth FC, which has been fantastic in helping us identify community projects that we can help with. In the last few weeks we’ve partnered with the Portsmouth Supporters’ Club – Main Branch, which is made up of over 1500 dedicated Portsmouth fans. We’ve provided them with some funding to help with their newsletters, website etc. Their Chairman is landlord of the Newcome Arms pub in Fratton, so it would have been rude not to share a pint with some of the members!

We’re also providing the kit to the league-winning Portsmouth under 12s ladies’ team. They did fantastically well last season, winning all of the 12 games they played and scoring a staggering 114 goals with only 7 scored against them. Having watched them train and spoken with their coach I was so impressed with how much times and effort they put in so it’s great that we’ve been able to support them by providing them with new kit.

Over the next few months we’re also going to be working with Portsmouth University and helping the Pompey FC Study Centre, who do loads of amazing educational projects with local school children. I’ll make sure I upload some pictures of these projects as they happen.