Tru Champions - Vol 5 - Steve Cuss
Welcome back to another edition of our Tru Champions series. This series is all about sharing the stories of the most influential people in our sphere! These are people who inspire us, challenge us, and who naturally live by our Tru Talent values of ‘Grow, Empower, Nurture’.
In this month's feature, we had the honour to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, Steve Cuss of AFC Bournemouth! Steve is the Head of Community at the club and has built nothing less than a legacy during his last 21 years through the work he does for the AFCB Community Sports Trust.
The man, the myth, the legend
Things looked very different back when Steve first joined the club. It began with him, a couple of supporting staff, a bag of footballs, and three sessions per week in the community. A lot has changed since then, not to mention Bournemouth moving up to the Premier League.
Today Steve leads a team of forty full-time staff along with many part-time and volunteer staff who all play a vital role in bringing incredible positive impact to our community through the AFCB Community Sports Trust. They deliver a staggering 150+ sessions each week across Bournemouth, Poole, and the surrounding areas. 4,000 people engage in these sessions each week from the ages 1 to 50+. The extent of the offering the Trust provides is so diverse that there really is something for everyone regardless of age, gender, background, or ability. From the ‘Mini Cherries’ sessions catering for the youngest in our community all the way to ‘Walking football’ sessions for those 50+ and of course everything in between. That’s not to mention the huge focus on girl's and women’s football that is raising new stars in the sport.
Steve is a true patriot of the sport, the club, and our community. We feel so lucky to have him and his incredible team leading positive change in our community.
More than Football
The impact of the Trust goes far beyond football and even sport itself. In addition to the football-focused sessions, the Trust also delivers an impressive 20+ workshops and assemblies in local schools each week.
These sessions look at important themes that primary and secondary school children are facing in their everyday lives, such as healthy lifestyles, respect and citizenship, safer kids online, equality, diversity and inclusion, and improving our sustainability.
Every single session is provided free of charge, meaning there are no barriers to entry for local schools looking to participate in these amazing workshops. Each session is a mix of presentations, group discussions, and individual and small group tasks. On many occasions, children also get the opportunity to meet some of Bournemouth FC’s superstars.
Our Partnership with AFCB
Bournemouth FC and the Community Sports Trust are both so close to our hearts here at Tru Talent, not just because it’s our local club but because we have seen firsthand the positive impact this work has on the lives of the people in our community.
We believe so passionately in this work, so much so that this year we are celebrating 3 years of partnership with the Community Sports Trust where we sponsor the delivery of Children's Mental Health and well-being workshops in local schools.
These workshops help teachers raise awareness of a subject that has never been so high on the public agenda. The program is designed to encourage the younger generation to talk openly about mental health and to be able to understand the struggles that are associated with it. The sessions help pupils explore emotions, how to recognise a change in behaviour, and how to keep a positive mindset whilst setting goals for the future.
We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be part of this amazing work the Trust is doing to encourage, empower and uplift children and young people. “The children are our future" and this is why we continue to invest in the delivery of mental health and well-being programs.
Steve shared with us so many incredible stories from these sessions that we couldn’t possibly capture them all here. However, one thing is very clear, young lives are being transformed as a result of this work, not only through the mental health and well-being program but also through the many other sessions that are sponsored by other amazing businesses in our local area.
Get Involved.
We think you’ll agree that Steve deserves Tru Champion status. His passion for the club and our community continues to drive positive change and ultimately transforms lives now and sows the seeds of change for the future.
Steve and his team use football as the common language to bring our community together. He says “If you attend any one of the 150+ sessions per week or the workshops in schools, you are part of the club! It’s not just the players on the field or the spectators in the stands, it’s the whole community around the club that makes AFCB what it is today”.
To learn more about the incredible work Steve and his team do through the Community Sports Trust and to get involved in any of the amazing sessions visit - www.afcb.co.uk/community-sports-trust or follow them on social media @afcbst.
Our other Champions
If you’ve enjoyed hearing Steve’s story, why not take a look back at some of our previous featured Tru Champions. We’ve been inspired by Chandos Green who is a public speaker, co-founder, campaigner, and advocate for disability rights. We’ve stepped into the fast lane with Will StJames who’s an F1000 race car driver. And who could forget our heartfelt feature with Jess Ross owner of Smashtag social media agency?
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