Five ways to get involved with Albion's charity this season

The Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}, the club’s official charity, has been using football to help people in Sussex for more than 30 years. Some of its sessions are free, and it is always looking for help at its fundraising events.

Volunteers don’t need any particular skills, the foundation says. Cheer crew members set up a cheer point at its challenge events and make as much noise as they can to keep participants going to the finish. Donation crew members work in pairs at men’s and women’s first-team matchdays, at the Amex or at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, asking fans for digital donations before kick-off.

Both jobs mean standing for long stretches, and the Amex crowd can reach 30,000. Volunteers must be over 18, and the foundation doesn’t offer work experience or volunteering in running its programmes. You register your interest online and it sends you an application form.

Premier League Kicks runs free weekly football sessions during term time for young people aged seven to 18, at community venues across Sussex. As well as the football there is a young leaders’ programme, social action projects and mentoring. Sessions are booked through the foundation’s website.

The foundation runs football sessions for anyone with a disability aged five and over. Its disability-specific sessions are on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and its inclusive sessions are on Saturdays. Sessions are for members.

For players who want competitive matches, it has about 150 players across 13 teams in the Sussex Disability Football League, in three age groups: 8 to 12, 12 to 16 and adults. It says the teams won’t suit everyone, and will talk it through with anyone interested.

Albion Memories is for fans with mild to moderate dementia and their carers, who meet to share memories of supporting the Seagulls. The group meets on the last Friday of each month at the Amex and on the second Friday at the foundation’s Community Hub. There is a form on the website to join.

Community Champions give £5 a month by direct debit. In return they get a pin badge, invitations to events at the Amex and a free coffee at the Community Hub in Brighton. The money goes wherever the foundation needs it most.