Birmingham City is launching a ground-breaking £3.5m scheme to support their work in the community after an OFSTED inspection at one of their partner schools showed a remarkable increase in wealth.
King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy is a school where 97 per cent of pupils receive free school meals and was the first to be converted into an academy through the Birmingham City Foundation's school partnership programme.
Foundation coaches have been working at Balaam Wood every day on an academic timetable since last year when the school was rated “requires improvement” by school inspectorate OFSTED.
Balaam Wood has just been upgraded from two levels to 'good' in their latest review, with OFSTED pointing to the partnership with Birmingham City as an illustration of how they go above and beyond for their students.
Birmingham City are wasting no time in building on this and are now preparing to launch the 1875 Club to fund the rollout of their schools' programs in different parts of the city and surrounding areas.
Club 1875 marks the birth of the club 149 years ago and is a private club offering 1875 people the chance to contribute £1875 to join the football club's efforts to help rejuvenate the city.
The assumption for the club is that the city has treated many people very well, and many owe their success to Birmingham.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham and Middlesbrough
The innovative scheme, which gives those with the broadest shoulders the chance to support parts of the city that need a helping hand, hopes to raise £3.5 million to support the club's work with schools as well as other community projects.
Singh gets the role of Blues
last month, Sky Sports News has revealed that Panjabi Blues co-founder Sukh Singh will head Birmingham City's new Official Supporters Clubs (OSC) network, along with his platinum guest member Paul Delves.
Singh has featured prominently in a number of Blues' force for good initiatives in recent years, with his Panjabi Blues group raising more than £11,500 for Blue Nose Day in December, in support of Birmingham City's partnership with Birmingham Children's Trust after you organized the first 'Sleep Out at St Andrews'.
Birmingham City chief executive Garry Cook talks about the club's work at Balaam Wood Academy
An instantly recognizable figure at home and away games, Singh was part of Birmingham City's equality, diversity and inclusion steering group last season.
He also appeared live Sky Sports News to react to the announcement Tom Brady became a minority owner of the club.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Panjabi Blues founder and chairman Sukh Singh has reacted to the news of Tom Brady's investment in Birmingham City
Singh said Sky Sports News: “It is an honor and a privilege to serve a wonderful institution such as Birmingham City Football Club.
“The Official Supporters' Club gives us a unique opportunity to properly unite, bringing Blues fans everywhere closer to the club and making them part of the special journey this football club is embarking on.”
British South Asians in football
For more stories, features and videos, visit our revolutionary South Asians in Football page on skysports.com and stay tuned Sky Sports News and our Sky Sports digital platforms.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
Now you can start receiving messages and alerts on the latest sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!