Ferndale Primary School was the latest school to benefit from Swindon Town FC Community Foundation’s Town Together initiative, welcoming first-team player Ben Middlemas for a special visit on Tuesday afternoon.

Developed by Swindon Town FC Community Foundation, Town Together aims to build stronger relationships between Swindon Town FC, the Foundation and local schools, creating opportunities for children both inside and outside the classroom.

Partner schools, including Ferndale Primary, already work closely with the Foundation through programmes such as Premier League Primary Stars and Project Me. Plans are also underway to introduce new initiatives, including the EFL Joy of moving workshops and Thrive, a new mentoring workshop launching later this year.

However, Town Together extends beyond classroom-based activities, aiming to strengthen connections between local communities and the football club. With the support of the first-team squad, pupils have the opportunity to meet players, hear about their experiences and gain inspiration from their journeys into professional football.

Ben was given a warm welcome by Mrs Evans and the children, who enthusiastically asked questions about his career and sought advice on what it takes to achieve their own ambitions.

Reflecting on his visit, Ben said:

“It was great to be here today. The Community Foundation came along to speak with all the players about their projects, and we’re all keen to get involved because they make a massive impact. I’m looking forward to helping support the team again in the future, and I really appreciate Ferndale setting everything up today.”

As part of the initiative, Swindon Town FC is also gifting pupils tickets to attend the upcoming match against Rotherham United, helping to create opportunities for children and their families to experience live football. Each child received a pair of tickets each, with more than 800 donated across the school.

Darren Howell, Swindon Town FC Community Foundation added:

“Town Together is a fantastic initiative, and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with the club, its players and local schools to create these opportunities for children across Swindon.

“Mrs Evans shared some lovely feedback about the genuine excitement the visit generated and how much it meant to her pupils. The children had prepared some outstanding questions, giving Ben the opportunity to talk about his personal journey, including the highs and lows, and the importance of hard work, discipline, focus and resilience in achieving his ambitions.

“Visits like this demonstrate the positive impact that football can have beyond the pitch, helping to inspire young people, build confidence and strengthen connections within our community.”