Since inception it has been the Wanderers mission to become a world-class football club and the pride of Western Sydney.
In order to achieve this mission a department at the club was developed to specifically focus on what makes this football club so special – the community.
The vision has been to make a real difference and add true value through using our elite players in all divisions to be the catalyst for social impact and change across the Western Sydney region.
For the first time in the FFA’s Dolan Warren Awards history, clubs were requested to provide documentation on their community programs and impact.
Such documentation highlighted club engagement objectives, statistics of growth and initiatives that have been put into place.
Engaging with the community for the Western Sydney Wanderers is understood as a whole club approach, one that is not limited to certain sectors of society.
In the Wanderers first three years of existence they have attributed to the doubling of football registrations in the geographic region.
They have maintained and embraced relationships with schools and higher education through appearances, clinics, School Ambassador programs and the introduction of the School of the Year and Schools Cup competition.
The 2015 Schools Cup saw 91 schools in Western Sydney participate in a tournament held across seven venues and over 2,100 participants.
In this financial year alone, the Western Sydney wanderers players have accumulated almost 1,000 hours with the community at 227 events.
1,000 players from the eight Football Associations in Western Sydney were given the opportunity last season to be on hand on Western Sydney Wanderers math-days as player mascots, ball kids and half-time miniroos.
The Wanderers have also accumulated 84 registered and dedicated Guardian Funerals Wandercrew volunteers who dedicate their own free time to assisting the club.
Community Engagement Manager Joshua Hunter pinpoints the success of the club’s community engagement with the Wanderers players desire to engage.
“We are grateful to have the staff, football department and players to enable us to connect and engage with the community.
“This is of credit to the great players at this club who with pride go out to Western Sydney schools, businesses, sponsors and clinics and engage with everyone.
“They have really helped us earn this title of being a Champion Community club.”
For more information on the Wanderers in the Community, click here