The Green MP for Brighton Pavilion met with American Express Programme Director and Albion in the Community's director for a presentation of the charity's work with the city's largest private employer - American Express.

The blossoming partnership, under the banner 'Realise the Potential of the Community', has already seen four initiatives established this year.  Projects include Gully's Days Out for the disabled, Schools Master Classes, a Community Health Squad and Football Coaching. The initiatives, many of which take place at the American Express Community Stadium, involve Amex staff as volunteers, or in the case of the Master Classes, as business mentors.

Caroline Lucas MP said, ‘It was great to see how this amazing project has progressed. The new American Express Community Stadium really is an extraordinary building and a great asset to the city.  Albion in the Community has won many awards and accolades for its work in the community and further afield.  It is clear that a lot of effort is going into making sure the stadium is genuinely a community facility.  The project shows the potential of football to effect and help improve people's lives. It can reach people more quickly and effectively than traditional methods.’

The MP continued, ‘I was also impressed to see how American Express employees in Brighton are getting involved in many of the projects, making this feel very much like a bottom up, grass-roots led initiative."