ORIENT: Gong for club's community efforts (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

ORIENT: Gong for club's community efforts

11:48am Tuesday 31st March 2009 in Orient Pictures

LEYTON ORIENT FC has won a gong for its community work at a national awards ceremony.

The club's community sports programme (LOCSP) scooped the award for League One Sports Community Club of the year, last Sunday.

Figures from LOCSP and the club collected the prize at a gala dinner in Grosvenor House in Park Lane, in front of more than 800 people, including famous faces from the world of football and broadcasting.

LOCSP's work spans six north London boroughs. Up to 250,000 people take part in one of its activities every year.

LOCSP chief executive Neil Taylor said: We are thrilled to be recognised for the work we do. It's timely we have been recognised in our 20th year by the world of football. We were up against some strong competition."

LOCSP triumphed against Brighton Hove Albion, Colchester Utd, Oldham Athletic, Southend.

Its forty staff have combined to organise a number of community initiatives which use sports such as basketball, hand ball and football too, to provide help with skills, education, and training.

Orient fans' favourite and Walsall striker Jabo Ibhere was first noticed on a football based scheme called LOASS which was organised by LOCSP.