Young footballers have been trying to embed themselves more in their community by helping a North East Alzheimer's society.
The relationship between football and dementia is being researched, particularly the impact of heading the ball.
A workshop organised by Dementia Friends was held with Belinda Williams from Alzheimer's UK.
All of the members of the Middlesbrough FC Under 12s team became dementia friends.
The boys asked to bring the dementia group to the academy and be part of the team creating the allotments.
It took just two weeks for the raised beds to be built and the whole community got involved providing the resources needed.
Catherine Boggon, a community volunteer, said: "With sponsorship from MKM for the building materials and using contacts from the local community, wood, compost and plants were secured.
"Within two weeks the raised beds were built.
"Former academy manager David Parnaby and his lifelong friend John Malkin have been the architects and engineers with the project.
"The local community have followed the same theme in “giving” and the whole project has to date cost nothing.
"A wet day saw the Under 12s and volunteers from the local Alzheimer’s group based in Darlington plant up the beds.
"One volunteer rode all the way from Darlington on his electric trike.
"Laughter and chat was the order of the day with a natural flow to the conversation about cooking, herbs, vegetables and football.
"The older members were able to talk about nurturing and growing vegetables."
The produce grown will be donated to Middlesbrough Football Club foundation foodbanks to help our local community, this is another element of giving suggested by the U12s.
Chris McEwan, deputy leader of Darlington Council, said: "As a local councillor I'm really keen on dementia awareness.
"Darlington is a dementia friendly town. It's an important mission for me, as it was when I was Mayor and as a ward councillor.
"It's lovely to see young footballers getting involved making raised beds for people in Darlington living with dementia.
"It's important for lads in the academy to have these projects to work on.
"I'm really proud of what we have achieved."
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