The Trust are delighted to share that they have been successful in receiving a grant from The Premier League Fans Fund.
The purpose of the grant is to provide Premier League and EFL Clubs and their charitable arms with the means to improve social connections and match-day experiences. We aim to develop a sense of belonging whilst developing levels of inclusivity for all supporters, whether it be their first or one thousandth football fixture.
The “Town Together” programme aims to tackle inequalities through community cohesion, covering areas like equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), mental health and wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
The project will be delivered across three key focus areas:
- The Clothes Kiosk will launch in February 2024, providing a safe space for local residents to donate their unwanted, useable items of clothing whilst also being able to put in requests for clothes packages for adults and children.
- In our efforts to help tackle social isolation, we will be developing “Knit and Natter” groups in Wyre, working closely with the Primary care Networks and health services to identify those who benefit from weekly interaction through purposeful activity.
- Finally, we will deploy our “Town Transfers” programme aiming to engage with members of our Wyre communities who don’t access football fixtures because of the limited transport links available causing a critical barrier. Trust staff will operate a pick and drop-off service for beneficiaries to access again working with the crucial health services and identifying those residents who would greatly benefit. The pickup service will be accompanied with a match day ticket to a Saturday league game followed by a hot beverage and the opportunity to socialise with like-minded people.
Community Trust Chief Executive Officer, John Hartley explained: “This fund will enable both the Club and Trust to join forces in improving our match day offering to supporters, ensuring there is improved accessibility, inclusion and engagement.
"We welcome feedback from the Cod Army fan base on match day experiences and aim to ensure that Highbury Stadium becomes a fortress whilst celebrating our existing fan base and welcoming new supporters from across our communities to get a taste of the action for the very first time.”