Derby County Community Trust recently released its 2019 Annual Report, which details the achievements of Derby County Football Club’s charitable arm in its most impactful year to date.
Over 45 programmes have been delivered to over 30,000 participants, from brand new projects including the popular Sensory Room at Pride Park Stadium all the way through to long-standing children’s coaching and school delivery programmes.
The reach of the Community Trust continues to grow year-on-year, with six key departments delivering on the core mission statement of ‘using the power of Derby County Football Club to improve lives and communities through sport, physical activity, health and education.’
The broad range of projects from across these departments – Schools and Coaching, NCS, Health, Inclusion, Education and Events – sees participants range from birth right the way to centenarians within care home support sessions.
A key development of 2019 saw the Community Trust, last year’s EFL Community Club of the Year, establish a new network of partners with Derby’s Cultural and Education Partners through the Department for Education’s Opportunity Area fund.
This saw the single biggest ever investment into the charity at £1 million, which led to the year-long ‘This Is Derby’ project between the sports and arts in the city, working with almost 3000 youngsters from Derby’s most deprived wards.
Further funding from organisations including the Premier League, the EFL Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, Department for Work and Pension and Sport England has taken the total investment from Derby County Community Trust into Derbyshire’s communities to over £3 million in 2019.
Simon Carnall, Head of Community at Derby County Community Trust, said: “Not only do the numbers show that our outreach is growing, but the quality of these interactions remains central to the work we deliver. We pride ourselves on being a values and participant-led organisation who can adapt to the ever-changing needs of our city and county.
“As ever, the support of Derby County Football Club is paramount to the difference we are able to make in Derby and Derbyshire and each year we look back proudly on what we have achieved through the power of the badge, and look forward to seeing another year of development, growth and success.”
Stephen Pearce, Derby County Chief Executive Officer and trustee of Derby County Community Trust, added: “Speaking on behalf of the Board, as trustees we are not just proud of an organisation that sticks to its roots and inspires children to take part in sport, but continually amazed by how far projects now range from this starting point.
“Rehabilitation activities, producing future England stars for Disability squads and supporting record numbers of students through their post-16 education and degrees; these are just a few examples of the ever-evolving work the staff do, and they should be proud of their everyday achievements.
“This year’s report highlights some of those resounding success stories, some emotive and inspiring challenges our participants meet, and above all underlines the brilliant work done by the charitable arm of Derby County Football Club to make futures brighter right across the county.”
You can read the full report here or request a copy be contacting community@dcct.co.uk – and don’t forget to visit derbycountycommunitytrust.com for more information.