Derby County Community Trust’s Annual Awards returned to Pride Park Stadium on Thursday night, celebrating and rewarding participants, volunteers and partners who consistently embody the Community Trust’s core values.
The Community Trust works with over 25,000 people each year through over 40 different programmes that improve the lives and communities of local people through sport, physical activity, health and education.
Senior club officials, including owner David Clowes, Chief
Executive Officer Stephen Pearce, Chief Operating Officer Simon Carnall, Head
Coach Paul Warne, Assistant Head Coach Richie Barker and Club Ambassador Roy
McFarland, were in attendance.
This year, eight awards were awarded to standout individuals.
The winners were:
Volunteer of the Year: Estelle Leckie
School of the Year: Roe Farm Primary School
Special Recognition: Derby 10k
Inclusion Champion: Karen Chamberlain
Participant of the Year: Freddie Taylor
Education Champion: Isaac Goodman
Employee of the Year: Sara Adcock and Emma Pilgrim
Programme of the Year: Live It and Active Schools
Three members of the Derby County Community Trust staff team were also presented with length of service awards as recognition for 10 years’ service.
Long term partners of the Community Trust, Smith Partnership, returned as headline sponsors for the third year.
Paul Newman, Head of Community at the Community Trust, said: “It's our favourite night of the year. We just get chance to celebrate our participants and staff in the company of partners and anyone connected with Derby County Community Trust. We would like to thank all our sponsors particularly headline sponsor Smith Partnership who are in their third year of sponsoring and Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd for their ongoing support for the Community Trust.”
Bally Atwal, Trustee of the Community Trust and Partner at Smith Partnership, added: “As a Trustee, I get to see first-hand the amazing work that the Community Trust delivers daily, and the commitment and enthusiasm of staff and volunteers that improves lives of those in our communities. Everyone constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty and it's an honour and a privilege for Smith Partnership to continue their support of this evening and throughout the other projected delivered each year.”
The evening also saw the launch of the Community Trust’s new colour palette. By bringing the Community Trust colour palette to align with the identity colours of Derby County Football Club, it further demonstrates their strong and ongoing relationship.