The Club are delighted to announce the inception of a Community Sports Trust that will serve the local people of Bridgwater and the surrounding area.
Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust, in partnership with Bridgwater United FC, aims to provide all members of the local community with the opportunity to access a range of programmes including quality sport, physical activity, and wellbeing regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. Using football as the driving force we aim to increase participation in schools, improve health and wellbeing through programmes that engage the whole of the community.
Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust (BUCST) is a Community interest company (CIC), not for profit entity, ensuring that all revenue received is used for the development of activities and opportunities for the local Community.
Working in partnership with its parent club, BUCST will strategically deliver the Club’s ethos of being a community and family orientated club. The relationship between the club and the Trust is extremely strong and reaches out to children, teenagers, adults, families and the older generation, allowing everyone to feel close to their local football club. Feeling part of the club will be different for different stakeholders, what this means for an 8-year-old participant will be different from what it means for a whole school or an adult. Projects are developed and delivered to meet stakeholder’s demands and requirements.
Ewan Greenhill, Chief Operations Director of Bridgwater United FC and the Community Sports Trust comments “Bridgwater’s local community is, and always has been the beating heart of this football club. The Trust will provide projects, activities and visits to the local and wider community, not only using the Stadium but also within areas of the conurbation. By working collaboratively with our partners and ensuring high quality delivery from a dedicated and hardworking team of staff, trustees and volunteers, we are confident that we can continue to play our part in making a positive difference in our community”.
Heading up BUCST will be newly appointed Community Development Manager, Oli Moore. Moore, who will join The Trust from Chelsea FC Foundation in early May 2021, will provide a wealth of experience of Community Sports Trust delivery and operations. A St Mary’s University graduate born and bred in Somerset, Oli has experience with Somerset FA and The FA’s Youth Council whilst also being a recipient of The FA Inspire Award.
Oli Moore, Incoming Head of the community Sports Trust comments “The launch of the Community Sports Trust marks a truly exciting phase in the club’s development and is a real cornerstone of the club’s drive to be a catalyst for positive change in the local community. BUCST aims to build a stronger and more United community through a wide range of innovative and accessible programmes including employability, education, inclusion and physical activity. I am very excited to get started and bring the Trust’s huge potential to a reality.”
Bob Buckingham, Chairman of Bridgwater United FC and the Sports Trust comments “The creation and development of our Community Sports Trust is a major step forward and further demonstrates our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community as we continue the exciting journey of creating the infrastructure on which our future success will be built.”
For more information about how to support the Community Sports Trust or for further information, please email: community@BridgwaterUnitedfc.com. A dedicated website for the Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust will launch soon
