Friends Of The Trust – Inspiring Healthier, More Connected Communities
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Fleetwood Town FC Community Trust is excited to provide an end of season business development update, with growth across our CSR partnerships, business networking and fundraising.
CSR Partnerships Driving Social Value Growth
This Friends Of The Trust initiative began more than 18 months ago with our first patron “Appletree Finance Ltd” and continues to grow with 16 organisational patrons assisting the Trust to deliver an additional £400,000 of Social Value to the communities of Wyre, Fleetwood and The Fylde Coast.
Our aim is to continue to grow ‘Friends Of The Trust’ as a virtuous funding stream consisting of organisations local, UK wide and internationally all wanting to assist the Trust and the communities we serve, ultimately helping to make the Trust less reliant on grants (that in this current political climate are being drastically reduced).
The Friends of The Trust patronage has strengthened our delivery and standing in the communities we serve, aiding the delivery of even more Social Value than initially budgeted e.g. we were able to stock the cupboards of over a thousand individuals and family members with donated food for Xmas 2024, facilitating Transport to Matches for members of the community who have difficulties leaving their homes enabling them to attend Fleetwood Town FC games.
Fan & Corporate – Player Sponsorship
Working with Fleetwood Town FC we have managed Player Sponsorship for fans and corporate sponsors. Sponsors were able to take advantage of opportunities to have lunch with their sponsored player, signed match worn shirts were given to sponsors at the end of the season, sponsors also have their names on the Clubs websites next to their sponsored player.
We have seen fan and player relationships developing into friendships during these interactions.
Friends Of The Trust Quarterly Meetings
Our ‘Friend Of The Trust’ quarterly meetings have grown from strength to strength beginning in March 2024 with 20 businesses in attendance to now approaching 60 businesses from across the region and UK wide. Through regular networking and collaborative fundraising the ‘Friends Of The Trust’ continues to create valuable Social Value success for our shared communities.
Fundraising Events
Mid-2024 it was decided that a more measured approach to how the Trust organised, worked towards, delivered and thanked those contributing to the numerous events planned for 2024 into 2025.
Events delivered:
- October 2024 our now annual Charity Dinner sponsored by Ruby Energy where we were able to hear from individuals who benefit from the programmes and activities delivered by the Trust.
- Xmas 2024 over a thousand individuals in need, supplied with food! Due to the number of donations received being far greater than anticipated we were able to reach the afore mentioned numbers also enabling us to further donate top foodbanks in the region.
- February 2025 Veterans Walk For Wellbeing, Fleetwood to Morecambe raising funds to continue the support The Trust offers to veterans in the region.
- February 2025 Sleepout at Highbury Stadium,
This summer FTCT Open Golf Tournament will be hosting teams for organisations countrywide. With Friends of the Trust, Tower Insurance Brokers, insuring the hole in one reward to the tune of £10,000 and Evolutions JJ Fitzgerald donating an African Safari to the player who gets closest to pin.
A message from our Business Development Manager, Michael Edwards:
“From a standing start The Trust is now engaging and working with businesses, galvanising community solidarity with Social Value. Initiated in 2023 with our 1st ever “Friend Of The Trust” we shall endeavour to continue this good work and expand our reach utilising relationships.
“I would like to personally thank everyone involved for their incredible support. We are excited to continue this journey together and look forward to an even stronger future.”
