CHANGING PAVILIONS
FOCUS ON CHANGING PAVILIONS Over the years, many footballers have become accustomed to getting changed in car parks or dark and dingy changing rooms. Often facilities have also been completely inadequate for the provision of girls’ football and bereft of any appropriate space for match officials. Last year, the Foundation helped to deliver 36 new changing pavilions. The pavilions have helped to deliver a safe, secure space for community footballers, whilst also providing clubs with superb hospitality areas to use as social spaces for the local community.
BACT FROM THE DEAD ‘WASTELAND’ TRANSFORMED INTO COMMUNITY HUB Burton Albion Football Club’s charitable arm, Burton Albion Community Trust (BACT), can show first-hand how the impact of a new community sports centre has the potential to go far beyond sport itself. Located on grounds that were previously described as ‘wasteland’, BACT now provide a base at the heart of the Burton upon Trent community, delivering a wide scale of work, aimed at inspiring, engaging and educating local people.
“ THE HUB IS ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE AND HAS BECOME A FOCAL POINT WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY - IT REALLY IS CHANGING LIVES.”
The Burton Albion Community Football Centre – which was opened in September 2017 by Burton Albion manager, Nigel Clough, along with club chairman, Ben Robinson – plays host to 58 different local organisations.This includes an FA-affiliated coaching education programme, an FA coaching academy for 16-18-year-olds and an apprentice framework to deliver employment pathways to local students. A number of local users have also benefitted from the changing provision, including Stretton Eagles FC, Outwoods FC and the Burton Junior Football League, with over 130 community football teams using the site for matches.
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FOCUS ON THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Matt Hancock, Head of Community at Burton Albion Community Trust, said: “Over the years, the club have played a fundamental role in the delivery of life-changing outreach work within the local community but our hands were slightly tied by the lack of adequate facilities.
“This new facility has enabled us to transform our scope and target provision to parts of our community that needed the most support. The hub is absolutely unique and has become a focal point within the local community – it really is changing lives.”
