The Foundation has released the Annual Review of 2017-18.
The review covers programmes and services in Football and Sports Development, Community Development, Further Education and the National Citizen Service, highlighting the continued progress we made this year.
A variety of new projects were added to existing services we currently deliver, addressing important issues in local and regional areas to help improve our communities.
In 2017-18 alone, we invested almost £500,000 of external funding into Crawley and surrounding areas to deliver sessions in health & wellbeing, sports participation, equalities & inclusion, education, enterprise, employment and skills, as well as regeneration and community safety.
We invested £375,000 in 2016-17 and £100,000 in 2015-16.
In 3 years, we have managed to invest close to £1,000,000 into Crawley and surrounding areas.
In the annual review, we are able to illustrate the social value of the services we provide in the community.
The social value calculator accurately measures the impacts to the community and the savings made to the public purse from a cross section of our programmes.
The figure rose from £466,787 in 2016-17 to £523,093 in 2017-18.
There was also an increase in the number of participants in sessions.
The number of participants registered topped 3,160 registered users of our services, of who attended 36,108 times in the 2017-18.
Add a further 319 events we were involved with, together with over 36,000 in aggregate attendance, and our reach into Crawley and surrounding areas is quite remarkable.
These figures continue to grow year in and year out.
Our participants have been the most important factor to this continued success, and the community has taken advantage of some exciting projects, programmes and services.
Move the Goalpost is a programme designed to support those with mental health difficulties or at risk of experiencing mental health difficulties.
One participant said, “I have enjoyed meeting new people, and it has helped me be more positive already. Move the Goalposts allows me to be me in a place where people don’t judge anyone and I feel comfortable”.
Soccer Schools are fun football and sports activities delivered at Broadfield Stadium during the school holidays.
A parent of a Soccer School participant said, “He feels part of the club- part of a proper club, and has such a great sense of pride in that. He loves to tell anyone who will listen that he is a part of the club”.
The Traineeship is a 12-week programme to provide participants opportunities to develop skills and gain qualifications for long-term employment opportunities.
A past trainee said, “My experience taking part in the traineeship was extremely beneficial for me as it helped me understand the football Industry and the way a fully functioning EFL Club like Crawley Town FC works”.
Giovanni Porciatti completed the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport, and now coaches for the Foundation and trains with Crawley Town FC.
He said, “The course teaches you everything you need to know about football and understanding your body in order to play to your best and achieve what you want in your career.
I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to play with Crawley Town FC, and I am lucky enough to train with the first team. The BTEC National Diploma in Sport at Crawley Town FC helped me get to where I am today.”
All of the programmes and services we provide was achieved through close relationships with the English Football League Trust, Premier League Charitable Fund, Crawley Town FC and Crawley Borough & West Sussex County Councils, as well as many more partners who have helped us achieve the successes of this past year.
Birtug Kazim, Community CEO, said, “None of this would be possible without the enthusiasm and support of our members and participants, the commitment and passion of our professional and dedicated team of staff, sessional workers and trustees, and the trust and backing from our national, regional and local partners and funders”.
Chair of the Foundation, Vic Marley added, “We are committed and focused on developing the community through a range of programmes and services based on health & wellbeing, sports participation, equalities and inclusion, education, enterprise, employment and skulls, regeneration and community safety – working through local regional and national partnerships.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of the entire Foundation team who have been magnificent throughout. They have not only been an inspiration to me but also to the local community that they serve”.
If you would like more details or would like a copy of the Annual Review, please email community@crawleytownfc.com
Or head over to our website for an online copy: www.ctcommunityfoundation.com
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