A key point on the Club’s customer charter is that they ‘will maximise the club’s contribution to the community’ which they do through support for the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust (BFCCST), previously Brentford FC Football in the Community which was established in 1987. A collaborative working group called One Brentford has been established consisting of BFCCST, Griffin Park Learning Zone, and other parties within the club. One Brentford meets regularly to discuss current projects and business opportunities for further partnership work.
Getting to know the local community
Key figures from both the club and BFCCST play an active role in the local community, developing a deeper understanding of the social issues that are most pressing to the area and helping coordinate responses to them. The club has a presence on a number of local and national steering committees including the Brentford Chamber of Commerce, Supporters Direct, the Ealing and Hounslow Community Sport and Activity Network, Pro-Active West London and The National Football League Trust advisory group.
Working in partnership to address social issues
Brentford FC and BFCCST work with a variety of public, private and voluntary sector partners to engage and offer opportunities to the local community. Using 'participation through partnership' as its theme, BFCCST aims to offer inclusive sporting, vocational and educational opportunities to local people.
Through these partnerships, the club is supporting key social issues that are pressing to the local community but also which offer a significant opportunity for the club to make a real impact. Key areas of focus are unemployment, social exclusion, lack of access to sport for disabled people and raising attainment levels amongst students.
Making a lasting difference to local communities
A strong feature of Brentford FC’s CommunityMark application was the ability to demonstrate clear aspirations and targets for each of its community projects, and evidence that it is tracking progress towards achieving these targets.
The club has also made some significant commitments to the future development of community activities, through the introduction of new community projects to tackle issues such as childhood obesity, increasing the engagement with minority and vulnerable groups improving the management and delivery of existing community investment activities.
For details about the projects and community initiatives that led to Brentford FC achieving the CommunityMark, please visit www.brentfordfc.co.uk
