IT is 10 years since Blackburn Rovers Community Trust became a charity it its own right – and it is safe to say it continues to go from strength to strength.

That is reflected in the awards the Community Trust has won.

Last year it was named both the Johnstone’s Paint North West Community Club of the Year at the Football League Awards and the Community Club of the Year (outside the Premier League) at the Northwest Football Awards.

It is also reflected in the statistics that shows the reach of its programmes which, using the Rovers brand, aim to engage with and create life-changing opportunities for people, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexuality, in Blackburn and Darwen and beyond.

Last year 26,603 participants took part in a diverse series of projects run by the Community Trust which spent £670,000 on the local community. That figure is expected to hit £1m this year.

It is also reflected in the fact that the Community Trust, a not-for-profit organisation which is entirely self-funded, is fully sustainable, employing 23 full-time and two part-time staff out of its bases at the Indoor Centre and the Enterprise Centre at Ewood Park.

But its real success comes not in awards or statistics. It comes in the individuals whose lives have been altered for the better, improved or turned around completely.

Individuals who have signed up for innovative and inspirational programmes like the Creative Support Football League and Motivate!

“We use the brand of Blackburn Rovers to its fullest effect in the community to create positive social change and opportunity,” said Gary Robinson, who has been the Community Trust’s chief executive since January 2013.

“That’s the key thing because there’s a person out there in Blackburn and Darwen who needs an opportunity to change their life.

“We’ve got many good case studies of all generations and all ages who have come and got involved in a project because it’s Blackburn Rovers. The love for the football club has got them involved in something they may not have wanted to do.

“We’ve been doing that for 10 years and there’s more to come for at least the next 10.”

The Community Trust sources funding from key partners including the Premier League, the EFL Trust and Sport England.

It is currently running 40 projects including a BTEC Diploma in Sport and Futsal, which gives 16-19-year-old football fans the chance to study at Ewood Park and become a Blackburn Rovers futsal scholar, and Kinder + Sport Move and Learn, which encourages children to take part in physical activity, build awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and adopt an active lifestyle.

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“Our range of programmes are wider and more diverse than ever,” said Robinson who is pictured above with David Dunwell at a Westminster reception alongside Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, celebrating the Community Trust’s success at delivering the Kinder + Sport Move and Learn programme.

“We’ve created a new programme like Motivate! This inclusive project is completely unique to Blackburn Rovers. It’s Sport England-funded, it’s about engaging with the groups like the over 50s, woman and girls, and getting them into sport.

“Then there’s young people who necessarily aren’t on the straight and narrow. They may be involved in crime, or drugs and alcohol abuse, and seeing them engage with us, and come on to our programmes, and make that life-changing moment happen for them, and then seeing themselves compared to where they were, that is why we do this and that is what makes us most proud.

“Creative Support is another good example that has changed so many people’s lives for the better. It is a league that supports people with mental health concerns or issues. Mental health concerns are a real issue within Blackburn and Darwen. People get isolated for one reason or another so to create something that brings people together is one of our biggest achievements.”

Robinson, who also has 30 volunteers on his staff, continued: “It’s not about making money. Awards are great for staff morale and good for allowing other organisations and funding providers to have confidence in us.

“But we’re here to change people’s lives for the better or give them the opportunity to change. To achieve this, we’ve had to become a more inclusive and diverse organisation by working with as many different parts of our community as possible

“One thing you can say about the Community Trust is we have definitely achieved that over the last 10 years and we’ll continue to make a big difference to local people.

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“We do it quite quietly. That’s what we have to change. We probably don’t shout enough about what we do here. We have to respect the privacy of the users of our services but we can shout about what we do.

“If the fans knew everything we did, and the case studies we have to deal with, then I’m sure they’d be incredibly proud of what their football club brand is doing for their community.”

The Community Trust is independent from the football club, with an independent board headed up by chairman George Root, but Robinson, who speaks daily with director Mike Cheston, cannot praise Rovers enough for the support they provide.

In turn the Community Trust has taken over the sponsorship of the new Family Stand at Ewood Park, which includes the all-new GAME Room.

“I think it’s a fantastic investment from us as a charity,” said Robinson, whose organisation works closely with Blackburn Youth Zone, Abu Hanifah Foundation and local schools and colleges.

“We sometimes struggle to get our brand out there so for us to put our name to what I think is one of the best family areas in the EFL is fantastic.

“I’ve been to nearly every stadium in English football and the GAME room is incredible. We have some terrific community partners in GAME and McDonald’s who are supporting that family ethos. We have some terrific community partners in GAME and McDonald’s who are supporting that family ethos.

“We’re honoured to be playing our part in the matchday experience and I encourage any family with young children to experience the family stand and FanZone.

“Blackburn Rovers means so much to people and we see that out in the community every day.”

  •  Anybody wishing to get involved with Blackburn Rovers Community Trust as a participant, partner or volunteer is welcome to contact 01254 508 256, email Martin.Winters@brfrctrust.co.uk or pop in at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre or the Enterprise Centre on the first floor of the Darwen End Stand at Ewood Park.