statement
Aberdeen Football Club has confirmed a major change in the coordination and delivery of its many community activities with the establishing of the Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT), a standalone charitable organisation that will enable relevant community activities to significantly expand within the city and throughout the north east of Scotland.
Pittodrie Vice Chairman and a member of the new Board of Trustees George Yule commented. “Aberdeen FC Community Trust will ultimately replace AFC’s community operation, AFC in the Community, in order to more effectively develop locally focussed projects and initiatives, both football and non-football, and, while maintaining a close and mutually supportive relationship with AFC, will operate under the direction of its own independent Board of Trustees, with entirely separate governance and financial control.
“Our vision is to provide support and opportunity to change lives for the better and that will be achieved through areas such as Positive Activity, Health & Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion, Good Citizenship and Learning.”
AFC’s Head of Community Ally Prockter, who has been managing this significant move to charitable status, added. “The vast majority of AFCCT activities will involve complementary partnership working and relationships already exist with several stakeholders including NHS Grampian; Aberdeen City & Shire; HMP Grampian; Sport Aberdeen; Scottish Football Association; SPFL Trust; Community Justice Division of the Scottish Government; Aberdeen Council for Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) and many other organisations.
“Aberdeen FC Community Trust will initially operate from within Pittodrie Stadium, as utilisation of AFC’s brand and facilities will be a unique aspect of AFCCT’s charitable provision. It is planned that this close working relationship will continue with the Trust always having a presence within the club’s stadium while, dependent on the scale of growth, it is reasonable to anticipate that additional accommodation may be required. Community activities are currently provided at a variety of community based facilities across the north east and this will continue to be the case.”
Chairperson of the AFCCT Trustees is Duncan Skinner. “The establishment of the Charitable Trust is an extremely exciting development and will enable initiatives to be embarked upon that, under the AFC in the Community banner, would previously have posed insurmountable challenges. The AFCCT mission is ‘to be a participative and identifiable organisation working effectively with others in order to primarily improve health and wellbeing, education, equality and to enhance social cohesion. To constantly strive to impact positively on communities and individuals to improve and enhance life choices.’ The fantastic calibre and variety of skill sets within my fellow Trustees will, I have absolutely no doubt, ensure the positive influence of the Trust will have a substantial impact in all areas of our community going forward.”
Joining Duncan on the Board of Trustees are Barry Douglas, Edel Harris, Jill Harris, David Johnston, Jim Knowles, Gregory Poon MBE, Len Taylor, Adrian Watson and George Yule.
Current AFC in the Community initiatives that will eventually be delivered by Aberdeen FC Community Trust include Football Fans in Training (FFIT), participative Soccer Schools and Holiday Football Programmes, Still Game, Community Roadshows, TACC Footy Tea, Walking Football and Matchday Club.
