Swans strengthen Trust links
10th August
Swansea City has strengthened its links with the club's Community Trust.
The Trust, formerly known as Football In The Community, has appointed Swans' directors Leigh Dineen and Huw Cooze to its board of Trustees.
Swans Vice-Chairman Dineen will chair the board of the Trust while Supporters Trust Director Cooze becomes a Trustee.
As part of the revitalisation of the Trust, a SwansAid fund has been created for special projects within the community.
To kickstart SwansAid, and to celebrate the Swans being the focal point of the community for 100 years, the club has made a £70,000 donation to the fund.
Over the coming weeks the Trust will announce a few of its fundraising initiatives and will also release information on how to apply for grants.
The club is currently working on a new commercial website and once this is launched all Community Trust information will be found there.
In addition to financial backing from the Swans the Trust will also benefit from staff resources. This Swans' support will help the Trust to achieve its ambitious targets when it adopts the Premier League's 'Strategy for School Sport' project.
Dineen said: "It is vitally important that the football club becomes more involved in the day-to-day running of the Trust to help reach its goals. After all it is the charitable arm of the club and over the years has been overlooked - this will now change.
"We will not only help the Trust financially through donation and fundraising but also through staff resources, with the commercial department playing a key role in this.
"In the past The Community Trust has primarily created a positive impact in the community on our behalf by not only working with children but also, through some its schemes, with other groups such as disabled people, ethnic minorities and young offenders.
"Obviously this work will continue but in the near future we also want to expand our presence in our community to reach everyone where we can. With it being our centenary year it is apt that we now look to try and do this.
"Firstly, we are planning to adopt the Premier League 'Strategy for School Sport'. This will be a three-year project in which we hope to engage with every primary school in our area.
"The aim is to deliver a school curriculum based on physical literacy/activity, fundamental movement and sport coaching. Whilst we are there we also hope to pass on some other important messages to benefit the children.
"Secondly, the Trust will become a grant-making body and manage a new fund called SwansAid. It will be a fund that will give aid where we can for special projects which will enhance our local community."
What is Swansea City AFC Community Trust?
The Community Trust is a registered charity, and the non-profit making organisation is backed by the Professional Footballers Association.
By promoting the positive side of football to youngsters, and encouraging them to support their local football club, the Trust is able to show them the benefits of teamwork and good citizenship. During school holidays the Trust operates football courses to help keep children healthy and encourage them to spend their time constructively.
Apart from their work with children, the Trust actively works with other groups in society such as disabled people, ethnic minorities and young offenders.
