2021 ANNUAL REPORT NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
, 32 834 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT
CONTENTS
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04 WHO WE ARE
05 MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
06 OUR PEOPLE
08 SUPPORTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING
14 TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
18 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
22 SUCCESS STORIES
27 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
28 KEY PARTNERS AND INVESTORS
30 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
WHO WE ARE NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST IS A VISIONARY, AUTHENTIC ORGANISATION THAT INSPIRES COMMUNITIES TO THINK AND DREAM BIG. We support individuals and communities throughout Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by connecting them to opportunities and pathways within training, education, and employment. Our culture remains focused on promoting both physical and mental wellbeing and we take pride in being advocates of living healthy lifestyles. We’re passionate about supporting a diverse range of groups across the city and county and play a significant role in creating stronger, safer and happier communities.
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
2021 WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN OUR HISTORY. Since we were launched as Nottingham Forest Football Club’s official charity in 2010, we have strived to deliver increased positive impact year on year in our local communities and to create a financially sustainable organisation whose purpose is to serve the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to the best of our ability. That is our purpose. 2022 will see the Trust working harder than ever doing much more to support local people and communities with a specific focus on helping those in the greatest need. Our purpose remains the same. 2022 will see the launch of ambitious plans to play an increased strategic role across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire working collaboratively with the Private, Public and Third Sectors. Our priorities will be informed by extensive consultation with our people, partners, stakeholders, and investors and based on insight and data that shows us where we can make the greatest difference in our local communities. 2021 may have been the most successful year in our history, but we want to do much more for the benefit of our local people and communities in 2022.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
GRAHAM MORAN, BEM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
“NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST HAS GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND THAT IS NO ACCIDENT. THE TRUST IS FUELLED BY THE PASSION, DETERMINATION, AND DRIVE OF EVERYONE INVOLVED. THE PANDEMIC HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A CATALYST SPRING BOARDING THE TRUST INTO EXCITING NEW AREAS AND EVEN WITH THE BACKDROP OF UNCERTAINTY THE TRUST HAS FLOURISHED DELIVERING ANOTHER YEAR OF TARGET BUSTING OUTCOMES WHICH ONLY GO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE WE SERVE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES, THE SENIOR TEAM AND STAFF AT THE TRUST, OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND THE CLUB FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF AND TO BUILD ON.” KAREN FRANKLAND CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
OUR PEOPLE
WITHOUT OUR PEOPLE, WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE MANY SUCCESSES WE’VE ENJOYED THROUGHOUT THE PAST 12 MONTHS. OUR EMPLOYEES, TRUSTEES, PATRONS AND ADVISORS REPRESENT THE TRUST ACROSS MANY WALKS OF LIFE AND THEIR DEDICATION IS INTEGRAL TO OUR POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT AND DELIVERING ON OUR AMBITION OF IMPROVING LIVES. Individual input is vital while collectively, we work together as one team to create positive change alongside our colleagues at Nottingham Forest Football Club. This cross-club cohesion allows us to be the best we can possibly be as we continually look to develop, enhance and grow the organisation and take the lead as innovators, with a willingness to push boundaries.
TRUSTEES • Karen Frankland (Chair) - Estates Lead & Projects Manager, Primary Integrated Community Services • Oonagh Turnbull - Head of Health Campaigns, Group Communications Strategy and Campaigns, Tesco • Alison Hands - Managing Director, Wilko • Judith Lyons - Group HR Director, City & County Healthcare Group • Iqbal Singh Sanghera - CEO, Sanghera Investments Ltd • Nicholas Randall QC - Chairman, Nottingham Forest FC
PATRONS • Sir John Peace - Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire • Sir David Nicholson - former Chief Executive, NHS England • John McGovern - Nottingham Forest Football Club 2x European Cup Winning Captain
ADVISORS
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
• Jason Lee - Senior Equalities Diversity & Inclusion Executive, The Professional Footballers’ Association • Sarah Retzlaff - Sport & Leisure Manager, Nottingham City Council • Sir David Greenaway - former Vice‑Chancellor, University of Nottingham • Colin Morrell - former Senior Partner, KPMG
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
, 19 460 PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING
Physical and mental wellbeing sits at the heart of everything we do - forming a core part of the Trust’s long-term purpose and delivery strategy. We’re proud of our comprehensive range of community programmes which encourage both physical and mental stimulation, motivating and supporting communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to the best of our ability. As a team, we remain focused on promoting and developing our programmes so that we can support people to live healthily and improve their quality of life.
194 6,902 4,440 2,582 58
1,119
VETERANS SUPPORTED
SOCCER SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS
08
FREE SCHOOL MEAL CHILDREN ENGAGED
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
HOURS OF OPERATION AT THE FOREST SPORTS ZONE
AVERAGE USERS PER WEEK AT THE FOREST SPORTS ZONE
TRICKY TO TALK MENTAL WELLBEING SESSIONS DELIVERED
ALWAYS MENTAL HEALTH AWARE To ensure that we continue to provide the best mental health support to our community, fans, club colleagues and partners, we recently inducted several members of our team in a bespoke Mental Health Awareness Training Course. Constant education around mental health is important, as we actively encourage individuals to continually take care of themselves and others. The training was delivered as part of our mental health and wellbeing programme ‘Tricky to Talk’ and equips our team with the skills to identify signs that someone may be experiencing poor mental health, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. The aim of the course is to support staff with increasing their knowledge of mental health issues, factors affecting mental health, stigma, recovery and how to look after their own mental wellbeing. We were delighted to see that shortly after completing their training, a member of the Trust was able to successfully intervene in and prevent a suicide attempt - putting their new knowledge and skills into practice in a real life scenario.
“HAVING COMPLETING THE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING COURSE, I NOW FEEL WELL EQUIPPED WITH BEING ABLE TO CARRY OUT AN INTERVENTION AND BELIEVE THESE SKILLS WILL REMAIN WITH ME FOR LIFE.” 09
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
ARRON CUTTRISS NFCT STAFF
VETERANS COMPLETE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING The Trust invited a select number of veterans to participate in a Veterans’ Mental Health First Aid training session to raise awareness of mental health problems that can occur within the armed forces community. The participants were welcomed to the City Ground and completed the half-day ‘Mental Health Aware’ course as part of the wider ‘Mental Health First Aid England’ programme. The session provided our veterans with the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of mental health as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to educate and reduce stigmas. By offering this training to our veterans, we were able to extend the reach of mental health awareness by combining our Forest Forces programme with Tricky to Talk.
“THIS SESSION IS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME VETERANS CAN HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AFTER LEAVING THE FORCES TRYING TO GET INTO CIVILIAN LIFE AGAIN. I’VE LEARNT HOW WIDE IT [MENTAL HEALTH] IS, HOW LITTLE I ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT IT AND HOW IN-DEPTH IT IS AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE SKILLS I’VE LEARNT FURTHER.” 10
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
SAM MITCHELL VETERAN
RTC PLAYERS SELECTED FOR FA TRIALS Nottingham Forest Regional Talent Club (RTC) had the pleasure of sending three of its players to the Football Association’s (FA) England Women’s’ Talent Pathway ‘Discovering Talent’ event. The Nottingham Forest RTC programme provides young players with access to an enhanced coaching centre for U12, U14 and U16 age groups. The weekly sessions create an opportunity for professional coaching staff to identify up-andcoming players - opening exciting pathways into elite-level football. Nottingham Forest Community Trust is one of over thirty national organisations operating an RTC and facilitates the successful administration and operation of the programme within the Nottingham area as part of the FA elite pathway programme. These talent clubs provide a great opportunity for the FA to identify players who have been referred through its Player Referral Process. The coaching sessions are just one of the ways we work to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for female players who have been recommended and have the potential to play for England’s Lionesses.
“THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING PART OF THE RTC IS THE QUALITY OF THE TRAINING AND HOW MUCH I HAVE PROGRESSED AS A PLAYER AND THE RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE FORMED WITH THE PLAYERS AND COACHES.” 11
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
AVA WILLIAMSON RTC PLAYER
CHAIR OF EFL TRUST OBSERVES IMPACT OF WALKING FOOTBALL The Nottingham Forest walking football programme has continued to see strong numbers week in, week out, as the walking footballers lace up their boots and take to the pitch no matter what the weather. Walking football gives participants the opportunity to play and train with like-minded individuals, play competitively in organised tournaments, or simply socialise and have fun while reconnecting with the game they love. The Trust recently welcomed the Chair of the English Football League Trust (EFLT), Liam Scully, to a session - taking time out of his busy schedule to watch the players in action. After the session, Liam had the chance to speak to participants about the positive impact the programme has had on their lives, with some of the players describing how it had improved their physical and mental wellbeing, while providing a beacon of light throughout the pandemic.
“IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC TO CATCH UP WITH THE NOTTINGHAM FOREST WALKING FOOTBALL GROUP TODAY AND HEAR ABOUT HOW THEIR SESSION PROVIDES A LIFT TO THEIR MOOD AND HAS POSITIVE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS SESSION IS ONE OF MANY THAT WILL DELIVER A POSITIVE IMPACT IN EFL COMMUNITIES.” 12
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
LIAM SCULLY CHAIR, EFL TRUST
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
4,406 FOOTBALL ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS DELIVERED
TRAINING, EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
By providing comprehensive training, education, and employment opportunities since our formation, we have continued to steer individuals and participants from all of our communities towards a world of new and exciting opportunities. From developing their skills to building their confidence, we ensure that people within our communities have the best chance at fulfilling their potential. Thanks to this culture, we continue to contribute to individual success stories, as well as a thriving local economy.
6,106
119
690
50
2,700
PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ENGAGED
TEACHERS SUPPORTED
POST-16 TUTORING HOURS
POST-16 STUDENTS
HOURS OF POST-16 WORK EXPERIENCE
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
THINK BIG LAUNCHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IDEAGEN Launched in partnership with Ideagen, Think Big is an innovative, technology-focused 5-year programme that connects young people to new opportunities and promotes the benefits of a career in tech for young people. Through this innovative partnership, we’re working to inspire young people from diverse communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and encouraging them to embrace a career in technology as a rewarding future career choice. The aim of the programme is to use the power of football to get young people interested in technology-based jobs as a viable, exciting, and rewarding career path. As well as technical skills, young people are taught softer skills that will support their employability prospects long-term. The programme consists of an introductory film, several workshops, advice from industry role models and exclusive competitions. In addition, students can benefit from visits to Ideagen’s Nottingham head office and the City Ground introducing students to the workplace where there will be an opportunity to take part in technology-based challenges.
“IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO CAREERS IN TECHNOLOGY. HAVING GROWN UP IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE MYSELF, I AM PASSIONATE THAT IDEAGEN AND NOTTINGHAM FOREST HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CAREER ASPIRATIONS AND SKILLS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT CITY.’’ 15
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
BEN DORKS CEO, IDEAGEN
PRACTICAL LEARNING WITH PREMIER LEAGUE PRIMARY STARS The Premier League Primary Stars programme has become a cornerstone of the Trust and we now partner with 16 local primary schools across Nottinghamshire. Our coaches visit schools on a weekly basis to provide dedicated support to teaching staff - including delivering PE sessions and hosting workshops around important life topics to encourage children to learn, be active and develop important life skills. Through these sessions, our coaches are able to underpin the Premier League’s values of being; ambitious, inspiring, connected and fair. We also hold Collapsed Curriculum Days, where school pupils attend sessions away from their timetabled classes - designed to enrich learning through a number of activities while exploring a range of themes and topics.
“THE NOTTINGHAM FOREST COACHES HAVE BECOME POPULAR MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL TEAMS AND THEY WORK REALLY WELL WITH BOTH PUPILS AND STAFF ALIKE. THE COACHES SCAFFOLD OUR PUPILS BY SUPPORTING IN ENGLISH AND MATHS LESSONS, AND THEY DEVELOP THE CHILDREN’S KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BE HEALTHY AND ACTIVE WHILE IMPROVING THEIR IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS THROUGH PRACTICAL PE ACTIVITIES WITHIN EACH CLASS.’’ 16
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
TONI HALL HEAD TEACHER, LEAS PARK JUNIOR SCHOOL
KICKSTART SUCCESS FOR TOM AND D’VARNE Two of our valued team members, Tom Park and D’Varne Edwards, joined the Trust in 2021 through the Government’s Kickstart scheme - which provides pathways into employment for young people aged 16-24 who receive Universal Credit and are at the risk of long-term unemployment. We’re delighted to announce that In December, Tom and D’Varne signed permanent contracts with the Trust in recognition for their hard work and are now full-time members of the team. Tom is now a coach at our weekly Premier League Kicks sessions, as well as Premier League Kicks Targeted, which includes running sessions at a young offenders’ institute. Meanwhile D’Varne has taken up the position of Facility Assistant at The Forest Sports Zone where he supports dayto-day operations of our world-class facilities. Well done to both!
“JOINING NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. AS MUCH AS THIS ROLE IS ABOUT SUPPORTING OTHER PEOPLE, IT HAS ALSO SUPPORTED ME IMPACTING MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, THE WAY I VIEW LIFE, MY HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING. I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE A PERMANENT PART OF THE TRUST AND IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO BE OFFERED A FULL-TIME ROLE.” 17
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
TOM PARK NCFT STAFF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
As a Trust, we continually strive to be a core part of our community - where people trust and recognise the impact we deliver. This includes providing ongoing community support through a number of channels in order to deliver and promote community cohesion and strength. By working closely with our valued partners, we’re able to adopt a dynamic approach that builds strong, resilient communities and encourages public participation in underpinning our core values of celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion.
1,500 4,500 £45K 312 57% 100% NFFC MATCH TICKETS GIVEN OUT
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
FOREST GOODIES GIVEN OUT
VALUE OF FOREST GOODIES GIVEN OUT
VIOLENCE REDUCTION SESSIONS
ETHNIC MINORITY USERS AT THE FOREST SPORTS ZONE
OF PARENTS WOULD BRING THEIR CHILD AGAIN TO THE HOLIDAY ACTIVITY & FOOD PROGRAMME
DELIVERING FUN, AND FOOD, DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS In partnership with Nottingham City Council and the Department for Education, we successfully delivered Free Fun and Food to children as part of our Holiday Activity and Food programme during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays. The largest programme in the Trust’s history, Free Fun and Food delivered enriching activities and healthy meals to thousands of local children and families in need of extra support during the school holidays. The programme aimed to reduce social isolation and ensure that attending participants were able to eat healthily and be active, while giving them the opportunity to take part in engaging and rewarding activities to support their resilience, character, wellbeing and educational development.
“THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC PROGRAMME THAT’S BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND FREE. MY THREE CHILDREN CAME HOME HAPPY AND I’M HAPPY THAT THEY GOT TO EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ROCK CLIMBING. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD NEVER GET TO TRY AS I CAN’T ALWAYS AFFORD TO PAY FOR EXTRA ACTIVITIES. 19
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
KELLY PARENT
PARTNERING WITH NOTTINGHAM HOSPITALS CHARITY Bringing the football community and the city’s NHS hospitals together is the mission of our new partnership with Nottingham Hospitals Charity - as we work together to raise money for healthcare initiatives across the city. Such initiatives include mental health support funding for young people through the Youth Service within Nottingham’s hospitals, and raising money to support our ongoing programme delivery. As the leading charity for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, Nottingham Hospitals Charity works tirelessly to fund improvements to patient care at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre, City Hospital, Ropewalk House and Nottingham Children’s Hospital. In 2021, we co-launched the first fundraising campaign of our new partnership, titled ‘Hat-Trick for Hospitals’. The initiative asked supporters and members of the public to set out three steps, or a hat-trick of tasks, towards raising £75 for our local NHS, with each participant taking away an exclusive Nottingham Forest shirt.
“NOTTINGHAM IS HOME TO BOTH SPORTING EXCELLENCE AND A MAGNIFICENT NHS, SO IT IS FITTING THAT THE TWO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE WHOLE OF NOTTINGHAM ON OUR SIDE TO HELP FUND CRUCIAL HEALTHCARE PROJECTS.” 20
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
BARBARA CATHCART CEO, NOTTINGHAM HOSPITALS CHARITY
JOINING FORCES, WITH FORCES IN THE COMMUNITY Throughout the summer, we partnered with Forces in the Community to provide free walking football sessions at Carlton le Willows Academy. The sessions aimed to further integrate armed forces veterans into society by providing free spaces for individuals aged 50+ whether they be ‘squaddie’ or ‘civvy’. The sessions took place every Monday for six weeks throughout August and September, in addition to our existing sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays at The Forest Sports Zone. Beeston-based Forces in the Community is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting our local ex-military community. Thanks to the dedication of their volunteers, staff, and partners, Forces in the Community improves the lives of those most in need within the community. The partnership became a catalyst for developing the Nottingham Forest Walking Football programme, which now hosts three sessions every week and has encouraged a wide range of participants to socialise, make new friends, remain active and enjoy something they love on a regular basis.
“THE SESSIONS BRING VETERANS TOGETHER THROUGH REGULAR ON-THE-PITCH ACTIVITIES. IT’S HELPED LIFT THE MOOD OF THOSE WHO MAY BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED OR FACE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION. IT ALSO BRINGS COMPANIONSHIP, FOCUS AND DISTRACTION AND OFFERS A TIME TO TALK TO OTHERS FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS WHO FACE SHARED WELLBEING CHALLENGES.” 21
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
MARK FORCES IN THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESS STORIES
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
BART LUCKHURST
GURU NANAK’S MISSION
A former RAF Chief Technician and now a Forest Forces participant, 80-year old Bart attends our walking football sessions on a regular basis. The sessions provide him with the opportunity to remain active and connect with fellow veterans and he has formed a strong relationship with the Trust.
As part of our Free Fun and Food programme we formed a strong partnership with Nottingham’s Guru Nanak’s Mission (GNM). GNM works across several Sikh Gurdwaras in Nottingham, providing “local service to local people in need, with one act of kindness.”
He frequently attends coffee mornings, day trips and activities and particularly enjoys the camaraderie with fellow ex-forces men and women. He regularly encourages veterans to sign up and get involved in the Forest Forces programme - which aims to tackle social isolation by providing regular activities and events that bring people together from different backgrounds and armed forces communities.
Throughout August and December, GNM’s volunteers served 1,800 meals to feed children and their families within the local community. This was the first time both charities had worked together and the positive experience has laid the foundations for a successful long-term partnership- adding value to the lives of families within our community.
“IT’S BEEN REALLY UPLIFTING TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS - I DIDN’T REALISE HOW NICE IT WOULD BE. I’M NOT A LONELY PERSON BUT IT’S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD MY WINGS. I’VE DONE THINGS I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BEFORE. WHILST I’M CONTENT WITH MY LIFE, FOREST FORCES HAS FULLY ENRICHED IT.”
“FREE FUN AND FOOD IS AN INVALUABLE PROGRAMME. I KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF CHILDREN WHO SADLY COME INTO SCHOOL WITHOUT THE NOURISHMENT THEY NEED, SO FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS TO RUN, WITH EVERYONE GETTING INVOLVED, MEANS THAT FAMILIES CAN BE SUPPORTED WHILE IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING OF LOCAL CHILDREN.”
BART
GNM VOLUNTEER
INDIA BRIAR
MAHI KAUR
MANN HANS
India is a regular participant at our Premier League Kicks sessions and has progressed to the Girls’ Regional Talent Club - representing Nottingham Forest at under 16 and senior development level. Her football journey began competing against boys at school and with it, followed the unnecessary stigma of being a girl playing football with boys. For India, football offers teenagers the opportunity to work hard, socialise, be ambitious and think about the future.
We first met Mahi at our Free Fun and Food programme. Mahi attended most of the sessions throughout the Summer and took part in activities she had never experienced before.
Mann plays walking football every Wednesday and Friday, come rain or shine. He first joined our sessions a year ago and throughout the pandemic, has continued to develop his skills and improve his physical wellbeing.
Her long-term goal is to become a professional footballer and both our PL Kicks and RTC programmes have become a catalyst for this ambition. India is driven and wants to stand out from the crowd by showing people that anything is possible with self-discipline, hard work, and dedication.
When she first arrived, her mother explained to us that she could be shy and might struggle to integrate herself with other children - especially as she was an only child. But within a matter of hours, Mahi flourished and was at the heart of the action - playing dodgeball, basketball, dancing and getting creative with our range of craft activities. It wasn’t long until we saw Mahi again at our Christmas sessions and once again, she threw herself into the activities - immersing herself in medievalthemed tasks and virtual reality workshops.
INDIA
“MAHI LOVES THE TEAM AND HAS MADE MANY FRIENDS IN THIS GROUP. I HOPE THE PROGRAMME CONTINUES THROUGHOUT FUTURE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. SHE’S NEVER TRIED BOXING AND NOW SHE LOVES IT AND IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING SHE MIGHT TAKE UP.”
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MAHI’S MUM
“NOTTINGHAM FOREST HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE. THE CONFIDENCE BOOST I’VE GAINED FROM THE PROGRAMME HAS HELPED ME IN WAYS I CANNOT DESCRIBE.”
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
Mann has made many new friends and enjoys the camaraderie that comes with attending the sessions. Walking football has provided Mann with the opportunity to play competitively in organised tournaments and represent Nottingham Forest against other local teams including Leicester City, Notts County and Derby County.
“I’VE FOUND THE WALKING FOOTBALL PROGRAMME TO BE A FANTASTIC WAY OF MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND IMPROVING MY FITNESS LEVELS. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE GYMS WERE CLOSED. THERE’S LOTS OF PEOPLE TAKING PART AND AN HOUR-LONG SESSION PASSES BY VERY QUICKLY. YOU FEEL TIRED AT THE END, BUT FITTER THE NEXT DAY.” MANN
SUCCESS STORIES
LEWIS ROWAN
CARLIE BOWN
Lewis has become a familiar face at our weekly Forest Forces events and regularly attends coffee mornings, quiz nights and footgolf sessions.
Carlie is a student on our Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport. Since starting the course, she has shown excellent commitment and dedication to her studies and is an exemplary member of our education programme.
The special relationship we’ve developed with Lewis saw us employ him throughout our Free Fun and Food programme, where he supported our team with delivering healthy meals across the city. During the Summer and Christmas school holidays, Lewis covered hundreds of miles picking up and delivering sandwiches, hot meals, cereal bars, fruit, water and reusable bottles to schools across the city. His support has ensured that all children in attendance were supplied with a healthy meal.
“WORKING WITH THE TEAM HAS ALLOWED ME TO KEEP ACTIVE DURING THE WEEK ALONGSIDE MY PARTICIPATION IN THE FOREST FORCES PROGRAMME. FREE FUN AND FOOD IS A GREAT PROGRAMME THAT THE TRUST IS OFFERING TO KIDS BECAUSE IT GETS THEM OUTSIDE, LETS THEM SOCIALISE AND GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO DO.” 24
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
LEWIS
Carlie originally began studying A Levels at Sixth Form but then realised it wasn’t for her because she felt the subjects were too academic. Carlie was looking for something more hands-on and practical. Her aspirations are to become a sports coach and her Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport through the Trust has enabled her to gain a wider understanding and knowledge of football and sport in general.
“MY CONFIDENCE HAS GROWN MASSIVELY AND THIS COURSE HAS ENABLED ME TO DEVELOP MY SKILLS AND INCREASE MY LEARNING IN AN INDUSTRY I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. THE TUTORS AND MY FELLOW STUDENTS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE, PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING – IT REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE AN EXTENDED-FAMILY.” CARLIE
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
380 HOURS VOLUNTEERED AT VACCINE CENTRES
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
, 49 850 MEALS DELIVERED
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE “THROUGHOUT THE TURBULENT TIMES THAT 2020 AND 2021 BROUGHT WITH IT, WE CONTINUED TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT YEAR-ON-YEAR INCREASE IN OUR TURNOVER AND WITH IT SAW A HEALTHY SURPLUS. WE ARE FOCUSED TO CONTINUE THIS TREND AS WE MOVE INTO 2022 AND EXPECT TO SEE OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IMPROVE YET AGAIN. THIS PERFORMANCE AND RESILIENCE HAVE SEEN US GROW NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT IN CONFIDENCE TOO AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD AND ADAPT OUR ORGANISATION TO THE EVER-CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS WE OPERATE WITHIN. OUR EXCELLENT 2021 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR AGILITY, ADAPTABILITY, AND CAPABILITIES TO GET THE JOB DONE, THANKS TO OUR TEAM, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS AND INVESTORS. WE ARE HOPING FOR YET MORE GROWTH AND SUCCESS IN 2022 AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD AND DEVELOP AS A TRUST AND CONTINUE BEING A KEY PART OF THE NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COMMUNITY.” IQBAL SINGH SANGHERA TRUSTEE
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
TOTAL REVENUE
£2,112,469 TOTAL EXPENDITURE
£2,015,177 TOTAL SURPLUS / DEFICIT
£97,292 £2.11M £1.04M*
£1.06M*
£1.21M
£1.23M
2017
2018
2019
2020
*excluding the National Citizen Service programme, finishing in 2018
2021
KEY PARTNERS AND INVESTORS
28
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
COLLABORATION STILL SITS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. BY MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS ON A LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO BEST - DELIVERING LARGESCALE IMPACT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. The strength of our partnerships in the private, public and third sectors has seen us come out of the last two years stronger than ever and we have been able to harness the combined skills, experience, knowledge and creativity of our partners in order to evolve and improve our offering as a community club organisation.
Without their unconditional backing, the Trust would be unable to provide its communities with such a comprehensive level of support through a diverse range of programmes and activities. For this reason, we would like to take a moment to thank our partners for their continued support and dedication, and we look forward to working with each and every one of them in 2022 and beyond.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
OVER 11,000 HOLIDAY ACTIVITY & FOOD CHILDREN ENGAGED
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
THE EXCITING POSITION WE NOW FIND OURSELVES IN MEANS THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO PLAN FOR OUR SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM FUTURE. 2022 will see us launch our new strategic model, which sets out clear goals and objectives for the next three years and reinforces our organisational purpose and core values of being visionary, authentic, ambitious and unique. By reaffirming where our focus lies, we can continue to deliver a positive impact and build stronger, more inclusive communities where active and healthy lifestyles are encouraged. We can also dedicate precious time to working with individuals and groups to equip them with the tools and skills they need to improve their lives through training, education and employment. Continuing to develop and innovate our offering will also play a big part in our 2022 strategy, as we look to improve the programmes we deliver and engage with more people who need our support across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
Nottingham Forest Community Trust has many reasons to be proud, and we plan to capture and share more of our successes this year through engaging and thoughtprovoking content - telling the stories of the people we’ve positively impacted, in their own words. Facing the challenges of 2021 has helped us to diversify and become more efficient operationally, and we certainly have a clear vision for what future success looks like. But building upon the great moments we enjoyed in 2019 and 2020 is just as vital. This means retaining our existing participants and continuing to add value to their experiences, while reaching new participants and attracting new partners and investors who are excited to share our ambition of delivering life-changing programmes. With plenty of hard work and the support of a dedicated team, we can continue to be the visionary, authentic, ambitious and unique organisation that inspires communities to think big and dream big.
We hope that the outstanding work of the Trust in this most challenging period illustrates the excellent work that had previously been done in bringing the Club and Trust closer together so that we can act, insofar as possible, as one in making a positive impact on the world around us.
ONE OF THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF MR MARINAKIS WHEN HE TOOK OVER THE CLUB IN 2017 WAS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. As a Board, we have always tried to recognise that we are custodians of the Club and that a significant part of our role is to build strong relationships with wider society. In order to achieve this goal we have sought to strengthen and build a closer relationship with the Trust. The past year has seen some of the most difficult times in our collective experience as the covid pandemic provided a significant challenge to our people and communities. 31
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
Although it is perhaps invidious to select highlights from the outstanding work that has been done in the numerous areas mentioned in this report, a number of projects are deserving of special mention. We are particularly proud of the partnership between the Club, Trust and Ideagen to create hundreds of apprenticeships in the Tech industry and in so doing having a real impact in increasing opportunities for young people to access long term sustainable employment. In addition there have been partnerships with the local police, the violence reduction unit, the City Centre businesses and a specialist outreach youth worker team which has seen previously increasing reported incidents of knife crime not only stalled but the numbers now reduced by as much as 17%. We have also witnessed the Trust play a pivotal role in the delivery of the Department of Education Holiday Activity Food programme which has seen the delivery of high quality physical activities and healthy food options for 3,500 children
on a daily basis across 14 different locations with a total of 11,000 children benefitting overall. This has led to the award of Lead Partner status by Nottingham City Council to deliver the programme again in 2022. Other existing schemes have been strengthened and developed. Our award winning Tricky to Talk mental health improvement programme has achieved a much wider impact through partnerships with our Supporters Trust and Nottingham University. In all of the above areas we have seen real positive impact for our communities through the Club and Trust playing a leading strategic role in collaboration with the Public, Private and Third sectors. This illustrates why the Club is so proud of the Trust and why we see the need to strengthen and develop it further. I have no hesitation in commending this Report and the outstanding work that has been done by the Trust under the most difficult of circumstances and I reconfirm the Club’s commitment to this endeavour moving forward.
NICHOLAS RANDALL QC CHAIRMAN, NOTTINGHAM FOREST FOOTBALL CLUB
CONTACT US
NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST The City Ground Nottingham NG2 5FJ 0115 982 4318 community@nottinghamforest.co.uk nottinghamforestcommunitytrust.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 1139561 | Company No: 07395235