The Reading FC Former Players’ Association were delighted to present the Reading FC Community Trust with a cheque for £5,000 at our recent Evening with Steve Sidwell event.  The money has been raised by the Association from income generated by our popular “An Evening With” events.  We would like to thank all of those who attend our events and enable us to support organisations such as the Community Trust, who are our chosen charity this season.

The Reading Football Club Community Trust is a registered charity and relies on donations to represent Reading FC within the local and surrounding communities, acting as an extension of the club to engage with local people and make a genuine impact on their lives.  The Trust’s motto is ‘Care, Develop, Educate’, and we spoke to Community Trust Manager Dave Evans who explained what this means and how our donation will be used.

The Trust run coaching for young players, through progressive development, advanced and elite centres, which act as a feeder for the Reading Academy.  As well as coaching, and football schools, the Trust runs a range of diverse activities such as the dementia cafe and a custody coach role out of police stations for young offenders.  The Trust provide alternative provision for young children who may struggle at school and enable them to use football to engage.

Dave told us the donation from the Former Players’ Association was vital to support the Trust’s work:  “Being a charity we survive on donations.  That kind of money is essential to us and we are very grateful.  The Reading way is raising aspirations.  It’s about quality, diversity, and inclusion.  It’s about nurture, and it’s about growth. I want supporters to be proud of their football club”. The Reading FC Former Players’ Association are proud to continue to support the Trust’s on-going work in our community.