Bristol Rovers Football in the Community greatly appreciates the support that is received from our partner organisations, as it allows the Department to fulfil our aims and objectives throughout our community.

The Football League Trust is the charitable arm of The Football League, and The Football League (Community) Ltd is one of two subsidiary organisations which fall under the umbrella of The Football League Trust.

Funded by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and Premier League's solidarity payments, the community programme has been introduced to help broaden the relationship between professional football clubs and their local communities.

Aspiring to be recognised as the leader in community development, the Trust will help develop people by using the power of football to make a difference, inspire beliefs and change cultures, whilst focusing on the 4 key strategies of sport participation, health, social inclusion and education.

By introducing 3 levels of funding (Bronze, Silver and Gold), the Football League Trust intends to help each community scheme improve and expand, by implementing agreed criteria relating to each level of the funding. All levels will contain increased strategic development criteria, training opportunities for all Community Staff, quality assurance and accountability.

To visit The Football League Trust website click here

Train and bus operator FirstGroup plc are the new sponsors of Bristol Rovers Football in the Community's Fit for Success initiative, enabling the Department to run coaching sessions in different schools in the community.

The initiative aims to use the power of football to make a difference by encouraging and motivating children to participate in physical activity; as well as improving their attainment and attitude at school, and to lead a healthier lifestyle.
The Bristol Rovers Fit for Success initiative sponsorship is part of FirstGroup's First for Football programme which involves nine other Football League clubs in the south west region.

FirstGroup Chief Executive Sir Moir Lockhead said: "We feel it is extremely worthwhile to support Bristol Rovers' community scheme with youngsters from the region.
"We will be helping thousands of children through football to better understand the importance of fitness, a healthy lifestyle and education."

In May 2008 FirstGroup sponsored a Junior Soccer Tournament at Swindon Town's County Ground stadium. The one-day event attracted 800 young players supported by around 3,000 cheering parents!

First for Football is one of a number of sponsorship packages set up by FirstGroup. Examples include the First Monster duathlon - a 120k team-based running and cycling event around Loch Ness each September and a deal with UK School Games where FirstGroup are the official transport provider for the athletics finals

The funding allows the Community Department to work with the following schools:
Ashley Down Junior School
Charborough Road Primary School
Filton Avenue Primary School
Lockleaze Primary School and Early Years Centre
St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic School
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Shield Road Primary School
The Park Primary School
Upper Horfield Community School

To visit the First Group website click here

The Football Foundation is one of the largest sports charities in the world and certainly the largest in the UK. It is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government; the Foundation is a unique partnership between Central Government and the UK's leading sports industry.

As the country's largest funder of grass roots football, the Foundation has delivered thousands of grass roots community football facility and community projects, as well as free kit and safe goalposts, since its launch in July 2000.

To visit the Football Foundation website click here

Kick It Out is football's equality and inclusion campaign.

The brand name of the campaign - Let's Kick Racism Out of Football - was established in 1993 and Kick It Out established as a body in 1997.
Kick It Out works throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and work for positive change.

The campaign is supported and funded by the game's governing bodies, including founding body the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the Premier League, the Football Foundation and The Football Association.

To visit the Kick It Out website click here

Playing for Success is a national scheme funded directly through the Standards Fund. It is a partnership between the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Bristol City Council and Bristol Rovers Football Club.

The Playing for Success initiative was established to provide out of school hours study support centres at football clubs' grounds.
The centres use the environment and medium of football as motivational tools, to focus raising literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst KS2 and KS3 pupils.

For more information on the Study Centre click here.

To visit the Playing for Success website click here

Bristol Rovers FC has been a supporter of the work of The Prince's Trust with young people since 2002, providing support through the Trust's Football Initiative.

Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 14 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

The Prince of Wales's charity has helped more than 575,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day. More than three in four young people The Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training.

The Football Initiative was launched in 1997 and uses the appeal of the game and the practical support of professional football clubs to help young people to succeed. More than 12,000 young people have benefited from the support of over 60 professional football clubs through a long-term partnership with the Premier League, Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Foundation.

Football develops skills such as confidence, teamwork, communication and discipline, qualities which are also required in the world of work. We work closely with The Prince's Trust Team programme which is delivered locally by City of Bristol College offering support such as work placements, stadium tours, match tickets, personal development workshops, fundraising challenges and presentation venues.

Team is a 12 week programme of personal development training for 16-25 year olds which begins with team-building activities, including a week at a residential activity centre, and includes team-work on real projects in the local community as well as individual work placements. It builds key work place skills such as confidence, motivation, teamwork and communications skills. The aim is to help young people move into employment, education or training.

In November 2008 Bristol Rovers Football in the Community delivered a 'Get Started with Football' programme in partnership with The Prince's Trust and Ashfield YOI. Get Started is a short flexible programme using a theme which is attractive to young people such as sport or the arts to inspire them to take the first step to increase their confidence, skills and employability. The young people on Get Started with Football worked with our Community Staff to achieve an FA Level One Certificate in Coaching Football.

To visit the Prince's Trust website click here

Puma are the Technical Partner of the Football League and supply the Bristol Rovers Football in the Community team with all the necessary equipment to coach, as well as supplying our kit.

To visit the Puma website click here

Sportsmatch is funded by Sport England to support the development of grassroots sport in England. It awards organisations running projects aimed at increasing participation in sports at community level.

Sportsmatch does this through matching pound for pound eligible commercial funding invested in community sport. This enables the Community Department to work with more and more people in our community.

To visit the Sportsmatch website click here