Brentford launch community scheme in the house of commons

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust Launch – House of Commons – 27/02/06

The Brentford FC Community Sports Trust (BFCCST) enjoyed its official launch at the House of Commons on Monday. The charity formerly known as Brentford Football in the Community were officially celebrating launching under the name of the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust in the members dining room at the parliament buildings hosted by MP for Brentford & Isleworth Ann Keen.

In attendance were around 200 guests representing numerous community partners who work with the trust on a regular basis. They enjoyed speeches by the host Ann Keen, Ian Dobie (Chair of the BFCCST Trustees & Managing Director of St. George West London Ltd.), Lee Doyle (Chief Executive BFCCST), Minister for Sport Richard Caborn and Brian Burgess (Chair of Bees Utd., Club Director and BFCCST Trustee). There was also a special video message from Martin Allen in which he saluted the hard work of the Community Trust in offering sporting opportunities to a wide range of different people from differing backgrounds through a wide range of projects.

After the launch, Ann Keen said “I was so proud to host a special reception for the launch of the Brentford Football Community Sports Trust and to honour the work and commitment of Lee Doyle from the club at the House of Commons.

Brentford Football Club leads the way with their fantastic programme of activities for young people in schools and on estates in the borough.

The Sports Minister, the Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP was equally impressed with their work and I am pleased he was able to speak at the reception recognising this fantastic achievement. Congratulations to the team at the club for all their hard work and I wish them all the success with the new Trust.”

Preceding the launch there was also an activities morning at Gunnersbury Park on Saturday 25th February, attended by over 250 young people who are regularly involved with the Trust, with many community groups attending the Brentford game in the afternoon.

The special ‘Community’ Matchday included entertainment from D’answer, a local community dance group who were there as part of the Hounslow Community Safety Partnership’s Anti-Racism campaign.

Lee Doyle Chief Executive of the BFCCST, “The 19 year partnership between Brentford FC, Ealing and Hounslow Council and the National Football in the Community programme, form the bedrock of the trust. From continued physical and financial support we have been able to form numerous new partnerships enabling us to provide structured sport and educational activities for over 30,000 young people per annum. Whilst football will be at the core of our activities we have now expanded into table tennis, cricket, rugby, boxercise, kayaking and outdoor pursuits as part of our social inclusion programme funded by a range of agencies including Positive Futures through the Home Office. It was fitting that the activities on Saturday were at Gunnersbury Park as it is central to both boroughs and close to the football club.

The new board of trustees bring added expertise and energy and we look forward to developing new activities and facilities, ensuring that the trust is a continued asset to the community.”

For all the photos from a proud weekend for Brentford FC and the Community Sports Trust visit www.brentfordfccst.com