Cheltenham Town community programme is thriving

TWO years after its inception, Cheltenham Town's Community Programme is having a hugely positive impact in a wide range of areas in Gloucestershire.

The Cheltenham Town Community, Education and Sporting Trust, to give the programme its full name, was launched by Sir Trevor Brooking in October 2007.

The thriving scheme is overseen by director Simon Perruzza, who is assisted by development officer Olly Roberts and women and girls community coach Abbie Sadler.

Perruzza has six years' experience within professional football, having previously worked with West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City.

He is a level three qualified coach and has an HNC in business and finance.

Perruzza reports to the board of trustees which comprises Robins chairman Paul Baker, Paula Baldwin, a director of CGT Lettings, Paul Drake, a director at the University of Gloucestershire, Ruth Fitzjohn, chair of NHS Gloucestershire, Nick Hale, former Robins chief executive and Peter White, who is a director at Gloucestershire College.

The primary aim of the programme is: "To use the power of sport to inspire, motivate and educate thousands of children, young people and adults within the community."

The Trust is broken into five strands: sports participation; health; education; social inclusion and club development.

Sports participation includes after school and dinner clubs as well as an advanced centre and evening centres.

The advanced centre enables children of above average ability to gain more specialised coaching

Health initiatives include 'know yer balls' , which raises awareness of how to check for signs of testicular cancer.

Representatives visit schools, giving talks before an hour of football coaching.

A new idea known as 'Mentalk' is aimed at children who are under pressure at school, using football to emphasise that there is more to being successful in life than achieving A grades.

The education section includes the 'double club', which offers help to children who are struggling with their academic studies, once again using football as motivation.

On the social inclusion side of the Trust, a disability team competes in the Premier League, having gained promotion from the Championship last season.

They travel to the south west to compete against the likes of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City.

There is also a youth team and a reserve team is planned for next season.

In terms of club development, the Trust offers matchday visits and ground tours around the Abbey Business Stadium.

"Our primary purpose is to serve the community, but as a by product of that, hopefully we can encourage more fans of the future," Perruzza said.

"There are other things going on that the club are positively involved in, away from the first team football."

Robins chairman Baker donated a block of seats in the In2Print Stand, which is used to engage and promote the club to schools and local teams.

Overall, the programme's team of 12 casual coaches deliver coaching across Gloucestershire, reaching 1,500 children a week.