Derby County Community Trust is the charitable arm of Derby County Football Club and uses the power of the club to improve lives and communities through sport, physical activity, health and education.

Since the mid-1990s, we have utilised the power of Derby County to engage and inspire fans and supporters to make healthier lifestyle choices, gain qualifications and increase community cohesion.

Since becoming an official charity in 2008, our reach has continued to grow, encompassing a huge range of projects and attracting over £3million investment from commissioning partners into the community each year.

Our demographic has expanded significantly from where it began, as a predominantly football-centric community set up with a handful of coaches.

Now 75 full-time staff strong, projects cover everything from Disability FA Talent Hubs to cancer rehabilitation, equipping teachers to deliver PE, supporting learners up to degree level and readying teenagers for their next steps.

Amongst our 40+ projects, high-quality coaching to Derby’s aspiring young footballers has remained at the heart of provision.

Simon Carnall, Head of Community at Derby County Community Trust, said, “We want people to feel like they belong to something that they’re proud of. “Our biggest selling point is our association with the football club, but as we’ve grown as an organisation and our delivery programming has got so much more diverse, there have been times where we haven’t used the Ram front and centre.

“The brand is really important, the new brand is our identity, it’s about the people and how we articulate the relationship with the football club.

“You don’t need to be a season ticket holder to attend our sessions and get physically and mentally fitter – there are benefits of being involved with Derby County that go far beyond the football.”

The challenges of the past year have been met head on by the football club and Community Trust’s ‘Stay Safe. Stay Fit. Stay Connected.’ initiative, which has proven just how far a football club can reach.