Chester Secure Adult Learning Funding

Enables club to run more volunteer programmes

Chester FC has beaten off thousands of rival bids to secure funding of £65,000 from the new Adult and Community Learning Fund.

The fund will enable Chester FC to launch a major volunteer programme that will help the Club (that is run by volunteers) and develop a learning hub for the whole Community.

The Club will be able to put on informal training that will enable volunteers to learn new skills that will enhance their ability to fulfil an effective role.

David Evans, Director of Communications & Exiles Liaison, said “Our recent survey of our 2,800 members showed that hundreds of supporters are willing to volunteer to help the club. This could be anything from helping in the office to promoting the club in the community. The fund will give us the capacity to take up all the offers that have been made, organise activities that will be useful and enjoyable for supporters to participate in and continue to build our club in the community.”

The Club plans to appoint a full-time learning co-ordinator for the project that will run from September to March and hopes to make the post a permanent one. David Evans went on to say, “We would like to hear from anyone who has a background in adult learning and might be excited by the prospect of working with us to provide informal learning for our volunteers. Being a supporter led, volunteer based club is central to our values - Our City. Our Community. Our Club. We could only have won the bid with the partnership we have with CWaC and CDHT who have been superb in backing us.”

Details of the job opportunity and other aspects of the bid will be available on our website shortly.

Chester & District Housing Trust Assistant Director - Core Services, David Wrigley said: "Chester & District Housing Trust formed a partnership with the new Chester Football Club in September of last year, as we both share the same commitment to work with our local communities and to create opportunities. We are delighted that the football club gained promotion last season and were more than happy to work with them on their recent successful bid to the Adult and Community Learning Fund. As part of the project steering group we will now work with the Club and other partners to improve adult learning and other community programmes that will have a real impact in the area."

Councillor Mike Jones, Leader of the Council Cheshire West and Chester Council said, "I strongly support the approach as it continues the development of the Club as a community organisation, our major objective in backing the rebirth of Chester FC.

This award shows the successful development of Chester FC in our community and supporting the growth of volunteering in Chester."

Geoff Russell, Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency, said: “Each project that has secured funding from the Adult and Community Learning Fund will make a tremendous difference to the lives of individuals and to the communities they are part of. Skills and lifelong learning should be at the heart of every community and the Government is committed to making that happen with its vision for the Big Society.”

Carol Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive of NIACE, added,
“The response to this bid has been staggering - we received over 2400 bids. Deciding which of the projects should receive funding has been incredibly tough, however this means that the very best projects will be starting work soon and transforming the lives of local people and local communities.”

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