Rochdale AFC Community Trust are delighted to have become a recipient of £10,000 grant funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The Charity have been supporting seniors in the community for a number of years through the delivery of weekly Dale’s Silver 60’s social afternoons and Rochdale AFC Walking Football, and this funding will help to go even further in the delivery of social and physical activity sessions.
Ryan Bradley, Community Director at Rochdale AFC’s official charity commented: “The Charity have delivered fantastic work over the years for senior citizens in Rochdale, so we are delighted to receive funding to expand the support we’re able to provide.
The pandemic has exasperated the issue of people feeling isolated, with the over 65’s in particular at risk. We will use this funding to work with local partners and ensure that football club provides a platform to keep communities active and in touch with each other.”
Charlotte Griffiths, Health and Inclusion Coordinator said: “We’re really looking forward to getting our existing provision back up and running, and thanks to this funding we have additional sessions to be announced in the coming weeks. This funding has come at a key time, as the world is preparing to open back up after over a year – now more than ever, it’s important that these community activities are available to be accessed.”
So far during the pandemic Rochdale AFC Community Trust staff, led by Trust Manager Siobhan McElhinney, have supported over 450 senior citizens through check in and welfare calls to season ticket holders and Dales Silver 60’s Participants, providing social contact for many isolated individuals. The funding from the National Lottery Community Foundation will allow this support to continue and expand over the next 12 months.
To find out more about activities available through Rochdale AFC Community Trust, visit www.rochdaleafccommunity.org.