Thomas Frank Pays Tribute to Work of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust

Brentford FC Head Coach Thomas Frank paid tribute to the work of the club’s Community  Sports Trust whilst attending the launch of our latest Impact Report, Changing Horizons earlier this month.

The Impact Report titled Changing Horizons spans from April 2020 – March 2022, focusing on some of the most challenging and rewarding times of the Trust’s 35 year history.

Falling in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report celebrates a period of remarkable success for Brentford FC on the pitch, which has been accompanied by some landmark achievements for the Trust, including opening our new offices and sports facilities at Gunnersbury Park.

Whilst joining a guest panel of speakers at the launch of the report, Thomas Frank was left inspired by the work of the Trust. He said, “Of course I know the background of the local community, but this has left me thinking ‘wow’. The work that everyone at the Trust is doing for all the children and all the people they are helping is what really matters and for me they are the real heroes.”

In the past year alone the Trust has worked with over 12,000 local people ranging in age from 16 months to over 65. The breadth of activity and number of participants we reach across West London is increasing year on year.

Lee Doyle, Chief Executive of Brentford Community Sports Trust, commented, “It’s been changing horizons in Brentford, not least with the new stadium and some of the associated buildings. What we’re about is changing horizons for people and giving them the scope and confidence to think about their potential and how they can achieve it.”

With the Trust now realising the long-term ambition of creating hub sites, Doyle proudly added, “We have the Community Stadium Hub adjacent to the Gtech Community Stadium, which is 10,000 square feet over two floors and includes a social education health space and office space. The extended campus beyond the facilities at the ground includes Uxbridge High School and the Academy Dome, Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub and Brentford FC’s training ground which is geographically in the middle.

When you look at connecting those sites, plus all our partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors in a network, and the 170 schools we work with – that’s our extended campus. Physical places, partnerships and most of all people, who are at the core of what we do.”

To read more about the Campus Concept and some case studies from people the Trust has worked with, you can view the Changing Horizons report here.