Building on the long term relationship with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT), RCS have now become official Patrons of CACT’s renowned ‘Disability and Mental Health’ programme, which includes the award winning ‘Charlton Upbeats’, the sports development programme for young people with Down’s Syndrome.
The Trust works in partnership with local communities to empower individuals to improve their lives and their environment. CACT’s ground-breaking and innovative programmes are delivered through a regular presence in schools and working with disadvantaged or socially excluded groups in society, through crime reduction initiatives and community based football coaching sessions. CACT has become the biggest football related trust in the UK and it now works with over 200 agencies and operates programmes attended by 7,500 young people every week.
‘Charlton Upbeats’ provides the opportunity for participants from London and the south-east to have weekly activity at the Charlton Athletic FC Training Ground. The football specific programmes have now developed to include multi-sports such as tri golf, boxing, dance and hockey.
The programme also includes the Ability Counts Football Club which operates three junior teams (U11, U13 & U14). Two players from Ability Counts FC have gone on to represent England in their specific impairment group.
As Patrons of the ‘Disability and Mental Health’ programme, RCS will enjoy an exclusive association with one of the most important strands of CACT’s work, including opportunities for RCS staff to volunteer to directly involve themselves with helping on projects and assignments.
Peter Varney, the Vice Chairman of Charlton Athletic Community Trust said: “We are delighted that RCS have agreed to become Patrons of our ‘Disability and Mental Health’ programme.
“The company has been generously supporting the work of CACT for many years and without such support programmes such as the ‘Charlton Upbeats’ just wouldn’t be possible.
“My colleagues and I at CACT look forward to working with Terry, David and the team at RCS to ensure that our vital work in disability and mental health continues to thrive and expand.”
Terry Carrigan, Chairman of RCS said: “We have long believed that it is vitally important that businesses support charities and local good causes.
“It is extremely difficult, particularly in the current economic climate, for charities to raise the necessary funds to enable their crucial work to continue.
“By supporting the wonderful work of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust, RCS and its staff will be playing our part in ensuring the continuing success of CACT’s ground-breaking programmes in disability and mental health.”
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