International Youth Day is on 12 August and as 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) we have chosen them as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the month for their with the local community and programmes for young people.
The community programme was established in 1992 and became Charlton Athletic Community Trust in 2003. Known as CACT, it is famed for its work in its local communities and has scooped numerous prestigious industry awards over recent years.
The community initiative began when the football club returned to The Valley in 1992. It started with just one member of staff, a bag of footballs and a telephone and has now grown into an organisation that employs 100 permanent staff, has a pool of over 100 casual coaches and engages with thousands of people on a weekly basis.
CACT uses the power of football and sport to engage, empower and provide positive opportunities and activities for young people.
The trust delivers successful community programmes is the following areas:
- Education
- Social Action and Enterprise
- Early Help And Prevention
- Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
- Football And Sports Development
- Youth Services
- Health Improvement
As well as young people the trust has many other initiatives in the community, with their work on mental health in the over 65 age group, recently being nominated for a national award.
The university has strong connections with the football club and continue to be a patron following a three year period as the shirt sponsor. Our LGBT+ staff network have continued links with Proud Valiants, Charlton’s LGBT+ fans’ group and the trust have often attended university events, particularly in relation to their stop smoking campaign.
To find out more about CACT and the excellent work that they do go to their website at http://www.cact.org.uk/
Follow them on twitter at https://twitter.com/CAFCTrust