Preston North End Community and Education Trust has won the North West Football Awards’ Community Club of the Season – All Other Leagues award.

The Trust has enjoyed another successful year of growth, operating innovatively in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic and introducing new initiatives to support the local community in its time of need.

Programmes in all of the Trust’s areas of activity, community engagement, health and wellbeing, and education, have continued to grow, while new initiatives such as Sporting Memories, PNE Forces and the Goals mental health programme have engaged new members of the community.

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The pandemic has seen the Trusts attention turn to providing essential items for vulnerable members of the community, with projects including the Helping Hampers initiative, forming the PNECET Community Support Hub and supporting vulnerable children with holiday hunger initiatives.

Head of community Tom Drake said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been crowned winners of the Community Club of the Season – All Other Leagues award at the 2020 North West Football Awards.

“The Trust has enjoyed a fantastic year despite the difficult circumstances presented by the current pandemic. While much of our provision has been affected, we have adapted to meet the needs of our community with a range of new and forward-thinking initiatives.

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“Our skilled and enthusiastic team have worked incredibly hard over the past 12 months and this award is testament to their dedication to supporting our local community.

“We are privileged to work in partnership with Preston North End Football Club and we are thankful for support from both from both the club’s staff and the commitment to community work of our first team squad.

“We are also thankful to all of our local partners, without whom this success would not have been possible, and we are excited to continue utilising the power of the club badge on our programme delivery as we strive to create a safer, stronger and more resilient community.”

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Anyone who would like to support the work of the Community and Education Trust can donate via JustGiving.

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