Argyle Community Trust Strategic Plan Launched
Argyle Community Trust are proud to launch our 2021-24 Strategic Plan, setting out our mission to make a positive difference to Devon and Cornwall communities.
The document underpins the Trust’s commitment to delivering impactful and accessible opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing, education, and aspirations of our communities, and details our strategic aims for the next three years.
The strategy was originally launched in 2019 - before the pandemic dramatically changed the landscape and needs of society. Following extensive consultation with partners, stakeholders, trustees, and staff, we revised our objectives for the work we do across Devon and Cornwall, further valeted by insight and research undertaken by the team.
The strategy can be broken down into five core strategic aims:
Empower people - We will support our communities in overcoming inequalities, raising aspirations, and providing accredited attainment through opportunities created through the Charity and its network.
Inspire supporters – We will share the passion of the club to look after our supporters through community outreach programmes and increase engagement to develop new supporters.
Promote physical participation and wellbeing – We will encourage healthier lifestyles and increase participation opportunities for people of all ages by generating interest, removing barriers, and increasing confidence, all in a stimulating environment.
Improve our systems and structures – We will focus on providing our staff and communities with innovative leadership and support, improving the quality, efficiency, and quality and value of services we provide.
Understanding and measuring impact – A key area to develop is our ability to understand and measure the impact of our programmes. By 2024 we will have invested in an infrastructure to evidence and analyse the extent to which our outputs have added value and provided social worth.
We maintain a particular focus on disadvantaged and isolated communities, underrepresented groups, at-risk children, and vulnerable young people, and adults.
The strategy sets out a plan to reduce the impact of the current economic climate by finding new funding streams to reduce the reliance on grants. There will be a strong focus on connecting with new regional and national partners and developing new opportunities, such as new and improved facilities, to further grow the work and geographic reach of the Trust.
Trust Chief Executive Officer Mark Lovell said: “As the official charity partner of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, we aim to use our identity to promote sport for social change.
“We are committed to delivering high-quality, accessible opportunities throughout the region, which will improve the health and wellbeing, education, and aspirations of our communities.
“We work strategically on a local and national level to develop strong partnerships which enable us to deliver highly beneficial community projects and we are very much looking forward to continuing this vital work in the coming years.
“We look forward to implementing the next stage of our strategy to continue to positively impact the people of our wonderful communities.”
Argyle Community Trust Chair Ryan Ramsey adds: “I, alongside my fellow Trustees, am proud to be part of the Argyle Community Trust team and to be contributing to all that the Trust does for local communities in the South West.
“The next phase of our strategy will be exciting, and we look forward to the journey ahead.”
The past ten years has seen significant growth in programme delivery. The charity has supported over 300,000 people in this period from providing health and wellbeing activities, employment training, education courses and sports coaching, to providing real employment with the charity. Some of our biggest achievements have seen the charity change people’s lives from drug rehabilitation into employment and helping people with physical and mental health conditions live a more healthy and independent life.
Find out about the work of the charity and how you can support the work we do in the community https://argylecommunitytrust.co.uk/donate/
To read the Strategic Plan in full, click here.
