FC United of Manchester and the community

Each month, we’re sharing the highlights from our community programme board report.

FC United of Manchester is a community club formed in 2005 by a group of committed fans who believe in a better way for football. The club’s co-owners believe it is possible to create a sustainable, successful, fan-owned, democratic football club that creates real and lasting benefits for supporters and local communities.

The word ‘community’ is central to all FC United does. It is enshrined in our constitution and we have established numerous community-based projects.

We strive to include people of all ages and varying backgrounds in our community programme, offering them the chance to learn, train, develop new skills and interests, and grasp new opportunities they might not otherwise have.

We also hope they will be empowered and inspired by FC United. The club was formed by fans taking the lead and doing something for themselves, and we believe that is a strong and positive message to put out to schools and community groups.

January update: team sets out strategic approach

In its January report to the board, the community team outlined its current activities, split across three strategic sectors – health and wellbeing, employability, and community strengthening (see below for why these were chosen):

Health and wellbeing
• Creating a tracker for 3G pitch use – in January the pitch was used 7,035 times;
• Developing a partnership action plan with the University Campus Football Business (UCFB) to strengthen the future relationship between the two organisations;
• Meeting Moston Juniors FC to discuss in particular how FC United can support them in encouraging teenage players to stay and move up to the U16 team;
• Contacting potential users of the SMRE for fitness sessions.

Employability
• Working with partners in the North Manchester Business Network to plan the “Power Up North” event at Broadhurst Park on March 20th, which will bring together businesses, community groups and the local community to identify opportunities for young people and volunteers;
• Meeting Manchester Youth Zone’s funding officer to discuss possible funding streams, including supporting young people from north Manchester into employment;
• Supporting Yes Manchester’s weekly job skills drop-in session, supporting adults in finding employment;
• Starting work on Youth United Day.

Community strengthening
• Meeting with a broad range of groups to help boost future bookings of the SMRE community space;
• Working on funding bids to support SMRE improvement works, and an allotment project tackling social isolation;
• Partnering with Manchester Youth Zone of Harpurhey, who will host a charity football event at Broadhurst Park in March – this could become an annual event;
• Distributing the seven tons of clothes donated for Big Coat Day to Hope Direct, Mustard Tree, Organic Soul Food, a women’s refuge, Greystones Homeless Hostel, and directly to homeless people on the city streets with the guidance of the Manchester Homeless Project and the Manchester Rough Sleepers Unit.

The report also outlined four areas of focus to bolster the future success of the programme.

First up: a strategic framework – picking the sectors on which to concentrate efforts and add the most value.

Following a meeting with Manchester City Council, the team has agreed the following sectors:
• Health and wellbeing
• Community strengthening
• Employability

The team felt these areas fit well not only with the council’s neighbourhood strategy for north Manchester but also with us as a community football club – although the team will be ensuring work in these sectors incorporate the youth sector too.

The agreed priorities will be incorporated into the overall club business plan along with a strategy to deliver them.

Second: integration of the SMRE into delivery of community programmes.

Although the SMRE is used extensively on a match-day and for ad hoc community activities, the teams wants to manage some work to encourage more use, including:
• installation of an additional set of toilets, so both halves of the room can be rented out separately at the same time;
• general improvement to signs, storage and interior design to develop a more welcoming and functional space;
• re-organisation of the space so there is a bar area in only one half, allowing the other half to be used on a stand-alone basis primarily for community activities.

The third focus will be on third party funding: that is, bringing in more to deliver its community programme, including commissioning, service level agreements and grant financing.

Recently Brian Morris organised a workshop for office staff run by construction companies Willmott Dixon and Seddons. Click here to read more about how these contractors shared their bid-funding experience with us, to help us develop our own capability in writing bids.

Last but not least: improving communication around our community work. The team will work on a communication plan for upcoming activities with clear objectives to be achieved, key messages, target audiences and how we will communicate.


FC United’s members can read the full community report in the co-owners’ area on our website.