UNITED NETS RECOGNITION BY UEFA FOR ITS IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Dundee United Football Club and Dundee United Community Trust is delighted to announce that we have received a Bronze Award in the category of Best Professional Club in the Community in this year’s UEFA Grassroots Awards Programme.  

Having won the Best Professional Club in the Community Award at the Scottish FA Grassroots Awards in 2019, we are delighted to now follow that up with the recognition that the programme delivered by the Trust and supported by the Club is among the best on the continent. 

The Chair of Dundee United Community Trust David Dorward said, "Dundee United Community Trust are delighted to have been recognised as the third best Professional Football Club Community Trust in Europe. This follows the Community Trust being recognised as the best Trust in Scotland last year.  Of course, the Trust's motivation is not to achieve awards, but to work in our local community to improve the lives of our fellow citizens, particularly those that are vulnerable and in need of support and a helping hand. The range of services the Trust offers in the community is extensive and covers all age groups. Our work is only possible with the support of the Club, the excellent commitment of Jamie Kirk and his staff and, finally, the input from our trustees, volunteers and funders."   

Sporting Director Tony Asghar stated, "I am delighted that Dundee United Football Club and the Community Trust have been rewarded in recognition of their success and the efforts they have made. Through such a difficult period, their work in keeping the community engaged and involved throughout this time has been inspirational and is something that Dundee United can be very proud of. Community is a huge part of what we are as a Club and, while this is great recognition, we will continue to support the Community Trust in advancing the work they are doing." 

SFA Head of Football Development Andy Gould said: "The Scottish FA would like to congratulate everyone at Dundee United Community Trust for their continued work and efforts in the local community. I applaud and thank the Trust for the work they do in using football and their prominent position within the community to actively change so many people’s lives. The role that Professional Football Clubs working in their community has are vital to our game and it is fantastic to see Dundee United and the Community Trust showing the strength of work that takes place in Scotland."

This award means that the Trust and the Club have now been recognised on the regional (Best Football for All Project in the East Region in 2019 and Best Para Football Project in the East Region in 2020), national and continental stage; all the more remarkable when it is considered that the Trust was only relaunched less than four years ago. 

The Community Trust launched an ambitious Strategic Plan in December 2019 that sees its work focused on addressing community need through the key themes of  Healthy Lifestyles, Lifelong Learning, Sport for All and Uniting the Community.  While the Trust and Club are no different to any other organisation – charitable or otherwise – in feeling the impact of Covid-19, the pandemic has only sharpened the focus and determination to continue to help others. 

Jamie Kirk, Chief Executive for the Trust added, "While the awards are not why we do what we do, it’s always nice to receive recognition such as this.  We are proud to represent Dundee United in providing support to the local community and we’re very aware that the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in the City will have been amplified by the pandemic.  We’ll continue to be flexible to the needs of the local people, prioritising our resources to support those who need us most to maximise the difference we can make." 

For more information on the work of the Club and the Trust in the Community, please visit Dundee United Community Trust or contact enquiries@dundeeunitedct.co.uk if you’d like to get involved.