Collinson helps community project build for the future

Collinson has shown its support for a local grassroots sports scheme run by AFC Fylde Community Foundation.

The firm, which specialises in buildings for the sports and leisure, industrial, education and commercial sectors, has bolstered AFC Fylde’s ‘Just Join In’ disability project with a £7,000 donation.

The scheme delivers free pan-disability football and multi-sports sessions to children and young adults living with a disability across the Fylde coast.

Since launching in July, the ‘Just Join In’ project has benefited over 50 children from eight local specialist schools, including Pear Tree School, Red Marsh School, Great Arely School, Oakfield House School, Highfurlong School, Red Rose School, Park Community Academy and Woodlands School.

Collinson’s investment has been crucial in allowing AFC Fylde to run the programme, helping towards staff, facility hire and specialist equipment, while allowing the foundation to deliver more weekly sessions and increase its offer to work with adults.

The funds have also enabled the programme to expand its school affiliations, with a new partnership formed alongside Kirkham-based Pear Tree School to launch two additional hour-long weekly sporting sessions for the school’s students.

Robert Duxbury, managing director at Collinson, said: “Collinson is proud to extend a hand of support to this incredible initiative run by AFC Fylde, which provides an invaluable opportunity for young people living with a disability.

“The scheme not only helps boost physical activity among Fylde children, but also helps improve mental health for the students too. We’re thrilled our support has enabled the programme to expand its offering and partner with even more schools.”

The project, which has also received funding from Children in Need, hosts weekly Friday evening sessions at Fylde Sports and Education Centre at AFC Fylde’s Mill Farm Sports Village home.

It has now grown to include a new weekly football event for young adults, giving those aged eighteen and over the opportunity to play against other local clubs.

Mick Whittle, Community Development Manager at AFC Fylde Community Foundation, added: “The Just Join in offer which is supported by Collinson and Children in Need is really important for the foundation as it enables us to put on provision for groups where there is not a lot of support across the borough.

“By just having the Friday evening sessions and speaking with parents and guardians, we have realised the demand to do more is needed and that is why we expanded to include other initiatives like a Just Join In half-term holiday activity club.

“The adult pan-ability session launched in January and has been a huge success already, demonstrating the need for this type of activity. The project has already benefited so many people and we are confident this will only grow even more, whilst our partnership work with Collinson can continue making a fantastic impact within the local community.”

Collinson’s traditional division recently completed the construction of a new 1,850-seat North Stand at the club’s Mill Farm stadium in Wesham, Fylde. Specifically built for home supporters, the expansion bolsters the team’s live spectator capacity to 7,850.

Collinson is a longstanding supporter of grassroots sports, with the AFC Fylde Community Foundation affiliation marking the firm’s fourth grassroots support scheme across Fylde.

The firm also has sponsorship arrangements with Garstang Cricket Club, Garstang FC and Garstang Rugby Club.