Below is part of a press release that will be distributed locally and nationally. However, we didn’t want to wait to share this information. A more detailed story will be published tomorrow and Wednesday, featuring the individuals involved and providing an opportunity to meet some of the children and families affected.”
ROCHDALE SUPPORTERS TRUST KICKS OFF PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL DOWN’S SYNDROME CHARITY
A potentially game-changing partnership has been announced between Dale Trust and Rochdale DS All Stars, with the local Down Syndrome group selected as Dale Trust’s charity for this and next season.
Dale Trust has committed to backing several activities to help the group, which provides support and friendship to the Down Syndrome community in Rochdale and is currently helping more than thirty local families.
Initiatives
- The initiative will launch with Dale Trust supporting the Rochdale AFC Community Trust’s provision of winter indoor training and coaching facilities, allowing the group’s children and young adults to continue their football training over the winter months.
- A trip to a Rochdale Pantomime for the family at Christmas; This will be part of a fun package for the family to enjoy together.
- A chance for the children, siblings, and their parents to enjoy a match at the Crown Oil Arena and to have hospitality. It is hoped that this will be a continuing process.
- Support parental respite sessions where parents can share “downtime”. Facilitate help sessions and support in a calm environment. These sessions take place across Rochdale.
- Initiate continuing support for an all-important Speech and Language programme. This program requires the specialist time of Speech Therapists who have a speciality in this area.
From the Dale Trust’s perspective, “We considered several local charities, but Rochdale DS All Stars stood out to us. As a small yet dynamic, relatively new group, we felt we could make a significant difference to their members through this initiative and with donations, as well as the awareness and connections we hope to raise on their behalf.”
“We also liked that their work is very much anchored in Rochdale and supports local children and families, who, as a community, are traditionally under-represented in our crowds.
The opportunity to get these families through the turnstiles and help them enjoy football, both through their training with Rochdale AFC Community Trust and by making matches accessible to children with special needs, is an exciting prospect and one that closely aligns with the Club’s ambitions, and one that the Trust believes supports the mantra “For Generations To Come”
“We are committed to doing what we can over the coming season to get behind the Rochdale DS All Stars group and will be calling on our ever-generous fans to support our fundraising where they are able.
Claire Minett, chair of Rochdale DS All Stars, adds: “October is always a special month for our group with it being National Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month, but the celebrations will be even sweeter for us this year thanks to Dale Trust’s generosity.
We are incredibly grateful to Bob and the Daletrust team for selecting us as their charity. We are especially thrilled about the five fantastic initiatives that are under discussion, as these are activities that would not be able to go ahead without the Trust’s support.”
For further information about Dale Trust, visit www.daletrust.co.uk, while to find out more about Rochdale DS All Stars, look them up on Facebook or Instagram, HERE
If you would like to donate to this fundraiser then please press the donate link below.
Thank You On Behalf of the Rochdale DS All Stars.