Our charitable arm, Notts County Football in the Community, have today become Notts County Foundation.
The rebrand was announced by the Foundation's CEO, Ian Boyd, who said: "As Notts County FC’s charity, we are extremely proud of the community work we’ve been carrying out in the local area since 1989.
"Connected to the world’s oldest professional football club, the work that we have undertaken has grown rapidly and will continue to increase as we fulfil the needs of our local community.
"Over the past 12 months we have initiated an extensive consultation exercise with beneficiaries and stakeholders. This consultation was wide-ranging and the feedback has directly impacted the strategic plans for the future.
"Pride in our relationship with the football club was a theme which resonated throughout the feedback; a relationship which we want to further strengthen going forward.
"The consultation also allowed us to hear that people were not fully aware of the breadth of work that we undertake within our community, nor its full impact. This encouraged us to reflect on our ‘brand’ and the message it sends; to consider raising our independent charitable profile and to draw further attention to the excellent work taking place across the city and the county of which the wider public is often unaware.
"We firmly believe that the time is now right for a rebrand in order to successfully communicate the outstanding work which we deliver through our many positive S.H.I.N.E. outcomes. Activities delivered throughout the following themes of: Sport, Health, Inclusion, NCS, Education and the operation of Portland Leisure Centre in the Meadows.
"I therefore take great pride in announcing that, as of today, our charity will now be known as Notts County Foundation.
"Today marks the start of our evolution as we celebrate our past history and successes as Football in the Community, and begin that transition across to the rebranded Foundation. There will be a coordinated set of promotional and delivery activities that will support this journey over the next twelve months.
"This refresh began in a pre-covid environment but is being delivered as the world around us is adapting to a new normal. The challenges we have and will continue to face as a result of the virus are significant. Being flexible and creative, whilst remaining true to our past will be important; as will practicing resilience for the future.
"If anything, the pandemic has brought some issues into sharper focus and strengthened our resolve to address them. Themes such as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, challenging Health Inequalities, deepening our placed based approach, as we empower and co-create with communities, will all be key to
our delivery going forward.
"We are an independent, regional sports development charity supporting the people of Nottinghamshire. We use the power of sport, physical activity and Notts County Football Club to engage and empower local communities and the individuals they serve.
"We are Notts County Foundation."