Move sees North Stand renamed the Bolton at Home Community Stand
Bolton Wanderers and Bolton at Home have grown their partnership to get more people active, healthy and work ready. The move will also see the club’s Macron Stadium North Stand renamed the Bolton at Home Community Stand.
After years of working alongside each other in the town, Bolton at Home officially teamed-up with Bolton Wanderers at the beginning of the 2013/14 season. The goal was to get hundreds of young people, from across estates in Bolton, involved in the Kicks initiative run by Bolton Wanderers Community Trust.
As a result of the partnership over the last twelve months, Kicks has given over 400 Bolton teenagers professional sports coaching, opportunities to gain qualifications and volunteering experiences.
This year, the partnership will extend to offer a number of Bolton at Home customers the opportunity to gain work experience with Bolton Wanderers to improve their employability skills.
Hoot, Bolton’s credit union, will also benefit from the partnership with a view to increasing membership of the ethical saving and lending scheme amongst the club’s supporters.
Jon Lord, Bolton at Home's Chief Executive, said: “This takes our partnership with Bolton Wanderers to the next level. It’s a reflection of our commitment to work together to create stronger and more prosperous communities throughout Bolton.
“The partnership focuses on addressing key issues for Bolton such as employment, participation in physical activity and financial inclusion.”
The partnership between Bolton at Home and Bolton Wanderers has been funded by money set aside for developing community projects, with some of the funds coming from business partners and donors.
Bradley Cooper, chief operating officer at Bolton Wanderers, added: “We provide a range of sport, health and educational activities to thousands of young people across Bolton each year.
“Working with Bolton at Home allows us to engage with even more people, encouraging them to get involved in a programme of positive activities within their own communities and neighbourhoods.
“We’re delighted to rename the stand to recognise the importance of the partnership.”
Further details will be announced on a Wanderers’ home league fixture being designated as a community match. As last year, thousands of tickets will be made available to Bolton at Home customers for free, giving the chance for many to enjoy Championship football when it may otherwise be unaffordable.