Community at Heart of Stadium
26th July 2007

Colchester Community Stadium will be more than eleven players in blue and white, much more than a sporting venue for the very elite and much, much more than just another football stadium.

That is the promise which the unique partnership formed between Colchester Borough Council, Colchester United and the Colchester United Community Sports Trust aim to deliver from 2008.

Essential funding for the project has been provided by the Football Foundation (£2m), EEDA (£1m) and Haven Gateway growth point money (£1m). With the first soil now turned, in less than a year the state of the art Community Stadium will provide the backdrop for the U’s, with a distinct difference. The three partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors will be working together to achieve a common vision.

The new stadium will break new ground for these very different organisations, providing more than fortnightly sporting spectacles for borough residents, with the community partners committed to constructing a development programme that will engage the whole community.

Mike Springett, Chair of the Community Sports Trust is just as excited with this prospect as he is to watch the U’s run out onto the new pitch.

“We (CUCST) are thrilled to be involved in another one of the major capital projects currently being delivered in Colchester, and in particular, in the new stadium we will be able to support even more young people and adults through our presence.”

The Stadium will act as a powerful magnet, to many individuals and groups that may have missed opportunities to grow and develop through sport and educational programmes in the past.

Chief Executive, Marie Partner said;

“The long awaited stadium will provide not only a home for the Championship team, but will also provide the ability to expand commercially and therefore secure our future standing in the community at a higher level.

This will give the people of Colchester a football team to be proud of and at the same time reap the benefits of all the other proposed events that will be taking place at the Community Stadium in the coming years.”

Services which surround health, education and regeneration will for the first time have a new approach enabling the Community Sports Trust, the club and local community partners to link with libraries, children’s centres and healthy living centres.

Mike highlighted the additional benefits to fans and the wider community alike;

“People will be able to visit the stadium to learn how to eat more healthily ,learn about drug and alcohol abuse attend clinics and take part in specialised courses. Through tackling issues such as child obesity and improving adult health in the workplace, the Community Stadium will be contributing to improving the quality of lives of the residents of North Colchester.”

By planning and running courses with the core partners the Community Sports Trust will also support young people and adults in gaining skills closely linked to the future labour market demands. Courses in Hospitality and Leisure and other employment courses particularly linked the relevant local employment sectors are planned to be introduced.

The extensive knowledge, commitment and passion demonstrated by the community partners will ensure that sport, healthy activity, education and partnership are at the heart of the community provision.