Argyle Community Trust 2022/23 Impact Report

Argyle Community Trust are proud to launch our Impact Report for 2022/23 - a special season for ‘One Argyle’ both on and off the field. The report showcases the incredible work carried out to fulfil our mission to make a positive difference to Devon and Cornwall communities in response to local need, through the power of sport, and the brand of Plymouth Argyle.

The report demonstrates the commitment of the charity to delivering impactful and accessible opportunities highlighted through our work in six key strands – Education and Employment, Facilities, Participation, Health and Wellbeing, Disability, and Community Engagement.

We also look at the real-life impact stories of some of the individuals who have flourished because of our charity and community outreach work - creating life chances, improving health and wellbeing, and removing barriers to participation.

During the 2022/23 season, we have: 

• Supported over 105,000 local people in need aged between six weeks and 95 years old
• Delivered over 51,000 hours of community engagement to positively impact the lives of people in Devon and Cornwall
• Delivered more than 32,000 bespoke sessions to meet local need
• Provided food support and education to those most in need through Project 35, our groundbreaking social impact initiative in partnership with Ginsters aimed at tackling poverty in the region, including collecting and donating 4.1 tonnes of food and personal hygiene products to the Plymouth Foodbank Network

An important statistic has been identified that three in four of our participants live in the top 50% most deprived areas in the country. Because of our targeted approach, 67% of our delivery sites are in these areas, meaning our provisions are accessible to those who need it most.

To maximise our impact in the community, we design and structure our provisions according to research and data, which sets out what we aim to achieve over the short, medium, and long terms. The impact of our provisions is measured, in part, by the numbers and demographics of our participants and time spent engaging with our programmes. We also measure and record positive outcomes attained by individual participants.

Trust Chief Executive Officer Mark Lovell said: “As the official charitable partner of Plymouth Argyle, we can inspire and empower people in our local communities to take part in our education, health and wellbeing, and physical activity programmes.

“Our collaborations with multiple stakeholders, and with the support of our partners, we have continually grown the reach and breadth of our work. Together this has built self-esteem, confidence, and lifelong skills in our participants and has contributed to healthy and cohesive communities.”

The 2022/23 season was an award-winning year for the club and charity. Plymouth Argyle won promotion to the second tier of English football by winning the Sky Bet League One title. We won the EFL Community Club of the Season for League One for the second season in a row, and there were awards for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Plymouth Live Business and Football Business Awards.

Argyle Chief Executive Officer Andrew Parkinson adds: “Plymouth Argyle and its official charity, Argyle Community Trust, has long been associated with strong community links within Plymouth and throughout Devon and Cornwall.

“This report demonstrates much more than our successes as a football club. It showcases the incredible community outreach work our charity, the club, and its partners carry out every single day.

“I would like to personally thank everyone involved in making a difference to the lives of the communities we serve.”

Chair of the Argyle Community Trust Board of Trustees, Ryan Ramsey, expressed his pride on viewing the data and impact: “I have always been exceptionally proud of the impact that Argyle Community Trust has on our communities.

“Underpinned by an amazing team, the breadth of activity that is provided supports many individuals and communities, and the fact that we adapt so quickly to the needs of others is incredibly impressive.

“I hope you enjoy reading this report, and we look forward to continuing and expanding our programmes over the next year and beyond.”

The past decade has seen significant growth in programme delivery. The charity has supported over 400,000 people in this period from providing health and wellbeing activities, employment training, education courses and sports coaching, to providing real employment with the charity.

Find out about the work of the charity and how you can support the work we do in the community on our website.

You can download a PDF version of the Impact Report here to see the data and participant stories that show the profound impact that the Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Argyle, and sport in general has had on changing lives and improving life chances in our communities.