Accrington Stanley Community Trust announces renewed front-of-shirt sponsorships with Readstone Construction and Ainsworths Chartered Accountants.

Accrington Stanley Community Trust (ASCT) is delighted to announce the renewal of its front-of-shirt sponsorships with two long-standing local partners, Readstone Construction and Ainsworths Chartered Accountants.

Both companies have proudly featured on the Community Trust’s Football College official playing kit for several years, and their continued commitment highlights the strength of partnership between the Trust and the local business community.

Readstone Construction, a trusted name in building and civil engineering across Lancashire, and Ainsworths Chartered Accountants – a respected local accountancy firm with deep community roots, will once again take pride of place on the front of the College team home shirts and continue their support through prominent branding.

The renewed sponsorships will help the Trust continue to deliver a wide range of community projects, including sports participation programmes, education and employability initiatives, and health and wellbeing activities across Hyndburn and the surrounding areas.

Joanna Williams- Partnerships & Fundraising Manager of Accrington Stanley Community Trust, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to have both Readstone Construction and Ainsworths continue their support for the Trust. These partnerships go far beyond just a logo on a shirt – they represent a shared belief in improving lives and opportunities for local people. Their backing allows us to keep expanding our programmes and making a positive impact in our community.”

Simon Whittam, Project Director and Co-Owner of Readstone Construction, added:

 “Supporting Accrington Stanley Community Trust aligns perfectly with our values. The Trust does outstanding work across all age groups, and with being the construction company that has grown alongside the trust and built their facilities it makes sense to help out and we’re delighted to continue our partnership and play a small part in helping them grow.”

Mick Heys, Director at Ainsworths Chartered Accountants, said:

“We’ve seen first-hand the difference the Trust makes locally. Renewing our sponsorship was an easy decision – it’s about supporting local people, local sport, and local pride.”

The Trust’s Football College new kits featuring both sponsors will be worn across all community teams from November 2025 onwards.

The English Football League’s (EFL) annual Week of Action is taking place from 3 – 7 November 2025, celebrating the collective impact of Football Club charities’ community work across England and Wales.

The week showcases how EFL Clubs have taken on even greater importance within their communities, supporting people’s health, happiness, social connections, education and economic prospects.

The work undertaken by the 72 Club charities has a sizeable impact across key areas linked to issues ranked high on the national government agenda, such as health, education and criminal justice. Football Club charities help to relieve pressures on the country’s national systems in a bid to help improve the quality of people’s lives.

In November 2024, research analysing data from the 2023/24 season found that more than one million people engaged in Club community projects across the towns and cities served by EFL Clubs, generating a total of £1.24bn of social value across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

While Managers and First Team players actively support their Club’s community activities all year round, the EFL Week of Action provides an opportunity to shine a light on the most impactful and innovative projects across England and Wales, allowing players and managers to meet participants and hear firsthand how projects are improving the quality of people’s lives.

Some of the standout activations taking place across the week, are:

• Coventry City – Manager Frank Lampard will be attending the EFL Week of Action Event hosted at the Coventry Building Society stadium. The Club will be showcasing one of the dementia programmes ran by their foundation, with one of the participants also taking part in a panel.

• Birmingham City – The Club will be bringing their social isolation group, “Brew with Blues”, to the Week of Action Event at Coventry on 6 November, along with striker Jay Stansfield.

• Oldham Athletic – The Club are inviting  the football team Angels United – a football team of dads who have sadly lost young children – to spend a day with the first team at training. The dads will also be having lunch with the team and management, to talk about their cause.

• Tranmere Rovers – The British Heart Foundation and Sky Bet will host a group RevivR CPR and defibrillator training session at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park, designed to help local grassroots football clubs gain the confidence and skills to save lives. The 45 minute workshop will be led by BHF experts, with England and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher joining to show his support and inspire others to learn CPR. This initiative forms part of the BHF and Sky Bet’s Every Minute Matters campaign, which has already inspired more than 300,000 football fans to start learning CPR.
• Preston North End – The Club will be running CPR-Defib training for PNEFC fans pre-match. Following  the second cardiac arrest in 18 months at Deepdale – the most recent ending tragically – the goal is to use the platform to reach supporters with life-saving first aid and CPR training, empowering them with the skills and confidence to act in emergencies both within football settings and in the wider community.
• Bolton Wanderers – Steven Schumacher will be attending Headstart, a young people’s mental health support programme that supports Year 6 children as they transition to secondary school. The project aims to provide mental health education and coping strategies through classroom sessions and one-to-one support.
• Charlton Athletic – Greg Docherty and Lloyd Jones, plus Keira Skeels and Karin Muya from the Women’s Team, will be attending the Short Breaks programme. The programme supports young people aged 11-17 with disabilities, inviting them to enjoy fun activities that build confidence and develop their independence and social skills.
• QPR – Striker Michael Frey is a keen artist who uses his passion to benefit his own mental health. Michael will be attending and participating in Healthy Kickers, a mental health and wellbeing project, and bringing some of his own pieces of art.
• Bristol Rovers – Taylor Moore set up a mental health project in his local community after his mum attempted to take her own life last year. Working with Bristol Rovers Community Trust, Taylor has created a monthly activity – 5K Your Way – which invites local community members to join him in a walk around Bristol, to talk, socialise and get some exercise. It is now attended by approximately 200 local people.
• Cambridge United – Members of the first-team squad are invited to a ‘Pledge United’ session, a unique programme designed to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and wider societal issues concerning misogyny and sexism. The Club has recently been awarded Catalyst funding for this programme.

Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL, said: “The EFL Week of Action celebrates and demonstrates the formidable, life-changing impact that our Clubs and their Charities are making in their local communities.

“Whether it’s supporting men, women, and children with mental health challenges, providing warm spaces and hot meals to families facing financial difficulties, or assisting those recovering from addiction, EFL Clubs are truly at the heart of their communities. They respond to, and proactively address, some of society’s biggest challenges.

“I am always extremely proud to hear about the depth and breadth of services provided by Club charities and the positive contribution they make – work that is both locally relevant and nationally significant.”

Accrington Stanley Football Club Community Trust, in partnership with the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), is proud to announce the appointment of first team player, Josh Woods, as the club’s new Champions Ambassador.

The Champions programme works with people aged 10-25 who have been involved in offending behaviours or are at high risk of offending, offering positive role models through mentoring and supportive environments to help them make safer, healthier choices. Ambassadors like Josh provide additional encouragement, guidance, and opportunities for young people involved.

In this role, Josh will interact with clients at the training ground and stadium, support half-term activities such as snooker, darts, and table tennis, and provide more informal support during Champions clients 1:1 sessions at the hub, helping to inspire and connect with those on the programme.

Josh Woods said: “I think sometimes young people don’t always get the opportunity to show who they really are. Where I grew up, I know how lucky I was to have people and places that helped me stay on track. Having the chance to go to safe spaces, play football, and be around good mates kept me out of trouble.”

“A lot of the young people who come to Champions haven’t chosen the circumstances they’re in, and I think they deserve real credit for trying to turn their luck around. It takes courage to say, ‘I want to change,’ and with the support of the Champions staff at the Trust, many of them are now doing just that – making real steps to turn things around.”

“For me personally, football in the community was such an important part of my childhood, giving me somewhere to belong and spend time with friends. To now be in a position where I can give back in some way and hopefully make even a small difference for young people in similar situations, is something I’m really proud to be part of.”

Chief Inspector Gemma Barr, Operational Lead at the LVRN added: “The Champions programme has already shown how powerful it can be in helping young people make positive choices, and having people like Josh on board only adds to that success by giving young people someone they can look up to and relate to.”

Fowler UK Teams Up with Accrington Stanley Community Trust to Deliver New Laundry Equipment

Fowler UK, a leading provider of commercial laundry solutions, is proud to announce its new partnership with Accrington Stanley Community Trust. The collaboration sees Fowler UK supplying state-of-the-art laundry equipment to the Accrington Stanley Community Trust, significantly enhancing the charity’s operational efficiency and supporting our ongoing commitment to excellence at our facility in Hyndburn.

The newly installed equipment will support day-to-day laundry operations for the Trust, helping maintain high standards in hygiene and kit care for its College players, and community programmes. The upgrade marks an important investment in infrastructure as the Trust continues to grow its impact within the local community.

“We’re thrilled to partner with a charity that shares our values of quality, reliability, and community engagement,” said William Fowler, Director at Fowler UK. “Accrington Stanley Community Trust has a proud history and a bright future, and we’re proud to contribute to their continued success behind the scenes.”

Accrington Stanley Community Trust Partnerships & Fundraising Manager – Joanna Williams added: “Having reliable and high-performance laundry equipment is essential for the daily operations of the Trust. Fowler UK’s support ensures we can maintain the best standards for everyone involved in our programmes. It’s fantastic to have them on board.”

This partnership reflects Fowler UK’s dedication to supporting local organisations through tailored equipment solutions and responsive service, while aligning with Accrington Stanley’s ongoing efforts to enhance facilities for players and the wider community.

Fowler UK – visit their website here: https://fowleruk.com/

About Fowler UK
Fowler UK is a trusted specialist in the commercial laundry and catering equipment industry, providing nationwide support through expert advice, bespoke installations, and reliable, honest aftercare. As a family-run business with nearly 60 years of experience, they proudly serve a diverse range of sectors including sports clubs, hotels, care facilities, and veterinary practices.